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Mesothelioma Treatment Stages Mesothelioma is the term used for a cancerous tumor, which involves the mesothelioma cells of lungs, heart or abdominal organs. Medical specialists in mesothelioma provide treatment to the patients after assessing the stage pertaining to the mesothelioma in their specific case. They analyze the location pertaining to the cancer, the level to which it is spread including the patient?s age including general health condition. Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which the malignant cells are found in the sac that lines the chest or abdomen. There are 4 stages of malignant mesothelioma. The first stage is localized mesothelioma including the remaining 3 are considered advanced stages of mesothelioma. Localized mesothelioma is the phase wherein the cancer is discovered in the lung, diaphragm or in the lining pertaining to the chest cavity. The patients in their first stage of mesothelioma obtain their cancer surgically removed by pleurectomy or decortication or extrapleural pneumonectomy. In the second stage, the cancer is detected to have spread beyond the lining pertaining to the chest cavity. In the third stage, the tumor growth spreads into several areas that include chest wall, center pertaining to the chest, heart, including throughout the diaphragm. The treatment in the second, third including fourth stages of mesothelium are done in tandem with supportive care. The treatment for these advanced stages focuses on providing a patient with relief from symptoms, as total cure is generally not achieved. The treatment methodology includes thoracentesis that removes fluid accumulation in the chest cavity, operations to remove the tumor including radiation therapy or chemotherapy aimed at easing symptoms. In the fourth stage, the cancer is in the process of distant metastasis, which implies that it has spread to other organs including tissues far from its site of origin in the pleural, peritoneal, or pericardial mesothelium. Patients suffering from the fourth stage should enroll themselves in clinical trials that evaluate the newest treatment possibilities in large medical centers. Pain management is a particular essential aspect pertaining to the care of such patients. It is important for patients to know that medications are available to effectively treat pain due to mesothelioma. They should request pain medications or discuss pain control problems with their cancer care team.
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