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Extraordinary Care.  Understanding Your Stage of Malignant
Mesothelioma  Before deciding on treatment options, your doctor
will need to know the extent of the malignant mesothelioma. This
is called the stage. Your doctor will look at the results of the
tests you had in order to determine the stage of the cancer.
The stage of cancer tells how much and how far the cancer has
spread. At this time, mesothelioma around the lung (called
pleural mesothelioma) is the only type that has a formal staging
system. This is because it is the most common form of
mesothelioma.  The AJCC (American Joint Committee on Cancer)
staging system uses Roman numerals from I to IV (1 to 4) for the
different stages. Stage I (the earliest stage) means you have
the smallest amount of cancer. Stage IV (the most advanced
stage) means you have the largest amount:    • Stage I. The
cancer is on 1 side of the body in the lining of the chest
cavity near the lung and may also includ