Mesothelioma Victims, Mesothelioma Cases

In Stage 1, if the left pleural has been affected, in Stage 2 the tumor will have spread to affect the right pleural. Tumor will also spread to the esophagus or the heart, and may not involve the lymph nodes in the chest, the diaphragm and pericardium on the same side.

ü  The TNM Staging System is a more detailed and precise staging system than the Butchart system.

In TNM system, Stage 2 Mesothelioma is indicated as T2, N0, M0, where T2 means that the tumor has spread from one side of the pleural cavity to the nearby hilar lymph nodes next to the lungs and/or the nearby peribronchial on the same side. The Stage 2 tumor will involve the lungs, pericardium mesothelioma or diaphragm on the same side, which means the cancer has grown into the lungs and diaphragm.

The N0 and M0 mean that the lymph nodes have not yet been affected and tumor has not spread to the distant organs, respectively.

ü  According to the Brigham Staging System, Stage 2 Mesothelioma indicates that the tumor has spread to the lymph nodes although it is still resectable whereby tumor can be surgically removed.

Stage 2 Mesothelioma Prognosis

Workers exposed to high degree of asbestos for long durations have a high risk of contracting Pleural lung cancer. Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma will usually begin to appear 20 or 50 years after the initially period of asbestos exposure. Hence, most patients are diagnosed with Pleural Mesothelioma only at the 3rd or 4th stages of the cancer.

Early diagnosis in stages 1 and 2 can increase the life expectancy of the patient through surgical methods. The tumor is generally resectable or removable through surgery at the first two stages of Mesothelioma, including Stage 3, although there might be complications arising at this stage.