Stage I offers the best chances of survival because the disease has an incipient form and can be treated surgically. Most of the patients who suffer from a stage I mesothelioma can undergo an extrapleural pneumonectomy. This is an aggressive procedure, which aims to remove as much as possible of the tumor.

The most serious stage of mesothelioma is stage IV. At this point, doctors only recommend palliative treatment because the cancer has already affected other parts of the body and it cannot be treated with surgery anymore. Palliative treatment is the best option as they focus on the symptoms of the disease, improving this way the quality of life.