mesothelioma prognosis stage 2

At stage II, the cancer has not spread far from its origin, and treatments to remove it from the body are more effective. Symptoms could be mild and resemble less serious pulmonary diseases. Prognosis is not as good as in stage I, but it's better than in late-stage cancer.

Cancer is not too far from initial site.
Small tumors begin spreading to thin tissue beneath the lung.
Surgical options are effective and can extend survival.


mesothelioma prognosis stage 2




Stage II is a designation of an early stage of cancer that responds well to surgery and traditional treatment. This stage has the second-best prognosis of all the stages.

In this stage, small tumors are growing on the lining of one lung and starting to spread to the underlying lung tissue or the diaphragm. The lymph nodes are free of cancer cells. The cancer remains localized within the chest.

Symptoms
Symptoms of stage II may be mild and often resemble those of less serious lung illnesses like pneumonia. Shortness of breath, coughing, difficulty breathing and chest pain are sometimes felt at stage II. Pleural mesothelioma originates in the pleural lining, which is composed of two layers: One layer covers the lungs and one layer covers the chest wall. Symptoms are caused by the tumors that form on the pleural lining. Symptoms are also caused by the accumulation of fluid in the space between the two layers of the lining; this is called pleural effusion.

At stage II, tumors growing on the layers of the pleural lining thicken, and the space between the layers begins to disappear. A patient may feel chest pain or have difficulty breathing as a result of tumor growth or trapped pleural fluid.

Treatment
A treatment plan using curative surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy has produced the best survival rates for people with stage II mesothelioma. Multimodal therapy is recommended to stage II patients who are in good enough health to handle the aggressive treatment approach.

Extrapleural Pneumonectomy
At stage II, tumor spreading to the lung tissue or diaphragm may call for an extrapleural pneumonectomy surgery. During this surgery, the affected lung and its lining are removed. Half of the diaphragm, nearby lymph nodes and the heart lining may also be removed.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is most often given after surgery. Clinical trials are investigating the value of circulating chemotherapy drugs throughout the pleural space during surgery. This procedure is known as heated chemotherapy and is more commonly given to people with peritoneal mesothelioma.

Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is most often given after surgery to reduce the risk of the cancer returning. New research suggests that applying radiation therapy before surgery might drastically improve survival rates for many patients. Radiation therapy has also helped to manage recurring mesothelioma tumors over extended periods of time. If the cancer returns, your doctor might recommend radiation therapy to keep the tumor under control.

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