Stage 1 Mesothelioma

Stage 1 mesothelioma is the least advanced stage. The cancer is in the lining of the lungs (pleura) and has only just started to spread. Stage 1 patients typically have the best prognosis since there are many treatment options available. Lung Cancer Group can help you pursue treatments and compensation for stage 1 mesothelioma.

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Written and Fact-Checked by: Lung Cancer Group

Last updated: May 8, 2025

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What Is Stage 1 Mesothelioma?

Stage 1 mesothelioma is the earliest of four malignant mesothelioma stages and is the most treatable.

During stage 1, mesothelioma cancer cells have formed in the pleura (lining of the lungs) on one side of the chest. Patients typically have very few — if any — symptoms at this stage.

Did You Know?

Pleural mesothelioma is the only type of this cancer classified into stages. The other types, including peritoneal mesothelioma, are informally staged as “localized” or “advanced.

Mesothelioma specialists can often effectively treat stage 1 mesothelioma with surgery, chemotherapy, and other options. Stage 1 patients live longer than those diagnosed in later mesothelioma stages.

Our mesothelioma nurses and patient advocates can help you find top doctors and treatments for any stage of this cancer. Connect with a nurse now to get started.

Substages of Mesothelioma Stage 1

There are two substages of stage 1 malignant pleural mesothelioma: stage 1A and stage 1B. The stage a patient has depends on the cancer’s spread at the time of diagnosis, according to the ‌American Cancer Society (ACS).

Stage 1A Mesothelioma

In cases of stage 1A mesothelioma, the cancer is in part of the pleura that covers the chest wall.

Stage 1A mesothelioma may have reached:

Diaphragm (organ that helps with breathing)
Mediastinum (chest space)
Parts of the pleura covering the lungs
The lung itself

Stage 1B Mesothelioma

In stage 1B mesothelioma, the cancer has spread through the pleura, reaching the parts that cover the diaphragm and lung.

The cancer may have also spread into:

Layers of the chest cavity & wall
The pericardium (heart lining)
Tissues of the mediastinum

Mesothelioma Stage 1 Symptoms

Symptoms of stage 1 mesothelioma typically appear 10-50 years after someone is first exposed to asbestos, the only known cause of this cancer.

Stage 1 mesothelioma symptoms and early signs to watch for include:

Chest pain
Fatigue
Fever
Shortness of breath
Persistent cough
Pleural effusion (fluid buildup in chest)

Many patients won’t experience any stage 1 mesothelioma symptoms. The cancer tumors aren’t big or widespread, so they may not cause discomfort in these stages.

See a doctor if you were exposed to asbestos and now suffer from any of these symptoms — particularly pleural effusion. A 2022 Pathology International report noted that pleural effusions were the first symptom in over 80% of pleural mesothelioma cases.

Diagnosing Stage 1 Mesothelioma

Oncologists (cancer doctors) use a couple of different tests to diagnose any stage of mesothelioma, including stage 1.

Tests to diagnose stage 1 mesothelioma include:

A medical exam to check for symptoms and asbestos exposure history
Imaging tests (X-rays, CT scans, PET scans) to look for abnormalities
Blood tests to identify biomarkers (substances that indicate you have cancer)
A biopsy, where a fluid or tissue sample is removed to check for mesothelioma cells

Did You Know?

Since patients have little to no symptoms, stage 1 mesothelioma cases may be diagnosed when doctors are looking for another health problem.

After confirming the diagnosis with a biopsy, doctors use the Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) staging system to determine cancer stage.

If there is no spread to nearby lymph nodes or other parts of the body, a patient has stage 1 mesothelioma.

Stage 1 Mesothelioma Prognosis

Stage 1 mesothelioma has the best prognosis (health outlook) compared to the other stages, since the cancer is easier to treat.

Mesothelioma prognosis stage 1 is measured using life expectancy (average amount of time someone lives after diagnosis) and survival rate (percentage of patients still alive after a period of time).

Mesothelioma Survival Rates Stage 1

Stage 1 mesothelioma patients had a 5-year survival rate of 11% when treated with surgery, according to a 2023 National Cancer Database (NCDB) review.

You may be able to outlive the stage 1 mesothelioma survival rate depending on how your body responds to treatments and other factors.

Lung Cancer Group can help you find top mesothelioma doctors and treatments to improve your survival time. Connect with our nurses now to get started.

