Stage 4 Mesothelioma

Stage 4 mesothelioma is the final stage. This advanced stage of cancer is also known as end-stage or late-stage mesothelioma. Treatment options in this stage are mostly limited to palliative care, which aims to reduce symptoms and improve the quality of life while also prolonging survivability.

Palliative surgery and chemotherapy are offered based on a patient’s strength and overall health. Mesothelioma doctors typically do not present aggressive treatments for patients in this stage.

For many mesothelioma patients, remission is still possible in stage 4. However, life expectancy largely depends on the aggressiveness of the cancer and the patient’s response to treatment.

Asbestos fibers are long and thin, crystalline particles. As asbestos-containing materials break down, the damage releases fibers as microscopic dust into the air or water.

Inhaling or digesting these fine, needle-like fibers traps them in the lining of the lungs or other areas of the body. The shape and structure of asbestos fibers prevent the body from dissolving or expelling them.

Over time, these fibers trigger an immune response, causing inflammation, scarring in the tissues that damage DNA and leading to uncontrolled cellular replication and cancer.

Cancer that develops from asbestos fibers trapped in the pleura, the tissue lining the chest wall and lungs, is known as pleural mesothelioma.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is cancer caused by asbestos fibers stuck in the tissue surrounding the abdomen and abdominal organs. This tissue is called the peritoneum.

Most oncologists use the American Joint Committee on Cancer’s TNM classification system, which stands for Tumor Node Metastasis, to describe the extent of cancer.

Other staging methods include the Brigham and Butchart systems. Dr. David Sugarbaker created the Brigham system, which outlines the role of surgery in each stage.

The Butchart staging system, much like the TNM, categorizes stage 4 mesothelioma on the presence and extent of metastasis.

Currently, there is no formal staging system for peritoneal or pericardial mesothelioma. However, physicians typically consider these diseases stage 4 if there is advanced tumor growth throughout the abdomen or metastasis.

The Peritoneal Cancer Index, or PCI, is a tool used to assess the extent of disease in peritoneal mesothelioma. Oncologists do not regularly use PCI as a predictor of survival, instead they use it to tailor treatment plans in the abdominal region.

Mesothelioma is terminal cancer and incurable. However, many patients go into remission, especially with treatment. The mesothelioma life expectancy at stage 4 depends primarily on the extent of the cancer progression and your response to therapy.

Compared to early-stage mesothelioma, significant symptoms are more present in stage 4. These symptoms are usually severe, and diagnosis occurs more frequently than in the early stages of mesothelioma.

As tumors develop, pleural effusion may cause fluid accumulation between the layers of the pleura and lead to excess pressure on the lungs.

Patients may also experience cachexia, a metabolic disorder characterized by weight loss, muscle breakdown and general weakness.

Mesothelioma also causes high platelets and low red blood cell counts, known as thrombocytosis and anemia, respectively, which can worsen the impact of other side effects.

In many cases, mesothelioma symptoms mimic more common diseases such as pneumonia. Diagnosis can be difficult for a general practitioner. Oncologists or mesothelioma specialists diagnose most mesothelioma cases.

Late-stage peritoneal mesothelioma typically presents with gastrointestinal distress. Late-stage pericardial mesothelioma symptoms include irregular heart rhythms.

The location and rate at which cancer spreads in stage 4 vary by mesothelioma type. Staging systems differ based on the specific diagnosis, but in all cases of late-stage mesothelioma, cancer has spread beyond its point of origin.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of this cancer, which has led to a widely approved method for staging the disease. The TNM staging system defines stage 4 pleural mesothelioma as cancer that has spread beyond the pleural lining of the lungs.

To be diagnosed with stage 4, cancer must have spread to a distant site from the pleural tissue in the thoracic cavity. Possible locations of metastasis include:

Treatment options in stage 4 also depend on epithelial, sarcomatoid or biphasic cell type. Patients with epithelial mesothelioma have the most treatment options

Peritoneal mesothelioma accounts for about 20% of all cases, but does not yet have an official staging system. However, mesothelioma specialists often use the Peritoneal Cancer Index to stage this type. These specialists typically classify peritoneal patients with extensive tumor presence throughout the abdomen as stage 4.

The PCI divides the abdomen into 13 regions and scores each area based on tumor size. The ratings are combined to provide a stage. In late-stage peritoneal mesothelioma, cancer has traveled to distant lymph nodes, tissues and organs.

Pericardial mesothelioma is a rare form of the disease that develops in the heart sac and does not have an official staging system. Physicians typically use staging guidelines for other cancers to determine a stage for pericardial mesothelioma, but are often unable to diagnose the disease until its later stages.

Like other rare forms of this cancer, testicular mesothelioma does not have a recognized staging system. It is the form of mesothelioma with the least amount of documented cases, diagnosed in only 1% of all cases. Doctors consider this disease late -stage when it has spread to distant tissues, organs and lymph nodes.

Fewer treatment options and more prevalent tumor growth lead to an average life expectancy of around 12 months for stage 4 mesothelioma patients who undergo treatment. The five-year survival rate for late-stage pleural mesothelioma is 8%, according to the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program of the National Cancer Institute.

Patients who decline treatment live an average of six months, but this varies based on overall tumor size and rate of growth.

In stage 4 mesothelioma, cancer has a likelihood of spreading further into the lungs or heart tissue. The most common causes of death are respiratory or cardiac failure.

