California has been plagued by tens of thousands of deaths related to asbestos exposure over the last couple of decades.[1] Those living with mesothelioma can find excellent care in the state at one of several cancer centers recognized by the National Cancer Institute. Some of the best mesothelioma specialists in the world work in the state.
Mesothelioma Treatment in California
Several of the country’s best cancer centers serve California residents, thousands of whom experienced harmful asbestos exposure. Ten facilities in the state have been designated as National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Centers. These locations are recognized for excellence in patient care and treatment.
Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
Chao is part of the University of California, Irvine campus. The center is involved in various treatments and research programs but places particular emphasis on the early detection of cancers. Mesothelioma patients benefit from early diagnosis, which gives them more treatment options.[2]
City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center
City of Hope in Duarte has been treating cancer patients since 1913 and today staffs hundreds of physicians. Multidisciplinary teams include experts in aggressive thoracic cancers like pleural mesothelioma.[3]
Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center
Located at the University of California, San Diego, Moores includes experts in mesothelioma, pathology, radiology, and research. They provide excellent mesothelioma care through the Rare Tumor Clinic and the Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy.[4]
Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
The Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center is in Los Angeles and staffs leading experts in mesothelioma, including Dr. Robert Cameron. The center includes the Lung Cancer Program and a partnership with the Pacific Mesothelioma Center.[5]
Stanford Cancer Institute
A part of the Stanford School of Medicine, this cancer center specializes in a number of treatments that benefit mesothelioma patients: video-assisted thoracic surgery, chemotherapy, and external radiation therapy. Patients can also access emerging treatments through clinical trials.[6]
Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
The Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center is part of the University of California, San Francisco. Cutting-edge treatments here benefit mesothelioma patients, and on staff is Dr. David Jablons, a leading expert in thoracic surgery and mesothelioma specialist.[7]
West Los Angeles VA Medical Center
Military veterans, especially those who served in the U.S. Navy, have some of the highest rates of mesothelioma. Veterans can get free care at the VA hospital in Los Angeles, which partners with the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center to provide specialist treatment.[8]
Ridley-Tree Cancer Center
Ridley-Tree in Santa Barbara offers pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and lung cancer patients comprehensive treatment plans, including surgery, medical oncology, and radiation therapy.
Stanford Medicine Cancer Center
The Stanford Medicine Cancer Center is associated with the Stanford Cancer Institute. It offers cutting-edge therapies for mesothelioma and lung cancer patients. It is one of the premier facilities for surgery plus HIPEC for peritoneal mesothelioma patients.
The Pacific Mesothelioma Center
Located within the Pacific Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the Pacific Mesothelioma Center is a rare facility dedicated to mesothelioma treatment. It provides specialists and innovative treatments and also houses a mesothelioma research lab.
UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center
The UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center is home to a thoracic oncology program and specialists in pleural mesothelioma treatment. Patients here can also access clinical trials.
USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
The USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles is a major regional hub for treating pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer. It is also a significant center for research and education.
Physicians Treating Mesothelioma in California
With such a wide selection of impressive cancer centers in the state, Californians with mesothelioma can also choose to work with some of the best specialists in the world.
Robert B. Cameron, M.D.
Dr. Cameron is a thoracic oncology surgeon and specializes in pleural mesothelioma. He heads UCLA’s Comprehensive Mesothelioma Program, which focuses on innovative surgical procedures. He and his team try to treat patients in the least invasive way possible and with fewer side effects. Dr. Cameron also works with veterans at the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Medical Center.[9]
David M. Jablons, M.D.
Dr. Jablons is the chief of thoracic surgery at UCSF’s Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center. He is an expert in the surgical treatment of pleural mesothelioma and is also a dedicated researcher and philanthropist.[10]
Joel M. Baumgartner, M.D.
HIPEC is an innovative and effective treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma, but few physicians are qualified to administer it. Dr. Baumgartner, a surgical oncologist at Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center, is one of them.[11]
Additional Mesothelioma Specialists in California
These are some of the other many physicians and researchers who treat and investigate mesothelioma in California:
- Fereidoun Abtin, M.D., thoracic radiologist, UCLA Medical Center
- Scott M. Atay, M.D., thoracic surgeon, Keck Medicine of USC
- Robert Barone, M.D., surgical oncologist, West Coast HIPEC
- Lyudmila Bazhenova, M.D., medical oncologist, Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center, UC San Diego
- Anton J. Bilchik, M.D., surgeon, John Wayne Cancer Institute
- Bryan Burt, M.D., thoracic surgeon, UCLA Health
- W. Charles Conway, II, M.D., surgical oncologist, Ridley-Tree Cancer Center
- David Tom Cooke, M.D., thoracic surgeon and oncologist, UC Davis Health Center
- Alexandra Gangi, M.D., surgeon and surgical oncologist, Cedars Sinai Medical Center
- Thierry M. Jahan, M.D., medical oncologist, UC San Francisco
- Anthony W. Kim, M.D., surgeon and thoracic oncologist, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Byrne Lee, M.D., surgical oncologist, Stanford Cancer Center
- Jay M. Lee, M.D., thoracic surgical oncologist, UCLA and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Andrew Lowy, M.D., surgical oncologist, Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center, UC San Diego
- Amin Mirhadi, M.D., radiation oncologist, Cedars Sinai Medical Center
- William Mitchell, M.D., medical oncologist, Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center, UC San Diego
- Misako Nagasaka, M.D., thoracic oncologist, UC Irvine
- Joel Neal, M.D., thoracic oncologist, Stanford Cancer Institute
- Mark Onaitis, M.D., thoracic surgeon, UC San Diego
- Jonathan Wesley Riess, M.D., thoracic oncologist, UC Davis Health Medical Center
- Ravi Salgia, M.D., medical oncologist and researcher, City of Hope, Duarte
- Harmik J. Soukiasian, M.D., thoracic surgeon, Cedars Sinai Medical Center
- Patricia Thistlewaite, M.D., cardiothoracic surgeon, Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center, UC San Diego
- Jula Veerapong, M.D., surgical oncologist, Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center, UC San Diego
- Jeffrey Velotta, M.D., thoracic surgeon, Kaiser Permanente Northern California Mesothelioma Program
- Heather Wakelee, M.D., mesothelioma researcher, Stanford Cancer Institute
Clinical Trials for Mesothelioma Patients in California
With so many research centers in California, the state always has clinical trials recruiting new participants. If you are interested in being a part of a trial, talk to your medical team. Some of those currently recruiting mesothelioma patients in California include:
- Study of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in Participants With Advanced Solid Tumors (MK-3475-158/KEYNOTE-158). Participants in this study have advanced, metastatic cancer that cannot be treated surgically. They will receive an immunotherapy drug after progressing on standard treatments.[12]
- MEDI5752 in Combination With Carboplatin Plus Pemetrexed in Unresectable Pleural Mesothelioma (eVOLVE-Meso). This phase III randomized study is testing the safety and efficacy of standard chemotherapy with a new medication.[13]
- Testing the Addition of Immunotherapy Before Surgery for Patients With Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma. This trial is recruiting patients with the most aggressive type of mesothelioma for a study of immunotherapy with surgery.[14]
California has many treatment options for mesothelioma patients. Residents have their pick of facilities and experts, and many patients come here from other states looking for the best care and the most choices.
