The four stages of pleural mesothelioma indicate the regions of the body affected by cancer, as well as the evolution of the disease. In the initial stage, the presence of cancerous cells is strictly limited to the lining of the lungs (pleura), while the following stages entail the spreading of mesothelioma to adjacent organs and tissues such as the diaphragm, the inside of the lungs, lymph nodes and the outer lining of the heart.



Treatment options become increasingly limited as pleural mesothelioma advances, implying higher risks for the patient’s health and decreasing in efficiency when stage 4 occurs, as cancer has spread within the chest and abdominal region to a great extent.