Skip to content
Mesothelioma.net
phone iconCall1-800-692-8608 chat icon Chat 24/7 Live Chat
Menu
  • Malignant Mesothelioma
    • About Mesothelioma
      • How to Survive Mesothelioma
      • 100 Questions & Answers about Mesothelioma (Free Book)
      • Symptoms
      • Diagnosis
      • Prognosis
      • Life Expectancy
    • Types
      • Pleural
      • Peritoneal
      • Epithelioid
      • Sarcomatoid
      • Biphasic
    • Stages
      • Stage 1
      • Stage 2
      • Stage 3
      • Stage 4
    • Additional Information
      • Causes
      • Asbestos and Its Dangers
      • Facts
      • Support
      • Financial Compensation
      • FREE Mesothelioma Packet
  • Treatment
    • Treatment Options
      • Surgery
      • Chemotherapy
      • Radiation Therapy
      • Multimodal Therapy
      • Medications
      • Palliative Treatment
    • Find Top Doctors
      • Doctors
      • Treatment Centers
      • Treatment & Doctors Near You
      • New Treatments
      • Care Providers
      • Clinical Trials
      • Costs
  • Asbestos Trusts
  • Compensation
  • Veteran Assistance
    • Mesothelioma and Veterans
      • VA Claims for Mesothelioma
      • Vietnam Veterans
    • Military Branches and Asbestos
      • Navy Veterans
      • Navy Ships
      • Marine Corps Veterans
      • Army Veterans
      • Air Force Veterans
      • U.S. Coast Guard
  • Surviving Mesothelioma
  • About Us / Contact
  • Home
Page Updated: June 27, 2022

Massachusetts Mesothelioma Treatment and Doctors

Dave Foster Page Edited by Patient Advocate Dave Foster
Fact Checked

This page has been fact checked by an experienced mesothelioma Patient Advocate. Sources of information are listed at the bottom of the article.

We make every attempt to keep our information accurate and up-to-date.

Please Contact Us with any questions or comments.

A mesothelioma diagnosis is terrible news, but residents of Massachusetts with this cancer have hope. They can get expert, world-class care right in their home state. Leading cancer centers with specialists and mesothelioma programs are available in and around Boston.

Get Help Connecting with a Massachusetts Mesothelioma Doctor

Massachusetts Cancer Centers

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer, so finding specialists can be challenging. And yet, it is important to work with experts because it is so difficult to treat. If you live in Massachusetts, you have more options than most for excellent treatment.

Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) recognizes DF/HCC as a comprehensive cancer center, a facility that leads the nation in cancer treatment and research. The father of modern chemotherapy, Dr. Sidney Farber, founded the cancer center in 1947. For mesothelioma patients, there are several reasons to come here for a second opinion and treatment:[1]

  • The DF/HCC is a consortium of several academic and medical institutions, including the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Massachusetts General Hospital.
  • The consortium hosts numerous clinical trials and leads the way in getting new cancer treatments approved. Mesothelioma patients can benefit from the research indirectly and also directly by participating in trials.
  • The Clinical Pathways Program is a unique patient management system that uses a decision tree based on evidence for effective treatment and care.
  • Profile, a genetic profiling initiative, helps the DF/HCC offer mesothelioma and other cancer patients the most precise treatment plan possible.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is the founding member of the DF/HCC and a top choice for care for cancer patients in the entire region. Much of the excellent care for cancer patients in the consortium occurs here.[2]

The Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment Center uses a team approach to treat cancers like peritoneal mesothelioma. In addition to the latest treatments and procedures, patients benefit from nutritional counseling, physical therapy, integrative therapies, support groups, and palliative care.[2]

Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Another part of the consortium that is so important for cancer care, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, is staffed by mesothelioma specialists and multidisciplinary care teams. It is also home to the International Mesothelioma Program.[3]

Patients can benefit from the care of medical teams, including oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, pathologists, and others. These teams personalize treatment for each mesothelioma patient. There are very few programs in the country that focus exclusively on mesothelioma, including specialists in this rare cancer.[3]

Massachusetts Mesothelioma Specialists

Mesothelioma specialists are hard to come by, but Boston’s DF/HCC is home to several. Patients in the state have some of the best experts in the country right in their own backyard.

