Stage 2 mesothelioma occurs when the disease has not spread further than lymph nodes near the original tumor site. Patients with stage 2 mesothelioma may experience mild symptoms and are more likely to undergo invasive treatment options such as surgery. Most stage 2 mesothelioma patients live at least one year following a diagnosis.
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What Is Stage 2 Mesothelioma?
Stage 2 mesothelioma is the second of four mesothelioma stages doctors use to determine how much and how far cancer has spread. A patient with stage 2 mesothelioma may experience cancer growth from the original site to nearby lymph nodes but not to distant areas of the body.
Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma face a difficult journey. Treatment options can be costly & intimidating. However, if you’re a patient with stage 2 mesothelioma, you may experience fewer symptoms and live longer than someone with late-stage cancer.
Doctors determine the stage of mesothelioma cancer by measuring the size and location of tumors. A physician can measure the size and location of tumors by using ultrasound images to accurately assess where and how far the cancer has grown. Then, they can use that information to determine the stage. Once your doctor establishes the stage, they can use it as a guide for potential treatment methods.
What’s the Difference Between Stage 1 and Stage 2 Lung Cancer?
The main difference between stage 1 and stage 2 lung cancer is how far the disease has spread. For example, pleural mesothelioma occurs after someone inhales asbestos particles that become stuck in the lining of the lungs. Over time, irritation from asbestos can cause a change in DNA, signaling the production of tumors. Stage 1 tumors in the pleural lining have not spread, while stage 2 cancer has grown and spread near the original tumor.
Both stage 1 and stage 2 cancer are relatively treatable. The chances of a stage 2 mesothelioma patient successfully undergoing surgery to remove cancer are slightly less than those of stage 1 cancer. Stage 2 patients may require additional rounds of radiation or chemotherapy.
Stage 4 mesothelioma, however, is the most advanced form of mesothelioma and can be distinguished by more severe symptoms across distant areas of the body. Treatment options become limited in the later stages of cancer.
Common Stage 2 Mesothelioma Symptoms
Stage 2 mesothelioma symptoms include fatigue, chest pain, trouble breathing, and chronic cough. Patients with rarer forms of mesothelioma may experience fever, abdominal pain, or weight loss. Symptoms may appear mild and worsen as the disease progresses. The timeframe for how long these symptoms occur for vary and depends on several risk factors, including the location of mesothelioma, age, genetics, and lifestyle.
Symptoms can occur anywhere but generally stay close to the affected areas. Mesothelioma most often develops in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, and thoracic cavities. The most common symptoms of stage 2 mesothelioma include:
- Fatigue and lethargy
- Chest pain or lung pain
- Trouble breathing
- Chronic and dry cough
- Fever
- Abdominal pain
- Weight loss and appetite loss
A patient with a known history of asbestos exposure should pay extra attention to any possible symptoms and undergo regular testing with their doctor. Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until the disease spreads into advanced stages when treatment options are limited.
Conditions Misdiagnosed for Mesothelioma
The use of asbestos is not completely banned in the U.S., though exposure to it can cause cancer. Asbestos, for those unfamiliar, is a mineral that was commonly mined in North America during the 1900s and manufactured into building products and personal protective gear. It is uncommon for severe mesothelioma symptoms to appear in earlier stages. If they do occur, early symptoms of mesothelioma are often mistaken for a less severe condition such as:
- Influenza (flu)
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Pneumonia
- Hernia
- Coronary artery disease
- Emphysema
- Gallstones
- Congestive heart failure
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Ovarian Cancer
- Metastatic lung cancer
- Cancer of the Lung
Improving Stage 2 Cancer Symptoms
Symptoms of mesothelioma can improve with a few complementary approaches to physical and mental health management. Some patients have experienced an improvement in symptoms through light exercises like yoga and meditation. Other alternatives, such as acupuncture, have been found in small studies to reduce treatment-related symptoms like nausea and vomiting.
Patients can use other remedies to improve lung cancer symptoms. Simple diet improvements like reducing sugar intake have been known to improve symptoms. Light physical exercise can help the body prepare and recover from cancer treatment. Often, patients benefit from mental health therapy by learning to cope with physical and physiological symptoms.
