Staging of mesothelioma

The stage of a cancer is a term used to describe its size and whether it has spread beyond the area of the body where it started. In general terms, most cancers are described as either stage 1, 2, 3 or 4. Stage 1 cancers are usually small in size and haven’t spread. They are often known as early stage cancers. In contrast, stage 4 cancers have usually spread deeply into surrounding tissues or organs and/or to distant parts of the body. They are known as advanced stage cancers. Stage 2 and 3 cancers are between stages 1 and 4. Knowing the stage of the cancer can sometimes help doctors decide on the best treatment. Staging systems are often complicated to understand. Find out more the detailed staging of mesothelioma. You can also ask your specialist to give you more information about the staging of your mesothelioma.