Delaware residents diagnosed with mesothelioma must find expert care from top-notch cancer centers and world-class specialists for the best outcomes. The state is small, with just a few cancer treatment options, but nearby states offer additional choices close to home.
Cancer Treatment Centers in Delaware
While the choices for cancer specialty centers in the state are limited, there is one excellent facility in Newark. The Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute is the largest cancer center in Delaware and treats more patients than any other facility. There are several reasons for mesothelioma patients to choose this location for their treatment:[1]
- A multidisciplinary approach to care with teams of experts in different fields working with each patient
- Cutting-edge technologies, including the Cyberknife Robotic Radiosurgery System and the da Vinci Robotic Surgery System
- Innovative procedures, including video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and radiofrequency ablation of lung tumors
- A Thoracic and Esophageal Multidisciplinary Center for treating pleural mesothelioma
- A Community Oncology Research Program
- Multiple clinical trials onsite
- Support staff, including cancer psychologists, financial counselors, chaplains, nutritionists, cancer-rehabilitation therapists, and more
For patients with peritoneal mesothelioma, the Beebe Healthcare Tunnell Cancer Center in Rehoboth Beach offers treatment options. It is one of the few locations in the country that offers cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC, the leading and most effective treatment for peritoneal cancers.[2]
Delaware is a small state near big cities that are home to several cancer centers recognized by the National Cancer Institute. Most of these offer specialist care in mesothelioma and are not far for Delaware residents:[3]
- Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia
- The Wistar Institute Cancer Center, Philadelphia
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
- University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore
- Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Physicians Treating Mesothelioma in Delaware
It is essential for mesothelioma patients to find specialists, including medical oncologists and surgeons, to treat this rare cancer.
Charles Mulligan, M.D.
Dr. Mulligan is the Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute. An experienced thoracic surgeon is important for treating most cases of pleural mesothelioma. This is the main treatment approach for patients with resectable cancer, often supplemented with chemotherapy.[4]
Gregory A. Masters, M.D.
Dr. Masters is a medical oncologist at the Graham Cancer Center. He is a specialist in lung cancer, which is sometimes associated with asbestos exposure. In addition to coordinating with multidisciplinary teams to manage cancers, including mesothelioma and lung cancer, he is a dedicated cancer researcher.[5]
James E. Spellman, Jr., M.D.
Dr. Spellman is a surgical oncologist. He is a part of the Tunnell Cancer Center team and sees patients at Beebe Surgical Oncology in Rehoboth Beach.[6]
Jesus Esquivel, M.D.
Dr. Jesus Esquivel is a surgeon who specializes in oncology surgery at Beebe Healthcare in Lewes. He offers patients cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC for treating peritoneal mesothelioma and other abdominal cancers.[7]
Jamil Khatri, M.D.
Dr. Khatri is an oncologist and hematologist at ChristianaCare and the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center in Newark, Delaware. He treats patients with lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma as part of a multidisciplinary team.[8]
Mesothelioma Clinical Trials in Delaware
Delaware only has one current study recruiting mesothelioma patients. Clinical trials are essential for patients with challenging cancers like mesothelioma. These studies give patients a unique opportunity to benefit from a new treatment.
In Delaware, some pleural mesothelioma patients may qualify for the clinical trial called Testing the Addition of Immunotherapy Before Surgery for Patients With Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma:[9]
- The current trial is in phase II.
- The study is currently recruiting participants with biphasic or sarcomatoid pleural mesothelioma.
- Researchers are studying the effectiveness of combining nivolumab and ipilimumab, two immunotherapy drugs, before surgery.
- Researchers want to know if these drugs combined with surgery are more effective than treating with immunotherapy alone.
- No results have been posted yet, but the study is ongoing.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and live in Delaware, try these facilities for the best cancer care in the state. Or, choose a nearby cancer institute that can provide you with more options.
