All Posts in ‘Doctor Match’

We've mentioned Kaylen Jackson quite a bit in a few of our most recent posts, but do you really know what it is that she does? In yesterday's Survivor Insight blog, a mesothelioma patient and his wife discussed how they got the opportunity to travel to a specialty center for treatment thanks to help from Kaylen. This is just one example of the great resource she could be to you. 

To contact Kaylen for more information on Doctor Match, you can call her at (800) 549-0544 or email her at Kaylen@asbestos.com

Medicare is a federal health insurance program maintained by the U.S. government that covers millions of Americans. Those over the age of 65 are generally eligible to receive Medicare coverage. Additionally, Medicare coverage should also be issued if Social Security benefits are already in place or criteria for certain disabilities have been met. There are four main components to Medicare coverage that impact what will be included or excluded from each person's coverage.

The following includes a breakdown of the various Medicare components:

While attending the IMIG conference in Kyoto, I made plans with Dr. Sugarbaker to visit Boston, Massachusetts to immerse myself in the International Mesothelioma Program at Brigham & Women’s Hospital this winter. The trip was long overdue, as I have spent the past three years researching, reviewing and recommending Dr. Sugarbaker and his one-of-a-kind practice and team. The International Mesothelioma Program at Brigham & Women’s Hospital is one of the most highly regarded (if not the most highly regarded) facility in the world for diagnosing and treating malignant mesothelioma. An estimated 2,000 new patients are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually, and Dr. Sugarbaker’s team completes 310 consultations per year and takes on more than 180 patients. This makes the International Mesothelioma Program (IMP) at Brigham and Women's Hospital / Harvard Medical School unarguably the largest program of its kind in the world.

The dream of creating a separate division of thoracic surgery to focus on general thoracic disease at Brigham & Women’s Hospital was conceived by Dr. David Sugarbaker in 1988. In 2002, the International Mesothelioma Program was formally established, and the hospital’s experience with mesothelioma and the extrapleural pnuectomy procedure increased dramatically. Today, more than 20 years after its conceptualization, the IMP offers patients top-of-the-line treatment and care catered toward mesothelioma and completes ongoing research to further aid in the fight against mesothelioma.

I planned my visit so that I would be able to attend the orientation that occurs at the facility every Tuesday. This meeting allows patients and their family members who are visiting the IMP for the first time to learn more about the facility and meet the people who will aid in their care. Chief of Thoracic Surgery, Dr. Sugarbaker, along with the Associate Chief of Thoracic Surgery, Dr. Bueno, and the entire social service team including clergy members, the housing director, the operations coordinator and the nurse coordinator for the mesothelioma program are all in attendance. On the day I happened to be visiting, I was thrilled to be in the company of two of the families I have worked with and directly referred to Brigham & Women’s Hospital and the IMP program. It was wonderful to be able to meet the families face-to-face and catch up.

Lung Cancer: Every Breath Counts

Please join us for a FREE community event during Lung Cancer Awareness Month!

Dr. Jonathan Daniel is a thoracic surgeon specializing in cancerous and benign diseases of the lung and esophagus. He accumulated a great deal of experience working with mesothelioma patients while completing a dedicated thoracic surgery residency under Dr. David Sugarbaker, M.D. at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Mass.

Dr. Daniel currently serves as assistant professor of surgery for the University of Arizona College of Medicine Department of Surgery. He practices at University Medical Center, Tucson Medical Center and St. Joseph’s Hospital.

It’s rare to find surgeons with experience in treating mesothelioma anywhere in the country, let alone west of the state of Texas. This makes Dr. Daniel an exceptional option for any patient in his region who’s been diagnosed with mesothelioma and is looking for a doctor with first-hand knowledge and understanding of the complicated procedures used to treat it. Additionally, Dr. Daniel has a reputation for being very kind, friendly, accessible, and humble when it comes to working with his patients. The feedback I have received from his patients, as well as the opportunities I’ve had to work with him, have all provided evidence that he is not only a talented surgeon, but a great person, too.

The International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig) was inspired by a discussion over coffee between two specialists about the lack of international cooperation and the absence of a forum to share ideas regarding mesothelioma. In September 1991, the initial International Conference was held in Paris, France and was the very first conference devoted to the biology and pathology of mesothelial cells.

