Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Advanced malignant mesothelioma (stage II, stage III, and stage IV)

Advanced malignant mesothelioma includes stage II, stage III, and stage IV.
. In Stage II, cancer is found in the lining of the chest wall and the lymph nodes on the same side of the chest. Cancer may also be found in the lining of the lungs, the lining of the diaphragm, or the lining of the sac that covers the heart on the same side of the chest.
. In stage III, cancer has spread to any of the following areas:
. The chest wall.
. The mediastinum.
. The heart.
. Beyond the diaphragm.
. The peritoneum. Cancer may have also spread to lymph nodes on the other side of the chest or outside the chest.
. In stage IV, cancer has spread to distant organs or tissues.