Mesothelioma
Treatment Centers
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Mesothelioma treatment centers are cancer centers with staff who specialize in diagnosing and treating this rare cancer. Found throughout the U.S., these facilities offer patients the most advanced treatment options and clinical trials. Cancer centers with mesothelioma specialists include the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas, Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center in Boston, and the Pacific Mesothelioma Center in Los Angeles.
Connect with a Top Mesothelioma Treatment CenterHow Can I Find a Mesotheioma Treatment Center Near Me?
It’s a good idea to start your search with a trusted physician. They can recommend oncologists and may or may not know of treatment centers for mesothelioma specifically. Another important resource is our state-by-state guide. This guide will help you find the best treatment in your area.
Receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis can be an overwhelming experience, but researching the available options and partnering with a skilled medical team will reveal the steps you can take on the path to recovery.
What to Look for in a Mesothelioma Treatment Center
Knowing what to ask and how to evaluate whether or not a particular cancer center or clinic is right for you can be a little overwhelming during this difficult time. Every case of mesothelioma is unique, and each patient will have a different set of needs when it comes to choosing and administering a course of treatment.[1]
It is crucial to locate a specialist oncologist who will take the time to explain available options and accompany the patient through every phase of his or her treatment.
Look for physicians actively involved in research, which generally signals that they are up to date with the latest treatment protocols. Partnering with doctors and medical professionals who are already known experts in their field is an excellent way to increase the chances of a favorable outcome. Also, choose a facility that specializes in cancer and, if possible, in mesothelioma.
Treatment Centers Start with an Accurate Diagnosis
The best treatment centers will always confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma and do a range of tests to determine the stage and progression of cancer before moving forward with treatment.
These steps are crucial to ensure a diagnosis is accurate and that the treatment plan developed is the best for the patient.
Expect to undergo a full set of exams, including a biopsy, fluid test, PET scan, CT scan, and/or MRI. These exams will likely be repeated throughout a patient’s course of treatment to determine how the mesothelioma responds to particular therapies.[2]
Medical professionals will rely heavily on these tests to determine each patient’s individualized treatment plan; however, mesothelioma patients, as with all cancer patients, should always seek multiple opinions before deciding upon a course of treatment.[3]
What New Treatments Do Mesothelioma Cancer Centers Offer?
Once you have an accurate diagnosis, and even a second opinion, you can start planning for treatment. Your cancer center will offer the standard treatments: chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. Cancer centers specializing in mesothelioma also provide more innovative treatments and therapies:
- Targeted therapy
- Immunotherapy
- The newest medications
- HIPEC for peritoneal mesothelioma
- Tumor treating fields
- Cryotherapy
- Photodynamic therapy.
The best mesothelioma treatment centers also offer clinical trials. These are studies of the latest, unapproved medications, therapies, and procedures.
Working with Your Mesothelioma Treatment Team
Because mesothelioma is rare and difficult to treat, patients get the best results from working with a team of oncologists and other medical professionals with experience in treating patients with similar conditions. This medical team will be dedicated to curing cancer, as well as managing side effects and symptoms resulting from the disease as well as from the treatment.
It is not uncommon for mesothelioma patients to receive nutrition therapy, naturopathic therapy, oncology rehabilitation, survivor support, pain management, mind-body medicine, and spiritual support from a diverse team of professionals.[4]
How Does Choice of Treatment Center Affect Life Expectancy?
Life expectancy for mesothelioma depends on several individual factors. Specialists at treatment centers are experts in providing this estimate. They will look at your overall health and age, past treatments, and cancer stage to determine the course of treatment that provides the best life expectancy.
Mesothelioma treatment centers are the most qualified to provide an accurate estimate. The team of mesothelioma specialists also gives you the best chance of extending your life. Getting treatment here compared to a general cancer center can make a big difference to your outcome.
Can Any Treatment Center Help Me Survive Mesothelioma?
Yes. Although remission for mesothelioma is rare, it is possible. If you have early-stage mesothelioma, your best chance of surviving the disease is to work with experienced mesothelioma specialists in dedicated treatment centers.
Can I Afford Care at a Mesothelioma Cancer Center?
Even specialty treatment centers accept insurance and Medicare. However, how much the plan covers and the final costs varies by patient. Treatment for mesothelioma is expensive. If your costs after insurance are still high, consider sources of financial assistance:
- An asbestos lawsuit or trust fund claim
- The Veterans Administration if you encountered asbestos during active service
- Social security disability to supplement your income
- Medication programs
- Charitable organizations
What Are the Best Mesothelioma Treatment Centers in the U.S.?