Mesothelioma Life Expectancy Stage 1

The average life expectancy for stage 1 mesothelioma patients is 21 months (almost 2 years), according to a Frontiers in Oncology report.

It may be possible to live even longer depending on the treatments you receive, with some early-stage patients becoming long-term survivors.

Mesothelioma Stage 1 Treatments

Stage 1 patients typically have the most mesothelioma treatment options available. These include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy.

Doctors often use multiple treatments together (multimodal therapy) to remove or destroy as much cancer as possible and help stage 1 mesothelioma patients live longer.

Mesothelioma Surgery

Surgery is often one of the most effective treatment options for mesothelioma stage 1. Doctors remove all of the mesothelioma tumors they can see to significantly slow the cancer’s spread.

There are two main stage 1 pleural mesothelioma surgeries:

Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP): During an EPP, the surgeon removes the lung nearest to the cancer, the lung lining, part of the diaphragm, and the heart lining (pericardium).
Pleurectomy with decortication (P/D): This surgery aims to remove the cancerous lung lining and any visible tumors while preserving the lung. It’s less intensive than an EPP but still effective.

Stage 1 mesothelioma patients have an average life expectancy of 19.2 months when treated with surgery, according to NCDB data.

Connect with our nurses now for help finding top stage 1 mesothelioma treatments, including surgeries, chemotherapy, and more.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is an important part of stage 1 mesothelioma treatment plans. It uses powerful drugs to target and kill cancer cells and is often used with surgery.

Stage 1 pleural mesothelioma patients lived for 13 months on average when treated with chemotherapy in a 2024 Journal of Clinical Oncology report.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, uses high-energy X-rays to damage the DNA of cancer cells, which can shrink tumors and improve quality of life.

Stage 1 patients had an average life expectancy of 23.8 months when they received radiotherapy.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy stimulates the patient’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. It was approved to treat pleural mesothelioma after showing success in clinical trials.

Stage 1 pleural mesothelioma patients lived for over 17 months on average when treated with immunotherapy.

Get Help for Stage 1 Mesothelioma

Lung Cancer Group is here to walk you through every step of your cancer journey after a stage 1 mesothelioma diagnosis.

Though having stage 1 mesothelioma can be stressful and scary, we’ll do all we can to assist you and your family.

Our team can help you:

Explore treatment options
Find top doctors and cancer centers near you
Pursue compensation to cover any expenses
Receive other key resources and forms of support

Connect with our mesothelioma nurses right now or call (877) 446-5767 to find out your eligibility. Our team is standing by to help you in any way we can.

Stage 1 Mesothelioma FAQs

Can you survive stage 1 mesothelioma?

Yes, it may be possible for you to live for many years with stage 1 mesothelioma, depending on how your cancer responds to the treatments you receive.

Stage 1 mesothelioma patients have the best chance of long-term survival since the cancer is easier to treat. Some mesothelioma patients have lived for 20 years or more with the right medical care.

Can stage 1 mesothelioma be cured?

While there’s no official cure for mesothelioma, doctors can often remove all visible signs of stage 1 cancer with treatments like surgery.

Patients may informally be considered cured if these cancer treatments lead to long-term remission.

How long can I live if I have mesothelioma?

Stage 1 mesothelioma patients typically live for nearly 2 years, according to data from a Frontiers in Oncology study.

You may live longer depending on which treatments you receive and how the cancer responds.

Can stage 1 mesothelioma go into remission?

You may possibly achieve remission after getting treated for stage 1 mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma remission refers to a period during which the signs of cancer are either totally or partially gone. Getting prompt medical treatment gives you the best chance of achieving remission.

How fast does mesothelioma progress?

Without any treatment, stage 1 mesothelioma can quickly progress into later stages. This is particularly true if you have a more aggressive mesothelioma cell type.

For this reason, it’s important to see a mesothelioma specialist if you’re concerned about this cancer. Getting diagnosed in an early stage and receiving treatment gives you the best chance of long-term survival.

What are the odds of beating mesothelioma?

The odds of beating mesothelioma are better if you have stage 1 cancer since it’s easier to treat.

Long-term survival is rare — but possible — with aggressive treatment. Stage 1 mesothelioma patients have the most treatment options available, and in some cases, all visible signs of the cancer can be removed or destroyed.

Call (877) 446-5767 now for help finding treatments to improve your stage 1 mesothelioma prognosis.