Raphael Bueno, M.D.

Dr. Bueno is the Division of Thoracic Surgery Chief at Brigham and Women’s and is the leader of the International Mesothelioma Program. He also directs the Lung Center. As a thoracic surgeon, Dr. Bueno is an expert in performing procedures to treat pleural mesothelioma. He also leads research that aims to develop new treatments for lung cancer and mesothelioma.[4]

Abraham Lebenthal, M.D.

Also affiliated with DF/HCC, Dr. Lebenthal is a thoracic surgeon and the Director of Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery in the VA Boston Healthcare System. He specializes in pleural mesothelioma and treating patients with minimally invasive procedures. Dr. Lebenthal helps treat military veterans who have some of the highest rates of mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure during service.[5]

Nelya Melnitchouk, M.D.

Dr. Melnitchouk is the Director of the Program in Peritoneal Surface Malignancy, HIPEC at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She is a gastrointestinal surgeon and offers the innovative treatment of cytoreductive surgery followed by HIPEC. This procedure is not available everywhere but is the best option for extended life expectancy and even a cure for most patients with peritoneal mesothelioma.[6]

Get Help Connecting with a Massachusetts Mesothelioma Doctor

Mesothelioma Clinical Trials in Massachusetts

A clinical trial is a study that involves patients as participants. Researchers test the effectiveness and safety of treatments, surgical procedures, therapies, and diagnostic tools. If you are interested in accessing treatments that are not yet available to most people, consider participating in a clinical trial.

Your medical team can help you weigh the benefits and risks and determine if you qualify. Right now, there are 17 clinical trials in Massachusetts recruiting patients with a mesothelioma diagnosis. Some examples include:

  • Pembrolizumab With or Without Anetumab Ravtansine in Treating Patients With Mesothelin-Positive Pleural Mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma patients may qualify for this study testing a combination of immunotherapy drugs.[7]
  • DuRvalumab With chEmotherapy as First Line treAtment in Advanced Pleural Mesothelioma (DREAM3R). This study needs pleural mesothelioma patients not eligible for surgical treatment. Researchers are testing a new antibody and immunotherapy drug called durvalumab.[8]
  • Pleurectomy/Decortication (Neo) Adjuvant Chemotherapy and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy to the Pleura in Patients With Locally Advanced Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. This study needs pleural mesothelioma patients that has spread locally to try a multimodal treatment. It involves surgery, followed by chemotherapy and radiation.[9]
  • Study of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in Participants With Advanced Solid Tumors (MK-3475-158/KEYNOTE-158). This study is testing the effectiveness of an immunotherapy drug in cancers that have spread.[10]
  • Nivolumab and Ipilimumab in Treating Patients With Rare Tumors. Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma may qualify for this large study testing a combination of immunotherapies.[11]

If you have been diagnosed with this terrible cancer, one source of hope is the availability of world-class treatment Boston is home to some of the best treatment facilities in the U.S. and the world, as well as several mesothelioma specialists.

Get Help Being Accepted in Mesothelioma Clinical Trials
Get Your FREE Mesothelioma Packet

Page Edited by Patient Advocate Dave Foster

Dave Foster

Dave has been a mesothelioma Patient Advocate for over 10 years. He consistently attends all major national and international mesothelioma meetings. In doing so, he is able to stay on top of the latest treatments, clinical trials, and research results. He also personally meets with mesothelioma patients and their families and connects them with the best medical specialists and legal representatives available.

