Stage 1 Mesothelioma

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What Is Stage 1 Mesothelioma?

Doctors use stages of mesothelioma to describe how advanced a patient’s cancer is. Stage 1 mesothelioma is the first of four malignant pleural mesothelioma stages and is the least advanced stage.

In stage 1, tumors have formed in the linings of the lung (pleura) and nearby tissues. However, the tumors have not spread to nearby lymph nodes or distant parts of the body. Stage 1 mesothelioma patients can often receive life-extending treatments since the cancer is still relatively contained.

Stage 1 mesothelioma is one of four stages in the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system, a globally recognized method for noting how far certain cancers have spread.

U.S. veterans are at a high risk of mesothelioma since the military used asbestos between the 1930s and early 1980s. The dangers were hidden by major companies during this time. Thankfully, veterans with mesothelioma can get free or low-cost treatments and financial aid.

Chat now with our trusted advocates to learn more about what therapies may be available for you or your loved one.

How Stage 1 Mesothelioma Develops

People don’t usually develop mesothelioma until 10-50 years after they were exposed to asbestos. This time between exposure and cancer is called the latency period.

Mesothelioma Stage 1A

In cases of stage 1A mesothelioma, cancer tumors are found on one side of the body in the lining of the chest wall. Tumors may also be found in parts of the pleura that line other areas in the chest, such as the diaphragm or lung.

In some cases of stage 1A mesothelioma, the tumors actually invade the lung.

Mesothelioma Stage 1B

In stage 1B mesothelioma, cancer tumors have reached parts of the pleura on one side of the chest wall, diaphragm, lung, and mediastinum (a space in the center of the chest).

The tumors may have also spread deeper into the chest wall, mediastinum, or heart lining (pericardium).

Despite this spread, stage 1B mesothelioma tumors are still highly treatable with aggressive surgeries and other methods.

Other Types of Stage 1 Mesothelioma

Besides appearing in the lining of the lungs, mesothelioma can also develop in the lining of the abdomen, heart, or testicles.

There are no official staging systems for the other types of mesothelioma. That said, doctors can still note how far the cancer has spread when making a diagnosis.

For example, patients may have early-stage peritoneal mesothelioma if the cancerous tumors have not spread past the abdominal lining (peritoneum).

The same can be said for patients with pericardial mesothelioma if tumors are only found in the pericardium and not in other organs.

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Stage 1 Mesothelioma Symptoms

Many patients with early-stage mesothelioma have little to no symptoms since the cancer tumors are small and haven’t spread very far.

That said, possible mesothelioma stage 1 symptoms include:

• Persistent cough
• Shortness of breath
• Tightness and pain in the chest

Identifying Stage 1 Mesothelioma Symptoms

Many people who have stage 1 mesothelioma won’t have any symptoms. Further, those who do may not think they have mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease since the symptoms are also common in many minor illnesses.

Thus, patients may not see a doctor until their mesothelioma symptoms worsen. Unfortunately, delaying medical care can allow the cancer to spread.

See a doctor immediately if you were exposed to asbestos and now have possible symptoms of mesothelioma. An early diagnosis could mean you’ll have more treatment options available.

Mesothelioma Stage 1 Diagnosis

A stage 1 mesothelioma diagnosis is rare as most patients don’t see their doctor until symptoms have appeared or worsened. However, if you’re concerned about your symptoms and were exposed to asbestos decades ago, make sure to talk to your doctor.

If a patient is experiencing mesothelioma symptoms like chest pain or coughing, doctors can order imaging tests to look for possible causes of the symptoms.

Imaging scans used to diagnose mesothelioma include:

• CT (computed tomography) scans
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans
• X-rays

These tests can show doctors fluid or masses in the lungs. If a doctor finds something that looks like cancer on a scan, they will perform a biopsy. A biopsy is the only way to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis at any stage.

During a biopsy, a fluid or tissue sample is collected and sent to a lab where pathologists will test the cells for traits unique to mesothelioma.

After confirming a diagnosis, doctors can then determine what stage your cancer is in and develop a treatment plan that best suits your needs.

Use our doctor match tool to find top specialists who can diagnose and treat your mesothelioma.

Stage 1 Mesothelioma Prognosis

Mesothelioma prognosis is the expected progression of a patient’s cancer and consists of life expectancy and survival rate.

Stage 1 mesothelioma patients have the best prognosis of all four stages since they can often get life-extending treatments like surgery.

