Maine has a sparse population but is home to many people affected by asbestos and mesothelioma. Cancer centers in the state can help these patients, but many may prefer to go out of state to find more specialists in mesothelioma care.
Maine Cancer Treatment Centers
Mesothelioma specialists are rare for this unusual cancer, especially in a state with a small population. Maine is home to a couple of excellent cancer centers, though, and patients can start here for comprehensive care and referrals if needed.
Maine Medical Center Cancer Institute
The Maine Medical Center Cancer Institute in Scarborough helps more than 3,000 cancer patients each year. The Institute conducts research and treats patients. For mesothelioma patients, there are good reasons to begin getting care here:[1]
- The Institute approaches care with a multidisciplinary philosophy. Teams of specialists in different areas of medicine collaborate to create treatment plans.
- These teams involve the families and patients themselves, listening to their preferences and prioritizing quality of life.
- The Surgical Oncology Department is staffed by experts in their fields. They can perform procedures to treat thoracic cancers, such as pleural mesothelioma, and gastrointestinal cancers, such as peritoneal mesothelioma.
- The Esophageal and Lung Cancer team treats lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma, collaborating with surgeons, radiologists, medical oncologists, and others.
- The Institute provides HIPEC, one of the most effective treatments for peritoneal mesothelioma and a service not all cancer centers provide.
- Supportive services include nutritional counseling, home health care, support groups, mental health consultations, survivorship clinics, and palliative care.
MaineGeneral Health Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care
The HACCC is located in Augusta and provides a range of services for patients with all types of cancers. Medical teams here treat lung cancer and gastrointestinal cancer. They can provide treatment for or at least a starting point for referrals and treatments for pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma. HACCC also conducts clinical trials.[2]
Mercy Hospital Cancer Care Center
Located in Portland, Mercy Hospital Cancer Care Center is part of Northern Light Health. The Center serves more than 500 patients every year and is equipped to treat lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Physicians at Mercy Hospital collaborate with specialists from other medical centers, including Dana-Farber Cancer Center and New England Cancer Specialists.[3]
Cancer Centers in Nearby States
Maine residents with mesothelioma may choose to travel to find specialists. New England is a small region, so traveling to a bigger city is reasonable for many. Boston is home to the Dana-Farber Cancer Center, one of the leaders in the country for treating mesothelioma. New York City is home to four nationally recognized cancer centers, all equipped to help patients with this rare cancer.
Physicians Treating Mesothelioma in Maine
Mesothelioma specialists are hard to find anywhere. This is a rare disease that is difficult to treat, even for experienced oncologists and surgeons. In Maine, there are a couple of surgeons who can help patients with pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma.
Richard E. Royal, M.D.
For patients with mesothelioma, surgery is often a primary and important treatment. Dr. Royal is a surgeon specializing in cancer treatment at the Maine Medical Center. He performs gastrointestinal surgeries and is one of few physicians who can provide cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC for peritoneal mesothelioma patients.[4]
Gary M. Hochheiser, M.D.
Dr. Hochhesier is the Medical Director of the Lung Screening Program at the Maine Medical Center Cancer Institute. He is also the Director of Thoracic Surgery and Thoracic Oncology. He specializes in minimally invasive thoracic procedures and can treat patients with pleural mesothelioma.[5]
Seth Blank, M.D.
Dr. Blank is a thoracic surgeon at Maine General Medical Center. He treats patients with various thoracic cancers, including pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer. Dr. Blank uses minimally invasive techniques and video-assisted surgery.[6]
Christopher Wigfield, M.D.
Dr. Wigfield is a thoracic surgeon at Northern Light Easter Maine Medical Center in Bangor. He specializes in thoracic procedures using robotic surgical techniques. He treats lung cancer, pleural mesothelioma, and other cancers of the chest cavity.[7]
Clinical Trials in Maine
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, treatment options may seem limited. A clinical trial can be an excellent way to access more treatments. These studies investigate new therapies, surgeries, and drugs with the help of patient participants. Just one trial in Maine is currently recruiting patients with mesothelioma.
The Integrated Cancer Repository for Cancer Research, or iCaRe2, study is helping to further cancer research into prevention, risk factors, novel therapies, early detection, and personalized treatments, consider participating in this study. It will not offer you a new treatment, but it will allow you to assist with cancer research. The study needs data and samples from patients with a range of cancer types.[8]
Residents of Maine who have been affected by this terrible cancer have options for treatment. From excellent treatment centers in the state to nearby, world-renowned facilities, you have choices and can get the best care.