Connect with Patient Advocate Dave Foster

References
  1. DF/HCC. (n.d.). Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center.
    Retrieved from: https://www.dfhcc.harvard.edu/
  2. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment Center.
    Retrieved from: https://www.dana-farber.org/gastrointestinal-cancer-treatment-center/
  3. IMP. (n.d.). International Mesothelioma Program.
    Retrieved from: https://impmeso.org/
  4. Brigham Health. (n.d.). Raphael Bueno, MD.
    Retrieved from: https://physiciandirectory.brighamandwomens.org/Details/1303
  5. Brigham Health. (n.d.). Abraham Lebenthal, MD.
    Retrieved from: https://physiciandirectory.brighamandwomens.org/Details/1827/abraham-lebenthal-thoracic_surgery-boston-west_roxbury#tabs-2
  6. Brigham Health. (n.d.). Nelya Melnitchouk, MD, MSc.
    Retrieved from: https://physiciandirectory.brighamandwomens.org/details/12609/nelya-melnitchouk-gastrointestinal_and_general_surgery-boston-westwood
  7. National Cancer Institute (NCI). (2021, December 3). Pembrolizumab With or Without Anetumab Ravtansine in Treating Patients With Mesothelin-Positive Pleural Mesothelioma.
    Retrieved from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03126630
  8. PrECOG, LLC. (2022, January 25). DuRvalumab With chEmotherapy as First Line treAtment in Advanced Pleural Mesothelioma (DREAM3R).
    Retrieved from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04334759
  9. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. (2021, December 10). Pleurectomy/Decortication (Neo) Adjuvant Chemotherapy and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy to the Pleura in Patients With Locally Advanced Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma.
    Retrieved from: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00715611
  10. Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. (2022, January 24). Study of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in Participants With Advanced Solid Tumors (MK-3475-158/KEYNOTE-158).
    Retrieved from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02628067
  11. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Nivolumab and Ipilimumab in Treating Patients With Rare Tumors.
    Retrieved from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02834013
View All References