Stage 1 Mesothelioma Survival Rate

Survival rate is the percentage of mesothelioma patients that are still alive after a certain period of time. Approximately 20% of pleural mesothelioma patients diagnosed at stage 1 survive for 5 years or longer.

Stage 1 Mesothelioma Life Expectancy

Patients with stage 1 mesothelioma have an average life expectancy of 21 months, according to studies from the Journal of Thoracic Oncology and Frontiers in Oncology. That said, some stage 1 patients can live even longer with cancer treatments.

Stage 1 Mesothelioma Treatment

Patients with stage 1 mesothelioma often qualify for many treatments that can help them live longer. Learn about common mesothelioma treatments that stage 1 patients can access below.

Surgery

Aggressive surgeries to remove tumors in the lung lining are often very effective in treating stage 1 mesothelioma. Further, early-stage patients can get the greatest benefits from life-extending surgeries.

Doctors can use the following surgeries to treat stage 1 mesothelioma:

• Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP): Often used to treat stage 1 pleural mesothelioma, this removes the lung closest to the cancer, the lung lining, and all visible tumors. Stage 1 patients who received an EPP lived for 40 months on average, as noted by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC).
• Pleurectomy with decortication (P/D): Also used to treat pleural mesothelioma, the lung lining and tissues affected by the cancer are removed but both lungs are spared. The IASLC found that patients who received a P/D lived for 23 months on average. However, a P/D is often a better choice than an EPP since patients can recover faster.
• Cytoreduction with HIPEC: Used to treat peritoneal mesothelioma, this surgery removes cancer tumors from the abdomen. Doctors then bathe the abdomen with warm chemotherapy drugs. Patients who undergo this surgery live for 53 months on average, according to a 2019 study.

These surgeries offer the best chances for long-term survival, provided the patient can safely receive one of them.

Factors that affect who can receive a surgery include:

• Age: Younger stage 1 mesothelioma patients are likely to recover from surgeries without serious complications.
• Cell type: Mesothelioma tumors are made up of epithelioid and/or sarcomatoid cells. If a patient’s tumors have both cell types, they have biphasic mesothelioma. Epithelioid mesothelioma cells often respond better to surgeries and other treatments.
• Good health: Most early-stage mesothelioma patients will qualify for surgery provided that they’re in good overall health. Patients with other pre-existing health conditions may not be able to safely undergo surgery.

Mesothelioma surgeries are usually combined with chemotherapy and/or radiation.

Chemotherapy

Doctors may use mesothelioma chemotherapy drugs on stage 1 patients after surgery as a form of adjuvant therapy to destroy any remaining cancer cells. Using chemotherapy this way could prevent the cancer from coming back (recurring).

Radiation Therapy

Doctors may also use radiation therapy directly before surgery to shrink tumors, so they are easier to remove. Radiation may also be used after surgery to kill remaining cancer cells.

Clinical Trials and Other Treatment Options

Patients with stage 1 mesothelioma can access other treatments outside of the ones listed above by joining a clinical trial. Clinical trials test new treatments that could be potentially more effective.

For example, immunotherapy was approved as a treatment for pleural mesothelioma in patients who can’t undergo surgery after it showed promise in clinical trials.

Get a free veterans packet to learn about treatments that can help you live longer with mesothelioma.

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• Top Treatment
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Mesothelioma Stage 1 Patients & Remission

While there is no cure for mesothelioma, some patients can enter remission for months, years, or even decades.

“Remission means that the signs and symptoms of your cancer are reduced. Remission can be partial or complete. In a complete remission, all signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared.”

– National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Mesothelioma patients have the best chances of remission if they undergo aggressive treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.

Doctors can help stage 1 mesothelioma patients work toward remission by recommending treatments to remove as much of the cancer as possible.

Help for Veterans With Stage 1 Mesothelioma

Our team — including veterans, attorneys, and caring patient advocates — can help you get treatments and compensation for mesothelioma. Call (877) 450-8973 to get started.

While a mesothelioma stage 1 diagnosis can be devastating, there is hope. Veterans and civilians with stage 1 mesothelioma often have a better prognosis and more treatment options available than those with advanced mesothelioma.

Veterans with mesothelioma may have more treatment and financial aid options available to them than civilians. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has programs in place to help veterans who developed mesothelioma after service-related asbestos exposure.

For example, veterans can get free or low-cost medical care from world-renowned mesothelioma specialists through the VA Health Care System. Seeing a specialist offers the best chance at extending life.

Veterans with mesothelioma can also access financial payouts from the VA that award $3,000 a month on average.

File for mesothelioma VA benefits with our help right now.