With such a rare and aggressive type of cancer, you will get the best care from treatment centers specializing in mesothelioma research and treatment. A great cancer center may provide excellent treatment. Still, it cannot give you specialized care, nor does it have the specialized knowledge as a facility with specialists devoted to mesothelioma.
There are several top cancer centers in the U.S. that top the list for helping patients with mesothelioma. If you can travel to one of these medical centers, you will receive the best possible care.
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
The MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas in Houston is regarded as one of the country’s all-around best cancer treatment centers. It hopes to “Make Cancer History” through a focus on research, treatment, and prevention. One of the areas of specialty here is diagnosing all types of lung and chest cancers, including pericardial and pleural mesothelioma. The MD Anderson Cancer Center also participates in numerous clinical trials, giving patients even more options for treatment.[5]
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston
Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston is a premier cancer center in its own right, but it also partners with other medical centers, including the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, to provide the best care. The hospital is home to the International Mesothelioma Program, which is devoted to developing the newest and most effective treatments for pleural mesothelioma. The program treats nearly 200 patients each year, and research here led to the development of the innovative and aggressive extrapleural pneumonectomy surgical technique. This unique surgery has extended the lives of numerous pleural mesothelioma patients.[6]
The Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland
The Cleveland Clinic is a world-renowned hospital and one of the best medical centers in Ohio. It provides treatment for patients along with research and training. The Cancer Institute focuses on the research of lung-related cancers, including mesothelioma. The staff includes oncologists, radiologists, thoracic surgeons, pulmonologists, and other specialists in diagnosing and treating mesothelioma. Research conducted here focuses on lung cancer and mesothelioma and includes the study of every sub-type of these illnesses, no matter how rare or obscure. This is also a large medical center that can treat thousands of patients with its many beds and a large staff.[7]
The Pacific Mesothelioma Center at the Pacific Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Los Angeles
The Pacific Mesothelioma Center (PMC) is a division of the Pacific Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and partners with the University of California, Los Angeles, and the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The PMC was founded in 2012 to serve as a cancer center innovative in both research and treatment and focuses on pleural mesothelioma. Many of the treatments available and being developed here are aimed at increasing longevity for patients. The approach of the experts here is that mesothelioma is a chronic illness to be managed.[8]
Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City
One of the country’s oldest and most respected medical centers, Mount Sinai treats a wide range of illnesses and is staffed by a couple of the world’s top experts on mesothelioma. Drs. Raja Flores and Daniel Labow are leading experts in pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma, respectively. Dr. Labow also helped develop hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, the innovative treatment that involves injecting heated chemotherapy drugs directly into the abdomen. Mount Sinai also leads the way in multi-modal treatments for mesothelioma patients.[9]
Mesothelioma Treatment Center, Baylor College of Medicine Lung Institute, Houston
The Baylor College of Medicine Lung Institute in Houston houses the Mesothelioma Treatment Center. It is recognized as a leader in the U.S. and the world in diagnosing and treating this type of cancer. The experts here work in teams to provide patients with comprehensive and individualized care. The Center also focuses on research, including clinical trials that provide patients with a chance to try cutting-edge medical and surgical treatments for mesothelioma. Patients here can also expect to coordinate their medical care with other caregivers, from social workers to therapists and even spiritual guides.[10]
The H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa
The H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, is often ranked as one of the best facilities in the country for cancer treatment and research. It is a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. It is noted for its innovative and leading research programs and clinical trials and its offering of the most cutting-edge treatments. Moffitt offers patients with mesothelioma some of the best care of any medical facility through its Department of Thoracic Oncology and the Mesothelioma Research and Treatment Center.[11]
The Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA, Los Angeles
The Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA is part of the university system and a leading center for research, education, and treatment. Among all the many types of cancer treated here is mesothelioma. Patients benefit from collaborative teams of experts in various areas who develop individualized treatment plans for every patient who comes through the door. The Center also conducts groundbreaking research and enrolls patients in clinical trials to give them access to the newest treatments and therapies.[12]
Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans
The Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans and its Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center are leading the way in cancer care, research, and education in the region. As one of the largest medical facilities in the southeast, Ochsner is an important source of multi-disciplinary treatment and clinical trials. The center offers expert care for the many people in the Gulf region who have been impacted by asbestos in the shipping and oil industries.[13]
The Washington Cancer Institute at the Washington Hospital Center, Washington D.C.