How Do They Diagnose Stage 2 Mesothelioma?
A biopsy tissue sample collected and tested in the lab ultimately confirms a mesothelioma diagnosis. Then, doctors determine the stage by observing the disease’s location, size, and possible spread.
Additional tests, such as CT, ultrasound, or X-ray imaging scans, may be performed to track its spread. Results from the scans show where the cancer is in the body, including the original tumor site and other affected areas. Interpreting the results from scans accurately depicts the extent of the spread.
Mesothelioma is an incredibly rare disease, but doctors and researchers have studied it enough to develop guidance for staging using the TNM classification system. The TNM cancer staging system is the most widely accepted among doctors, but other rarely-used systems include the Brigham method and the Butchart system.
How Do They Diagnose Other Mesothelioma Stages?
All forms of mesothelioma are diagnosed the same way – by confirmation of cancer cells collected from a tissue sample. Then, the stage classification for mesothelioma can be determined.
The TNM classifications to determine the mesothelioma stage are broken down as such:
- T-Tumor. The size and location of the tumor and its ability to be removed via surgery.
- N-Nodes. If cancer spread to nearby lymph nodes.
- M-Metastasis. If cancer spread to distant sites, other organs, or the bones.
Treatment Options for Stage 2 Cancer
Stage 2 mesothelioma is more severe than stage 1 but less severe than stage 3 or 4. Treatment for mesothelioma with limited growth may often include more invasive methods than cancer metastasizing to other areas.
Patients with stage 2 pleural mesothelioma may undergo surgery to remove the visible tumors, followed by radiation to eliminate the remaining cancer cells. Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a treatment used to treat peritoneal mesothelioma.
Treatment options for stage 2 mesothelioma include:
- Surgery (extrapleural pneumonectomy and pleurectomy w/ decortication)
- Radiation Therapy
- Chemotherapy related treatments
Outcomes and survival times vary by patient. Factors that can affect treatment eligibility and survival outcomes include age, sex, cancer grade, cancer site, and overall health. Generally, younger patients tend to have healthier physical conditions and can handle invasive treatments such as surgery. Certain locations of cancer are also associated with better outcomes. Peritoneal mesothelioma is typically more treatable than pleural or pericardial mesothelioma.
Is Stage 2 Mesothelioma Curable?
Like other stages, stage 2 mesothelioma is not curable. Advanced forms like stage 4 lung cancer are also not curable. Researchers have not yet discovered the cure for mesothelioma but are constantly working to improve treatments. Patients can live months or years longer and experience reduced symptoms when they choose to undergo treatment.
Clinical trials are an option for patients not responding well to traditional treatments. Studies involving potential treatments give patients an extra chance at extending their lives. Researchers use clinical studies to establish safe and effective treatment options. Patients who participate in clinical trials undergo treatments that aren’t yet approved by the Federal Drug Administration.
What is the Life Expectancy for this Stage?
The life expectancy for stage 2 mesothelioma ranges between 6 to 18 months. Life expectancy can vary by mesothelioma site. For example, peritoneal and testicular mesothelioma survival rates surpass pleural and pericardial rates. On average, the 5-year survival rate for peritoneal mesothelioma is 65% compared to 12% for pleural mesothelioma.
The life expectancy for advanced forms of cancer affecting the lungs is shorter. For example, the life expectancy for stage 4 lung canceris relatively poor, with only about 5 percent of patients surviving five years.
How Long Can You Live With Stage 2 Mesothelioma?
Most patients live at least one year following a mesothelioma diagnosis. As treatments improve with time, more patients are surviving longer than expected. The five-year survival rate for mesothelioma is about 15 percent in earlier stages.
Survival rates do not predict the outcome for every patient. A poor prognosis does not have to be an automatic death sentence, as clinical research has created several life-extending treatments.
Treatment doesn’t have to be overwhelming, complicated, or expensive. Lung Cancer Center is here to help you or your loved one during the stage 2 mesothelioma cancer journey. Connect with a patient advocate today to learn if you or a loved one are eligible for a mesothelioma settlement.
