Thousands of residents of Connecticut have been victims of workplace asbestos exposure. Many developed aggressive cancer known as mesothelioma, which is extremely difficult to treat. Fortunately, Connecticut is home to top cancer centers and specialists in managing pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma.
Cancer Treatment Centers in Connecticut
Patients in Connecticut have many treatment options, but for mesothelioma, only the best facilities can provide care. There are a couple of these in the state, staffed by experts in thoracic surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, oncology, and other areas of medicine essential for treating mesothelioma.
One of the best cancer treatment centers in the region is in New Haven. The National Cancer Institute has recognized the Yale Cancer Center as a Comprehensive Cancer Center.
These cancer centers provide innovative treatments, cutting-edge diagnostics, and world-class cancer research. The Yale Cancer Center has a lot to offer mesothelioma patients:[1]
- Ongoing research on cancer prevention, detection, and treatment
- A cardio-oncology program dedicated to managing heart-related chemotherapy side effects
- Integrative medicine and complementary therapies
- A program devoted to helping cancer patients manage and get relief from pain
- A palliative care program
- Parenting at a Challenging Time, a program to help parents living with cancer
- A gastrointestinal department that can provide cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC for patients with peritoneal mesothelioma
- A thoracic oncology department staffed by experts qualified to treat pleural mesothelioma
- Thoracic Pathology Service, a program specializing in making difficult diagnoses in the chest cavity, including mesothelioma
The Hartford Healthcare Cancer Institute at Hartford Hospital is not NCI recognized, but it is known as a center for excellent cancer care:[2]
- The Cancer Institute is one of the largest cancer treatment centers in the Northeast, with more than 50,000 patients each year.
- The Institute offers pathology for diagnosis, pain and symptom management, surgical and radiation oncology, and genetic counseling.
- Experts here can treat thoracic diseases, including pleural mesothelioma.
- The Institute has a robotic surgery program to provide minimally invasive procedures
Physicians Treating Mesothelioma in Connecticut
Yale and Hartford staff hundreds of experts in managing cancer, but mesothelioma specialists are rare. A few physicians working out of these facilities take on mesothelioma patients and provide expert care.
Roy S. Herbst, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Herbst is a medical oncologist at Yale Cancer Center’s Smilow Cancer Hospital. He is the Chief of Medical Oncology and previously headed the Thoracic Medical Oncology Department at Houston’s world-renowned MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Herbst can treat patients with pleural mesothelioma. He is also involved in research to advance thoracic cancer treatments.[3]
Frank Detterbeck, M.D.
Dr. Detterbeck is the Chief of Thoracic Surgery and Surgical Director of Thoracic Oncology at the Yale Cancer Center. His area of specialty is the surgical treatment of thoracic cancers, including pleural mesothelioma. He uses minimally invasive techniques whenever possible.[4]
Bret Mitchell Schipper, M.D.
Peritoneal mesothelioma patients may want to work with Dr. Schipper, the Chief of Surgical Oncology at Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute. He specializes in complex cancer surgeries and is one of a limited number of surgeons in the U.S. who can provide cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC, the most effective treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma.[5]
Scott Gettinger, M.D.
Dr. Scott Gettinger is a medical oncologist at the Yale School of Medicine and Smilow Cancer Hospital in New Haven. He is an expert in researching and treating lung cancer. He leads clinical trials.[6]
Daniel Labow, M.D.
Dr. Labow is the Chair of Surgery at Danbury Hospital. He treats several types of cancer, including peritoneal mesothelioma. He performs cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC and has helped establish HIPEC programs at other institutions.[7]
Lynn D. Wilson, M.D.
Dr. Lynn Wilson is a radiation oncologist at the Yale School of Medicine and Smilow Cancer Hospital. He collaborates with other specialists to treat mesothelioma patients with a multidisciplinary approach.[8]
Connecticut Clinical Trials for Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma patients can benefit from participating in clinical trials. These studies test novel treatments that patients otherwise cannot access. They also advance mesothelioma research. Just one clinical trial in Connecticut is currently recruiting mesothelioma patients.
Integrated Cancer Repository for Cancer Research (iCaRe2) is an ongoing collection of biospecimens from adult cancer patients. Mesothelioma patients who qualify can contribute to this important study that should improve diagnosis, screening, early detection, and prevention.[9]
Finding specialists and excellent treatment centers for mesothelioma can be challenging. Patients in Connecticut don’t have to go far, though. They have two top-notch cancer centers right in their own state.
