mesothelioma prognosis stage 4

At stage IV, tumors have spread throughout the chest cavity and possibly to distant organs. Surgery is generally not a treatment option at stage IV, and most treatments are palliative rather than curative. The goal of treatment is to help you live longer, reduce pain and improve symptoms.

mesothelioma prognosis stage 4

mesothelioma prognosis stage 4


Most advanced stage.
Tumor growth and symptoms are intensified.
Curative surgery is ineffective.
Doctors offer supportive care to help with symptoms.
Stage IV is the most advanced stage of mesothelioma. By stage IV, cancer has spread to one or both sides of the body. It may have also spread to lymph nodes and several organs of the body, including the brain, prostate, spine or the lining of the heart.

For patients diagnosed at this stage, doctors offer treatments that relieve symptoms and prolong life. Your outlook depends largely on the extent of cancer spread and how well you respond to treatment.

Symptoms
Symptoms of stage IV affect the lungs and possibly other parts of the body because of tumor spreading. Stage IV mesothelioma may cause fever, night sweats, chest-wall pain, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, fluid retention in the abdomen, abdominal pain, fatigue, anorexia and malaise (a generalized feeling of illness).

  • Fever
  • Night sweats
  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Tightness of chest
  • Fluid buildup in chest or abdomen
  • Abdominal pain
  • Fatigue
  • Weight loss
  • Anorexia and Malaise


Some patients suffer from cachexia, a syndrome involving weight loss, muscle atrophy, weakness, fatigue and appetite loss. Stage IV cancer can also cause problems with the blood, including thrombocytosis (high platelet count) and anemia (low red blood cell count).

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