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FAQs
Stage 2 Mesothelioma | Symptoms, Treatment, & Life Expectancy? ›
The median survival for stage 2 mesothelioma ranges from 19 to 67 months. This range encompasses different types of mesothelioma. Doctors may be able to help patients live longer with treatment. Treatment options may be aggressive, typically consisting of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
What is the survival rate for Stage 2 mesothelioma? ›An early-stage diagnosis is associated with longer survival times in pleural mesothelioma patients. The median survival is 22.2 months for stage 1 pleural mesothelioma and 20 months for stage 2. Patients diagnosed with late-stage pleural mesothelioma have a median survival of 17.9 months in stage 3.
How is Stage 2 mesothelioma treated? ›Stage 2 mesothelioma treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Doctors also use multimodal therapy, which is a combination of treatments. A 2022 study on stages 1 and 2 pleural mesothelioma patients found multimodal therapy safe and effective at improving survival.
How long can you live with mesothelioma by stage? ›Stages 1 and 2 are early stages. Patients with early-stage cancer tend to live for 19 to 21 months. Late-stage mesothelioma involves stages 3 and 4. These patients have a life expectancy of 12 to 16 months.
How long can you live with mesothelioma with treatment? ›The average life expectancy after a mesothelioma diagnosis is 18 – 31 months, with treatment. Some patients have been survivors for 10 years or longer. Factors such as mesothelioma type, stage and patient health can impact life expectancy. Treatment may help improve survival for some patients.
What stages of mesothelioma cause death? ›- Abdominal pain.
- Anemia (low red blood cells)
- Cachexia (muscle breakdown)
- Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- Fatigue and poor well-being.
- Fluid buildup in the chest or abdomen.
- General feeling of discomfort (malaise)
Further, a July 2021 clinical trial tested atezolizumab (Tecentriq®) plus bevacizumab (Avastin®) in peritoneal mesothelioma patients. The 1-year survival rate in this study was 85%, and 61% of patients didn't see their cancer spread in this trial.
How do you prolong life with mesothelioma? ›Those with stage 4 mesothelioma live an average of six to eight months without treatment. In contrast, surgery can extend survival by years. Treatment options for peritoneal mesothelioma can extend survival even longer. Many who receive surgery and heated chemo live longer than five years.
Can mesothelioma go into remission? ›It is possible to recover from aggressive treatment for mesothelioma and enter remission. Some survivors have remained in remission and extended their life expectancy with mesothelioma by three to 10 years or more.
Can chemo shrink mesothelioma? ›Chemotherapy can also help to shrink or control advanced pleural mesothelioma for some time. This helps some people to live longer. You will have to be fit enough to cope with the side effects to have this treatment. You should talk this over with your cancer specialist.
Does mesothelioma progress quickly? ›
The symptoms of mesothelioma tend to develop gradually over time. They typically do not appear until several decades after exposure to asbestos. Symptoms of mesothelioma in the lining of the lungs include: chest pain.
Does mesothelioma spread quickly? ›Mesothelioma tends to spread (metastasize) fairly quickly. Because of this, many experts consider mesothelioma to be an aggressive form of cancer. Numerous factors can affect how quickly mesothelioma progresses and the areas of the body to which it spreads.
Can mesothelioma be cured if caught early? ›There is no cure for stage 1 mesothelioma or any stage of mesothelioma cancer. While mesothelioma is incurable, early-stage mesothelioma does have more treatment options. Palliative treatments can ease symptoms. The prognosis for stage 1 mesothelioma is favorable.
Who is the longest living person with mesothelioma? ›Paul Kraus is well known for being the longest-living mesothelioma survivor. With the guidance of his physicians, Paul decided to take a holistic approach to his disease. He did not receive standard medical therapy or surgery.
Can removing a lung cure mesothelioma? ›Despite the risks, a successful pneumonectomy (or extrapleural pneumonectomy) can greatly improve the quality of life for mesothelioma patients by reducing the debilitating symptoms of their disease, while adding several months — and sometimes years — to their lives.
What makes mesothelioma worse? ›Infections. In general, any type of infection can worsen the health of those diagnosed with mesothelioma. Viral, bacterial, or fungal infections can be fatal to mesothelioma and other cancer patients.
