Peritoneal Mesothelioma Survival Extended by Academic Medical Center Care

Once diagnosed with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, patients must make an important decision about where to seek care. For many, the natural choice is the hospital closest to their home and the comfort provided by family and friends. Others seek the state-of-the-art care that’s only available at academic medical centers. A recent study shows that though far from home, those in the latter group experience significant survival benefits.

Hospital

Mesothelioma Expertise at Academic Medical Centers Delivers Longer Survival

There are many good reasons for peritoneal mesothelioma patients to opt for care at a community hospital. The familiarity of a place close to home can compensate for fear and uncertainty, and loved ones can visit and offer assistance. But a study conducted by researchers from Harvard Medical School’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital showed an enormous disparity in the outcomes of 2,682 patients treated at either high-volume academic hospitals or community cancer facilities between 2004 and 2016.

Though the mesothelioma patients were evenly split between care facilities, with 47 percent being treated at academic medical centers and 52 percent at community hospitals, there was an enormous difference in the cohort’s survival statistics. While those treated at academic medical centers had a median overall survival of two years and eight months and almost 30 percent were still alive after five years, among those treated at the community hospitals the median overall survival was just 11.6 months, and only 18.3 percent were alive five years later. The disparity is attributed to the treatments each group was offered.

State-of-the-Art Treatment Makes the Difference in Mesothelioma

Writing in the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the researchers noted that just 20 percent of the mesothelioma patients at community hospitals underwent surgery compared to 43 percent of those at teaching hospitals. And though heated chemotherapy administered after surgery has been proven effective, only 10 percent of community cancer patients had the treatment compared to 29 percent at the academic medical centers. 

Noting the remarkable differences, lead author and general surgeon Vanessa Welten, MD, MPH wrote, “Patients at academic centers underwent surgery and received chemotherapy on the same day as surgery more frequently than those at community centers, suggesting that malignant peritoneal mesothelioma patients may be better served at experienced academic centers.” 

Patients with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma need access to resources to help them get the care that they need. For information on how the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can help, contact us today at 1-800-692-8608.

Terri Heimann Oppenheimer

Terri Oppenheimer

Writer
Terri Heimann Oppenheimer is the head writer of our Mesothelioma.net news blog. She graduated from the College of William and Mary with a degree in English. Terri believes that knowledge is power and she is committed to sharing news about the impact of mesothelioma, the latest research and medical breakthroughs, and victims’ stories.

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