When patients receive a diagnosis of mesothelioma, it is important for them to explore the many outstanding mesothelioma treatment centers located throughout the country. Over the 33 years I have represented mesothelioma patients, I have developed a strong bond with my clients and their families. I am very aware of the devastating physical, emotional and financial consequences this disease brings, particularly as patients undergo treatment.
I have observed an evolution of treatment for mesothelioma patients and know that there are many excellent institutions and cancer centers that have made great progress in advancing treatments. I have also had the privilege to interact with the researchers and treating medical professionals of great cancer institutions, and I am constantly encouraged by their dedication and unwavering commitment to helping their patients and my clients live richer and longer lives. These professionals and outstanding treatment and research facilities continue to provide me with hope that one day we will find a cure for mesothelioma.
There are many cancer treatment centers throughout the country. Your doctors will recommend facilities for you to assess and you may also find cancer centers on your own that you will want to investigate. The goal is to find the best place for you to be treated given your unique circumstances.
Below are three very well-known mesothelioma treatment centers. All three of these cancer centers are listed on The National Cancer Center’s list of designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers. Patients should be aware of these cancer centers as they consider where they will be treated.
The International Mesothelioma Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (IMP) is located in Boston at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, which together with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has combined resources to provide comprehensive care to mesothelioma patients. It is currently the largest program of its kind in the world.
Dr. David Sugarbaker, M.D. is Chief of Thoracic Surgery and founder of the IMP. He was inspired to form the program due to the rising increase of mesothelioma cases worldwide. The ultimate goal at the IMP is to offer patients suffering from malignant mesothelioma the most up to date and newest treatments available.
The program is focused on developing techniques that can drastically improve the life expectancy of the patients. Dr. Sugarbaker has developed a procedure that includes a novel combination of surgery and chemotherapy drugs. During the surgery, Dr. Sugarbaker applies heated chemotherapy drugs directly to the chest cavity. Statistics have shown that this surgery plus the use of the intracavitary chemotherapy has extended the lives of some mesothelioma patients beyond the often quoted life expectancy figures.
Currently the program consults with over 300 mesothelioma patients annually and treats over 180 of these patients. The IMP is focused on research for finding new treatments and ultimately a cure for mesothelioma.
The Mayo Clinic is experienced in the treatment of many types of cancers and illnesses including mesothelioma. The clinic believes in taking a team approach to the treatment of mesothelioma. They assemble a team of experts that include pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, oncologists, radiation therapists and pathologists to provide the best approach to treatment. Specialists at the Mayo clinic are highly trained and experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of this devastating disease.
The Mayo clinic offers accessibility to the latest research through the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. The cancer center is comprised of three campuses — Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. Having locations in three different states provides the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center with the ability to reach a diverse population of patients and access to world-renowned physicians and scientists.
The Mayo clinic is also a part of the Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics which was founded in 2003, and includes the University of Minnesota and the State of Minnesota. The partnership was established out of the desire to advance Bioscience research in the state of Minnesota. Most recently the Minnesota partnership was awarded $6 million in state-funded research. A portion of the awarded funds will be used towards mesothelioma scientific research. The Mayo Clinic is devoted to further understanding the biology of cancer and mesothelioma. They are constantly making new advances towards the prevention, treatment and diagnosis of cancer to help improve the quality of life for patients.
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, located in Houston, Texas was founded in 1941 as part of the University of Texas System which includes nine universities and six health institutions. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Center’s creation. Since 1944 over 800,000 patients have been treated at M.D. Anderson. Its motto is “Making Cancer History.” The center uses a multidisciplinary approach that includes immunotherapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Because its experts focus in the treatment of cancer, M. D. Anderson is well-known for the ability to treat all types of cancer, including rare and uncommon cancers such as mesothelioma.
The Mesothelioma Program at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center believes in a team approach to treating this rare and aggressive mesothelioma cancer. This team includes the departments of thoracic cancers, thoracic surgery, pathology, cardiothoracic oncology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology. With a team of almost 40 physicians and researchers, it is considered one of the largest mesothelioma treatment teams in the country.
Anne S. Tsao, M.D. is the Director of the Mesothelioma Program at MD Anderson. Dr. Tsao’s research for chemical indicators in mesothelioma patients has provided Doctors and researchers with a better understanding of the behavior of the malignant mesothelioma cells. This understanding has allowed doctors to recommend more specialized treatments for patients. Dr. Tsao is highly respected among her peers for her many achievements in her work with mesothelioma.
In 2010, U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Hospitals” survey ranked MD Anderson as the top hospital in the nation for cancer care.
The International Mesothelioma Program, Mayo Clinic and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center are just a few of the country’s top notch mesothelioma treatment facilities. I highly urge my clients and anyone suffering from mesothelioma to research these facilities and other cancer treatment facilities and discuss them with your doctor to determine which treatment center may be the best option for you.