Is mesothelioma always terminal? ›Mesothelioma is a fatal cancer diagnosis, meaning patients typically pass away from it. Although the aggressive form of cancer has an average survival rate of 12 months, new and advancing treatment options can extend their lives.
How do you help someone with mesothelioma? ›Mesothelioma Hope offers 24/7 support for families dealing with mesothelioma. Contact our Patient Advocates at (866) 608-8933 to share your story and get connected with mesothelioma care resources that can make your life easier.
What is the timeline of mesothelioma? ›Mesothelioma takes between 20 and 60 years to develop after asbestos exposure. The median latency period is about 40 years. The most prolonged cases have been around 60 to 70 years. A latency period under 15 years is rare.
Can Keytruda cure mesothelioma? ›Keytruda® is an immunotherapy drug that uses a patient's own immune system to attack and kill cancer cells. Keytruda® has achieved survival of about 18 months in mesothelioma patients.
Is Keytruda good for mesothelioma? ›
Keytruda helps the immune system fight mesothelioma by obstructing the PD-1 protein pathway. It works by blocking an interaction between PD-1 and another protein called PD-L1, which allows the immune system to recognize mesothelioma cells and attack them.
How many rounds of chemo for mesothelioma? ›Chemotherapy for Pleural Mesothelioma
Doctors may prescribe these drugs for two to four cycles. If the tumor does not shrink after the first two cycles, your doctor may recommend that you have four cycles. If the cancer returns, your doctor may prescribe different chemotherapy drugs.
Adopting healthy behaviors such as not smoking, eating well, getting regular physical activity, and staying at a healthy weight might help, but no one knows for sure. Still, we do know that these types of changes can have positive effects on your health that can extend beyond your risk of mesothelioma or other cancers.
What is the late stage of mesothelioma? ›Stage 4 mesothelioma is an asbestos-related cancer that has spread to distant body parts. Patients with this advanced stage of mesothelioma live about 12 – 26 months with treatment. Immunotherapy and surgery-based plans have improved survival and quality of life for some stage 4 patients.
Do mesothelioma patients need oxygen? ›When pleural mesothelioma progresses, some patients experience severe difficulty breathing and require supplemental oxygen. If oxygen levels get too low, the brain and heart are deprived of oxygen, which could result in memory loss or changes in your heart function.
What is the best prognosis for mesothelioma? ›Mesothelioma Survival Rate – The mesothelioma survival rates is typically 4–18 months after diagnosis, but there have been patients diagnosed with mesothelioma who have lived longer than 10 years. The current five-year survival rate for the disease is just 10 percent.
Has anyone ever recovered from mesothelioma? ›Yes. Many mesothelioma patients have survived the disease and outlived their initial prognosis with the use of traditional and emerging treatments. Generally speaking, the earlier mesothelioma is detected, the longer a patient can live for.
What is the best chemotherapy for mesothelioma? ›The most commonly used drugs to treat mesothelioma are pemetrexed (Alimta®) together with cisplatin (or sometimes carboplatin). You usually have these drugs as an outpatient on the same day. You will then have a rest period with no chemotherapy for 20 days, before starting your next cycle of treatment.
What is the new treatment for mesothelioma? ›Mesothelioma Gene Therapy
This approach introduces genes to cancer cells. The new genes can help slow tumor growth or kill the cancer cells. Gene transfer can be accomplished through oncolytic virotherapy. This technology uses an oncolytic virus, which is a virus that kills cancer cells.
Mesotheliomas are much more common in older people than younger people. The average age of people diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma (mesothelioma in the chest) is 72.
Where does mesothelioma spread first? ›
Pleural mesothelioma starts in the chest around the lungs. This is by far the most common type. Peritoneal mesothelioma starts in the lining in the abdomen or belly. Pericardial mesothelioma starts in the lining that covers the heart.
What are the chances of dying from mesothelioma? ›These mesothelioma statistics help patients understand how long they may live. The mesothelioma survival rate is the percentage of people who live one and five years after diagnosis. About 40% of mesothelioma patients survive at least one year and 12% survive five years.
Does mesothelioma spread to brain? ›Mesothelioma most commonly metastasizes to the liver, spleen, kidneys, and adrenal glands. In rare cases, mesothelioma metastasis to the brain can occur. However, only about 3 percent of mesothelioma cases spread to the brain or central nervous system. In very rare cases, mesothelioma metastasis to bone can occur.
