After the Tests: Staging

Staging is the process of finding out how far the cancer has spread. This is very important because your treatment and the outlook for your recovery depend on the stage of your cancer.
At this time, there is a staging system only for mesothelioma around the lung (pleural mesothelioma). The AJCC (American Joint Committee on Cancer) staging system uses Roman numerals from I to IV (1 to 4) for the different stages. In general, the lower the number, the less the cancer has spread. A higher number, such as stage IV, means a more serious cancer.
After looking at your test results, the doctor will tell you the stage of your cancer. Be sure to ask your doctor to explain your stage in a way you understand. This will help you both decide on the best treatment for you.
While the stage of this cancer is important in looking at a patient's chances for survival, other factors should also be taken into account. Some of these factors include being too sick to perform the normal tasks of daily life, chest pain, shortness of breath, weight loss, high levels of a substance in the blood called LDH, low red blood cell count, high white blood cell count and others. Most people with all of these factors usually die within 6 months. Few live two years. Most people with none of these factors will live at least one year and have a 40% chance of living 2 years.