The Washington Cancer Institute is a leader in cancer care and research and a part of the Washington Hospital Center in Washington D.C. The treatment offered here is both cutting edge and patient-focused. Multi-disciplinary teams work together to develop the best plans for treatment for each patient, keeping in mind the patient’s comfort as well as medical and surgical treatment for cancer. Supportive care is also provided for patients and their families, as well as access to clinical trials.[14]
The University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago
The University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center is recognized by the National Cancer Institute. Its Mesothelioma Program is known throughout the country and the world as a leading center for treating and researching this complex cancer. Collaborative teams work to provide patients with individualized treatment plans and ensure that each patient gets the best and most effective care in a comforting setting. Numerous clinical trials ongoing at the Cancer Center allow patients to access and benefit from the most innovative treatments possible.[15]
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh
The UPMC Hillman Cancer Center has been working with cancer patients and researching cancer treatments since the mid-1980s. As a Comprehensive Cancer Center, Hillman excels in both caring for patients and conducting leading research into all types of cancers, including those that are rare and difficult to treat, like mesothelioma. The Mesothelioma Specialty Care program at Hillman offers these unique patients multi-disciplinary care from experts like Dr. David Bartlett. He was instrumental in developing regional perfusion as a treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma.[16]
Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego
At the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California at San Diego, leading experts in cancer, mesothelioma, radiology, pathology, and other areas of medicine have come together to collaborate, research, and give patients the best possible care. This National Cancer Institute-designated facility is leading the way in preventing, diagnosing, and treating cancer through a strategy of innovative research, converting research into real treatments, leading clinical trials, and using immunology and genetic screening to provide patients with a personalized approach to care.[17]
Van Elslander Cancer Center, Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan
The Van Elslander Cancer Center, located just outside of Detroit, is a leading cancer treatment facility for the region. Among other cancers, the specialists here are skilled in treating peritoneal mesothelioma, and this is one of the only facilities in the Midwest that can offer HIPEC for these patients. In addition to treatment with cutting-edge technologies, patients here have access to national clinical trials. It also offers patients a healing arts center for emotional and spiritual support and well-being.[18]
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston
The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center along with other members of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center Consortium. Dana-Farber engages in extensive and advanced research into all aspects of cancer and specializes in turning that research into positive and tangible outcomes for patients. The best technology, experts in mesothelioma and other fields, a collaborative approach, and support services combine to give mesothelioma patients some of the best care that can be found anywhere.[19]
University of California San Francisco Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco
The UCSF Medical Center’s Comprehensive Cancer Center is a national and world leader in treating many types of cancers, including mesothelioma. The facility is staffed by specialists in mesothelioma, including the head of the thoracic surgery department, Dr. David Jablons. The Cancer Center conducts leading research and enrolls patients in clinical trials to provide more treatment options and to turn laboratory research into actual treatments that help people live longer.[20]
Swedish Medical Center Cancer Institute, Seattle
The Swedish Cancer Institute at the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle is recognized as a leader in cancer care, treatment, and research with a staff that includes specialists in mesothelioma. Multi-disciplinary teams work together to provide patients with the best individualized treatment plans along with excellent supportive care. Cutting-edge surgical, radiation and chemotherapy treatments are available to patients here, as is access to the latest clinical trials.[21]
Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York City
The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center is a facility recognized by the National Cancer Institute for its excellence in and commitment to research and treatment of cancer. Research and clinical trials are conducted regularly at the Cancer Center, and the results are translated into better treatment for patients. Mesothelioma patients may be referred to the Cancer Center for specialized treatment and to consult with experts in this field. The clinicians and researchers take a multi-disciplinary approach to using the most advanced treatments to craft individualized treatment plans for each patient.[22]
Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York City
The Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center is a leading cancer research and treatment facility and part of the NYU Langone Medical Center. The Cancer Center has received its designation from the National Cancer Institute, underscoring the facility’s commitment to excellence in cancer research and advancing patient care, cancer diagnosis, and cancer prevention. Patients with mesothelioma are often referred here to benefit from clinical trials, advanced technologies for treatments, and teams of specialists.[23]
Page Written by Mary Ellen Ellis
Mary Ellen Ellis has been the head writer for Mesothelioma.net since 2016. With hundreds of mesothelioma and asbestos articles to her credit, she is one of the most experienced writers on these topics. Her degrees and background in science and education help her explain complicated medical topics for a wider audience. Mary Ellen takes pride in providing her readers with the critical information they need following a diagnosis of an asbestos-related illness.
Page Medically Reviewed and Edited byLuis Argote-Greene, M.D.
Luis Argote-Greene is an internationally recognized thoracic surgeon. He has trained and worked with some of the most prominently known thoracic surgeons in the United States and Mexico, including pioneering mesothelioma surgeon Dr. David Sugarbaker. He is professionally affiliated with University Hospitals (UH). His areas of interest and expertise are mesothelioma, mediastinal tumors, thoracic malignancies, lung cancer, lung transplantation, esophageal cancer, experimental surgery, and lung volume reduction. Dr. Argote-Greene has also done pioneering work with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), as well as robotic assisted minimally invasive surgery. He has taught the procedures to other surgeons both nationally and internationally.