What is the life expectancy of asbestos patients in the lungs? ›Average asbestos-related lung cancer life expectancy is 16.2 months. An asbestos-related lung cancer prognosis is best determined by a lung cancer specialist. You may be able to improve your prognosis through treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
What is the first line treatment for mesothelioma? ›The main treatment options for mesothelioma include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Targeted therapy, immunotherapy and palliative care can manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Treatment depends on the cancer stage.
What famous actor died of mesothelioma? ›Actor Steve McQueen (1930-1980)
After his mesothelioma diagnosis in 1979, McQueen underwent a series of traditional and unconventional treatment options. He died of cardiac arrest in 1980.
Mesothelioma, like other cancers, has no cure: This is primarily due to the complexity of these conditions. Like any form of cancer, mesothelioma can arise from a combination of factors that have caused cell damage and mutations.
How many people have survived mesothelioma? ›| SEER Stage | 5-Year Relative Survival Rate |
|---|---|
| Localized | 24% |
| Regional | 16% |
| Distant | 7% |
| All SEER stages combined | 12% |
Mesothelioma radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays or particles to damage and kill cancer cells. Doctors often use radiation therapy as part of a multimodal treatment plan for mesothelioma. Radiation can help alleviate mesothelioma symptoms and extend the life expectancy of patients.
What is the life expectancy of a lung removal patient? ›The survival rate after 5 or more years for lobectomy was 41 per cent (34 patients). After simple pneumonectomy 21 patients (30 per cent) lived 5 years or more, and after radical pneumonectomy 39 patients (39 per cent) lived 5 years or more.
What is the most aggressive form of mesothelioma? ›
Sarcomatoid - a rare cellular subtype and is known as the most aggressive and least responsive to treatment. Biphasic (also called mixed type) - a combination of both epithelioid and sarcomatoid cells within one tumor. Treatment options and response may vary depending on ratio of each cell type.
Is mesothelioma worse than asbestosis? ›Prognosis and life expectancy also differ between asbestosis and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma cancer treatment is challenging, and only 23% of patients survive for three or more years. Asbestosis is a chronic respiratory condition and, although also incurable, treatment can prolong survival for several decades.
Is mesothelioma painful? ›Pain caused by mesothelioma is usually dull and generalised – it can be difficult to say exactly where it is coming from. If the cancer spreads and presses on bones or organs, it may feel sharp and stabbing.
Can you survive stage 3 mesothelioma? ›Mesothelioma Stage 3 Survival Rates
About 16% of stage 3 pleural mesothelioma patients live five years after diagnosis. Roughly 29% of stage 3 peritoneal mesothelioma patients live at least five years. Patients with late-stage testicular mesothelioma have a median survival of about two years.
Mesothelioma is a fatal cancer diagnosis, meaning patients typically pass away from it. Although the aggressive form of cancer has an average survival rate of 12 months, new and advancing treatment options can extend their lives.
Is mesothelioma a terminal illness? ›Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that typically spreads rapidly and is mainly considered incurable. This means that for most patients, it is terminal. Some people may live with cancer for a few years, and some may even go into remission, but the general prognosis is poor.
How quickly does mesothelioma progress? ›This is why many people don't receive a diagnosis until the cancer is in later stages. Mesothelioma progresses quickly once symptoms begin. Metastasis may occur as quickly as in several weeks. Compared to other types of cancer, it is generally aggressive and quick-moving.
Which mesothelioma is least aggressive? ›Epithelioid - the most common cellular subtype comprising of 50-70% of all cases of mesothelioma. Known as the least aggressive cell type that typically responds best to treatment.
What organ does mesothelioma affect? ›Mesothelioma most often affects the tissue that surrounds the lungs (pleura). This type is called pleural mesothelioma. Other, rarer types of mesothelioma affect tissue in the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma), around the heart and around the testicles.
What is the life expectancy of someone on palliative chemotherapy? ›For most cancers where palliative chemotherapy is used, this number ranges from 3-12 months. The longer the response, the longer you can expect to live.