Mesothelioma is a kind of cancer that develops in stages, four stages to be exact, each with its specific treatment issues and symptoms. The 1st stage of mesothelioma usually goes by unnoticed by the patient, that hasn't yet been diagnosed.
Mesothelioma treatment methods and survivability are based on the stage that the cancer has developed to.
It is, of course, best to start mesothelioma treatment as soon as the cancer has appeared. Unfortunately that is not possible in most cases, which is why this kind of mesothelioma is not yet curable, because doctors and patients aren't able to detect any earlier than the start of the second stage, in most cases. It also makes mesothelioma cancer very difficult to diagnose.
If mesothelioma is discovered before the 1st stage has finished development, certain staging can be used to determine how it has passed since cancer has set in.
I Stage of mesothelioma
This is the stage that takes shortest to develop, and because of that, most people that have been infected do not realize the fact that they are suffering from a dangerous form of cancer. The following of things that take place during the 1st stage of mesothelioma:
- mesothelioma only develops in one part of the pleura (chest wall lining) at this stage
- it attacks the diaphragm and surrounding tissue
- the pericardium(liquid sac that surrounds the heart) may also be invaded by cancer cells
- over 90 percent of people may not notice the mild symptoms associated with stage I of mesothelioma, or even if they do, they might mistake symptoms to be that of a normal infection, such as a minor cold
For exact staging of mesothelioma, certain staging systems are used, such as the Butchart system. The Butchart system is one of the oldest systems used to diagnose and stage mesothelioma, and possibly the most reliable. It relies on the measuring of tumor size and proximity of tumor masses located inside the lung in order to provide with an accurate time since the cancer has appeared in the body. The Butchart splits the development process of mesothelioma in four distinct stages. There are a few other staging systems available, but mesothelioma doctors prefer to use the Butchart system because it has proved its' reliability during the years. Correct and accurate staging of mesothelioma provides doctors with specific treatment options according to the stage of mesothelioma.
Contact asbestosis and mesothelioma centers if you need any kind of information regarding mesothelioma. It is absolutely free.