Site Navigation

Home
Malignant Mesothelioma
How to Survive Mesothelioma
100 Questions & Answers about Mesothelioma (Free Book)
Surviving Mesothelioma - Beating the Odds (Free Book)
FREE Mesothelioma Packet
Symptoms
Shortness of Breath
Cough
Night Sweats and Fever
Weight Loss
Pain
Difficulty Swallowing
Fatigue and Muscle Weakness
Gastrointestinal Complications
Diagnosis
Pathology
Staging
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Metastasis and Progression
Brain Metastasis
Biopsy
miRview Test
Imaging
Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy in Mesothelioma
Biomarkers and Blood Tests
Calretinin
Prognosis
Remission
Recurrence
Death Rate
Life Expectancy
Search for a Mesothelioma Cure
Types
Pleural
Peritoneal
Epithelioid
Sarcomatoid
Biphasic
Pericardial
Testicular
Cell Types
Rare Subtypes of Mesothelioma
Deciduoid
Desmoplastic
Heterologous
Lymphohistiocytoid
Well-Differentiated Papillary
Tubulopapillary
Small Cell
Benign
Adenomatoid
Cystic
Unresectable
Localized
Idiopathic
Omental
Causes
Risk Factors
Latest Research
Genetic Components
Incidence
Latency Period
Mesothelioma Tumor
Health Insurance Coverage
Related Conditions
Immunodeficiency Disorders
Cholangiocarcinoma
Atelectasis
Pleural Plaques
Pleural Thickening
Pleural Effusion
Peritoneal Effusion (Ascites)
Mesothelial Hyperplasia and Proliferation
Pleuritis and Pleurisy
COPD
Anemia
Breast Cancer
Prevention
Complications
Misdiagnosis
Mesothelioma Commercial
Talcum Baby Powder
Lawyer
Lawsuits
Class Action Lawsuits
Settlements
Simian Virus 40
Differences From Other Cancers
Lung Cancer
Women
Children and Young Adults
Unknown Asbestos Exposure
Mesothelioma Without Asbestos
Cause of Death
Facts 
History
Awareness
Government and Research
National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank
Support
What to Expect
Living with Mesothelioma
Help a Loved One
Wrong and Right Things to Say
Caregivers
Financial Tips
Faith
Nutrition and Lifestyle
Intimacy
Mesothelioma and Fertility in Men
Fertility in Women with Mesothelioma
Emotional Health
COVID-19
Assisted Living
Hospice Care
Dying from Mesothelioma
Mourning
Coping Guide for Children
End-of-Life Decisions
Mesothelioma Awareness Day
Compensation for Victims
Lawyer
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington D.C.
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Lawsuit
Settlements
Statute of Limitations
Treatment
Surgery
Side Effects
Pneumonectomy
Extrapleural Pneumonectomy
Lobectomy
Pleurectomy/Decortication
Post Op Care
Pleurectomy/Decortication vs. Extrapleural Pneumonectomy
Peritonectomy/Cytoreductive Surgery
Thoracotomy
Thoracoscopy
Pericardiectomy
Wedge Resection
Pleurodesis
Pericardiocentesis
Prosthetics
Paracentesis
Thoracentesis
Chemotherapy
Side Effects
Heated Intraperitoneal
Radiation Therapy
Side Effects
Intensity-Modulated
Brachytherapy
Proton Therapy
Image-Guided
External Beam
Three-Dimensional
Multimodal Therapy
New Treatments
SMART Protocol
Gene Therapy
Suicide Gene Therapy
Tumor-Based p53 Therapy
Cryotherapy for Mesothelioma
Tumor Treating Fields
MicroRNA
Palliative Treatment
Osteopathic
Doctors
Treatment Centers
Treatment & Doctors Near You
Mesothelioma Experts
Medications
Alimta (pemetrexed)
Adriamycin (doxorubicin)
Avastin (bevacizumab)
Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide)
Gemzar (gemcitabine)
Keytruda (Pembrolizumab)
Mitomycin
Navelbine (vinorelbine)
Opdivo (nivolumab) and Yervoy (ipilimumab)
Paraplatin (carboplatin)
Platinol (cisplatin)
Rheumatrex (methotrexate)
Sutent (sunitinib)
Taxol (paclitaxel)
Medical Marijuana
Care Providers
Clinical Trials
Anetumab Ravtansine
Atezolizumab
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell
Durvalumab
Immunotoxin
Interferon Alfa-2b
Onconase (Ranpirnase)
VISTA Protein
Costs
Immunotherapy
Nanotechnology
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Home Medical Equipment
HMGB1 Secretion
Photodynamic Therapy
Targeted Therapies
Apoptosis
Stem Cells
Lung Transplantation
Body-Based Therapies
Alternative Therapies
Paul Kraus’s Method
Doctors and Treatment in Canada
Asbestos Trusts
Veterans
VA Claims for Mesothelioma
Vietnam Veterans
Military Branches and Asbestos
Navy Veterans
Navy Ships
Aircraft Carriers
Battleships
Destroyers
Asbestos on Navy Cruisers
Submarines
Amphibious Ships
Minesweepers
Auxiliary Ships
Marine Corps Veterans
Army Veterans
Air Force Veterans
U.S. Coast Guard
Asbestos
Occupational Exposure
Construction Workers
Shipyard Workers
Ship Repair
Steel Mill Workers
Industrial Workers
Boiler Workers
Power Plant Workers
Firefighters
Automotive Workers
Roofers
Oil Refineries
Mining
Transportation Industry
Machine Operators
Farmers and Agricultural Workers
Migrant Workers
Electrical Wiring
Labor Unions
Prisons
Chimneys, Furnaces, and Wood Stoves
Fiberglass Connection to Mesothelioma
Home Remodeling
School Buildings, Teachers
For Tech Students
Cancer
Lung Cancer
Pleural Based Cancers
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian Cancer Lawsuits
Companies That Used Asbestos
Awareness and Education
Types of Asbestos & Mesothelioma Risk
Asbestosis
Interstitial Lung Disease
Smoking
Asbestos Ingestion
Exposure in a Natural Disaster
Ban Asbestos
Libby, Montana
Recycling Asbestos
Asbestos Detection
Legal Information by State
Canada
Mexico
United Kingdom
Australia
  • Malignant Mesothelioma
    • Treatment
    • Asbestos Trusts
  • Compensation
    • Veteran Assistance
    • Surviving Mesothelioma
  • FREE Mesothelioma Packet
    • Mesothelioma News
    • About Us / Contact
  • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Editorial Guidelines and Standards
This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
The information provided by Mesothelioma.net is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Mesothelioma.net

5430 LBJ Freeway Suite 1200
Dallas, Texas 75240

Serving mesothelioma victims nationwide

1-800-692-8608

  • facebook
  • twitter
© 2022 Mesothelioma.net

Any information you send is secure and will never be sold or released.