Pleural mesothelioma can be more challenging to treat than other types. Patients with peritoneal cancer tend to have better survival rates. Approximately 66% of late-stage peritoneal mesothelioma patients live past one year, and about 29% live for five years or more.

While the CDC does not track the mesothelioma stage type as it relates to the death rate, over 45,000 people per million die from mesothelioma. About 3,300 of those deaths are due to pleural mesothelioma, while peritoneal mesothelioma accounts for about 1,800.

Roughly 74 people out of every million will die of pericardial mesothelioma. There is insufficient data on the mortality rate of testicular mesothelioma due to its rarity.

With a successful response treatment and positive prognostic factors, many patients often live longer than 12 months. Patients with epithelioid cell type tumors may have better outcomes from surgery, and younger patients without underlying medical conditions might respond better to treatment.

There is currently no cure for any stage of mesothelioma. Most treatments in stage 4 are palliative options and aim to decrease the severity of symptoms to improve quality of life.

Oncologists do not recommend aggressive tumor-reduction surgeries in the final stages of mesothelioma because of the spread of cancer to other areas in the body.

Treatment options for mesothelioma at stage 4 include chemotherapy, palliative surgery and radiation therapy. Clinical trials and complementary medicine provide alternative avenues for patients seeking novel methods or palliative approaches.

Stage 4 pleural mesothelioma patients are not eligible for extrapleural pneumonectomy or pleurectomy with decortication. These surgeries are unable to remove the majority of tumor mass in stage 4. Treatment plans will depend on how far cancer has spread.

Palliative surgical options for stage 4 mesothelioma patients will remove tumor mass from areas to improve symptoms such as difficulty breathing or chest pain. This process is known as debulking and is a less extensive surgery than mesothelioma surgical options offered in earlier stages.

Chemotherapy slows tumor growth and is the most common treatment option for stage 4 mesothelioma. Oncologists typically prescribe a combination of pemetrexed (Alimta) and cisplatin. In some cases, chemotherapy may also shrink tumors.

In addition to prolonging survival, patients often receive chemotherapy with other therapies in a multimodal approach that reduces symptoms and can improve their mesothelioma prognosis.

Mesothelioma specialists sometimes prescribe hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for late-stage peritoneal mesothelioma. However, specialists do not indicate this procedure for patients with a high Peritoneal Cancer Index score.

Palliative radiation therapy is another option that oncologists often combine with other treatments. This therapy uses high-energy beams to kill cancer cells in a specific and discrete location while minimizing damage to neighboring healthy tissue.

Radiation can help stage 4 patients with painful chest wall tumors by shrinking them to reduce pain and pressure on the nearby nerve or organ tissues.

Palliative care is the umbrella term for treatments that do not intend to cure the disease. These therapies aim to improve the quality of life and increase overall function by controlling pain and alleviating symptoms.

Palliative chemotherapy and radiation can help you feel better and extend survival by reducing cancer-associated pain. Palliative surgery is an option that drains fluid buildup around the lungs to improve breathing effort.

Respiratory therapy is another palliative option that can train patients to breathe with improved effort and increase overall lung function and oxygen saturation.

Complementary therapies, such as yoga and acupuncture, may also improve overall health and empower patients to fight cancer.

Many stage 4 mesothelioma patients integrate complementary and alternative medicine into their treatment. For example, massage and herbal remedies have eased chemotherapy symptoms or side effects of some mesothelioma survivors, enhancing their quality of life.

These practices offer patients more control over their treatment plans and provide a broader range of options. Changes in lifestyle decisions, such as improved diet and exercise, can also increase overall health, boost the immune system and prolong survival.

Some treatment options for stage 4 mesothelioma patients are only available through clinical research trials. These studies allow patients the opportunity for otherwise unavailable and potentially effective therapies such as immunotherapy, gene therapy and new chemotherapy options.

Clinical research trials afford one of the best chances at increased survival for stage 4 mesothelioma patients. However, in some cases, few or only one patient in a mesothelioma clinical trial might respond positively to the drug or therapy.

Some immunotherapy medications have shown promising results for many patients in clinical trials. These medications use the body’s immune system to attack and eliminate cancer cells with fewer symptoms compared to chemotherapy.

Examples of immunotherapy medications include pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and nivolumab (Opdivo).

Scientists continue to research new methods for treating advanced-stage cancer, and clinical research trials are always enrolling.

Stage 4 mesothelioma patients can take an active role in their treatment plan by frequently communicating with their medical team and support network. Patients who advocate for themselves find fulfillment in being involved with their end-of-life care and planning.

Communicating clearly and often with family and friends makes it evident what your wishes are and why these decisions are essential to you. Patients have less anxiety when they are sure their loved ones will honor their requests.

Documentation is also vital during end-stage mesothelioma planning. Working with a palliative care specialist or hospice provider can assist with care decisions and appropriate documentation.

Some families may need more care assistance as cancer progresses. Hiring a professional caregiver or home health aide ensures medical caregiving and household duties don’t cause excess stress.

A hospice program may be the right choice if the patient requires constant medical care that caregivers or health aides cannot provide at home.

Many patients also seek help from online support groups and care networks. Connecting with other patients going through a similar process provides motivation and empowers patients to advocate for their care.

By taking control of your mesothelioma diagnosis and care options, you provide yourself agency that will help you manage many aspects of your cancer.

Through several treatment options, clinical trials and successful planning, mesothelioma survivors have beaten the odds, and more patients can hope to live longer with a stage 4 diagnosis.