Menu

What Is Stage 2 Mesothelioma?

Most cancers are staged on a scale of 1 through 4. At stage 2, mesothelioma is still considered an early-stage diagnosis. There is limited spreading throughout the body, though tumors have likely reached the lymph system. Patients are usually eligible for treatment options that can remove or shrink the tumors, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy.

At stage 2, patients may begin to experience mild symptoms. However, because symptoms may mirror those of less severe conditions, the disease often goes undiagnosed until it has reached more advanced stages.

Overwhelmed by your mesothelioma diagnosis or treatment? Download our free guide to learn more about the disease.
Download Guide

By Type

What happens during stage 2 differs based on the location of the disease.

This is an image of a lung with stage 2 cancer.

Stage 2 Pleural Mesothelioma

This is the most common form of the disease, affecting the lining of the lung and chest cavity. Doctors stage this cancer on the Brigham system, the Butchart system, or the TNM system.

The TNM system has become the most widely used for staging pleural mesothelioma. It factors in the size and extent of tumors, lymph node involvement, and the overall spread of cancer throughout the body.

The TNM scale describes stage 2 mesothelioma as:

  • The primary tumor is still likely resectable, meaning the tumors can be removed via surgery
  • No distant spread
  • Spread is localized to one side of the chest cavity, spreading into the lung or diaphragm on that side and extending into the nearby lymph nodes


This is an image of stage 2 peritoneal mesothelioma.

Stage 2 Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the abdominal cavity and is relatively rare. It is generally staged using the Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI), which assigns a score based on the spread and extent of the cancer present in the abdomen. Lower scores reflect less aggressive, more treatable cancers. Stage 2 patients usually have a PCI score between 11 and 20.


This is an image of stage 2 pericardial mesothelioma.

Stage 2 Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma affects the lining of the heart and accounts for less than 5 percent of all cases. As a result, this form of cancer does not have a formal staging system, though doctors can use the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging scale. However, because it’s so aggressive, this cancer is often diagnosed in advanced stages or posthumously (after death).

Symptoms

At stage 2, symptoms may become more prevalent than in stage 1 but still remain relatively mild.

Stage 2 symptoms include:

  • A chronic cough
  • Body aches
  • Chest pain
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
  • Unexplained weight loss

Survival Rates

Survival rates for any form of cancer are determined by using statistics based on other patients’ survival times after their initial diagnosis.

Patients with stage 2 have a life expectancy of 19 months on average. However, because it’s such a rare form of cancer, research is limited, and every case is unique. Survival rates also vary by histologic subtypes. Some genetic factors may alter the overall prognosis of the patients. Emerging treatments also offer patients hope for extended life spans.

Treating Stage 2

For patients healthy enough to undergo treatment, cancer may be treated with a multimodal treatment plan that includes surgery supplemented with chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy.

Clinical trials may also be a treatment option for eligible patients. Researchers conduct clinical trials to learn more about a disease and test new treatments before they are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Mesothelioma Support Team

Mesothelioma Hub is dedicated to helping you find information, support, and advice. Reach out any time!