While many studies of mesothelioma in the past mainly addressed the relationship with asbestos exposure, the IMIG meeting intended to bring together specialists interested in the clinical, biological and epidemiological aspects of malignant mesothelioma. During that conference, a group of medical scientists from different countries met and suggested the formation of an “International Mesothelioma Interest Group” to improve communication and collaboration among workers interested in this disease. The proposal was made by Dr. Bruce Robinson at the end of the meeting and the decision was unanimous. Thus, IMIG was founded.

Since 1991, bi-annual meetings have been held all over the world and IMIG has become an integral part of the research, understanding, and advancement of treatment for both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma. It is a place to share ideas, present recent findings and learn about the accomplishments of other specialists in all fields related to the treatment of this devastating disease.

The National Institutes of Health is considered the steward of medical and behavioral research for the entire Nation and is home to countless clinical studies, research trials, and treatment options. Its Headquarters (known as the “Campus” to the local community) is located just outside Washington D.C. in beautiful Bethesda, Maryland, which is only a 24 mile drive from Washington Dulles International Airport. I rented a car from the airport and it only took about 35 minutes in traffic to drive to NIH. There is a drive-through security check point upon arrival where guests and patients check in and register, as well as receive friendly directions to where they are headed within the campus.

The National Institutes of Health is made up of 27 different components called Institutes and Centers, each with its own specific research agenda. One of these 27 divisions happens to be the National Cancer Institute, which leads the national effort to eliminate suffering and death due to cancer. All but three of NIH’s 27 components receive their funding directly from Congress, making it an operation sustained by some of the very people it exists to serve: tax-paying Americans.

One of the benefits of being a government funded program, as well as what I consider to be one of the most incredible things about NIH, is that all patients who are admitted into their studies will receive top of the line treatment from an experienced specialist for zero cost to the patient or family. No insurance coverage is necessary whatsoever. In fact, the beautiful atrium-style building doesn’t even have a billing department. Certain travel expenses are even covered for patients enrolled in the trials, making treatment at NIH a wonderful option for patients and families who are financially limited, have zero to sub-par insurance coverage, or can’t afford the out of cost expenses of traveling to a specialized facility. Additionally, NIH is a fantastic option for patients who do have coverage, can afford their treatment and simply want to be treated at one of the most knowledgeable and advanced facilities in the Nation.

Located just minutes from downtown Miami on the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine Campus, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center has served as a hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment since its opening in 1992.

Today Sylvester handles more than 1,500 inpatient admissions, performs more than 2,400 surgical procedures and treats nearly 4,000 new cancer patients annually. A team of more than 250 physicians and scientists devoted exclusively to cancer care and research are working on close to 200 cancer-specific clinical trials. And with more than 1,300 ongoing projects funded by more than $180 million in external grants and contracts, the school ranks in the top third among U.S. medical schools in terms of research funding awarded.

For my visit I flew into Ft. Lauderdale International Airport, about a 40 minute drive from Sylvester Cancer Center. Another option would be to fly into the Miami International Airport, which is located only 20 minutes from Sylvester. However, certain airlines don’t provide service to Miami International, so for patients and families looking to minimize travel costs or fly with certain carriers it might be worthwhile to look into both major airports when booking travel. For patients who reside in neighboring counties, Sylvester is able to provide transportation services to patients and their caregives traveling between the Deerfield Beach facility and Sylvester (in Miami) for a $20 round-trip fee. Patients may bring a companion free of charge. Additionally, patients in north Broward and Palm Beach counties have access to a shuttle bus to transport them from the Deerfield Beach facility to Miami and back, upon making reservations 24 hours in advance. This service is available Monday through Friday.

The University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center is located on the medical campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and is part of both the University of Maryland Medical Center and the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Founded in 1823 as the Baltimore Infirmary, the University of Maryland Medical Center is one of the nation’s oldest academic medical centers. Today, UMGCC has developed a sterling reputation as an institution with expertise in laboratory and clinical research by providing innovative approaches to cancer centers, actively participating in new drug development and conducting pilot studies for Phase I, II and III clinical trials.

Greenbaum Cancer Center is only 10 miles from Baltimore-Washington International Airport, about a 20 minute drive in traffic. Its downtown location offers patients a wide selection of restaurants and lodging, including a list of hotels and other accommodations that offer special discounts to University of Maryland Medical Center patients and their families. Additionally, University of Maryland Medical Center is home to Hope Lodge, a project of the American Cancer Society that provides free, temporary housing for adult cancer patients undergoing treatment and their caregivers.

Walking into the Greenbaum Cancer Center, the facility is quite striking. It’s open atrium-style architecture lets in vast amounts of natural light and gives a warm, airy glow to the main lobby and thoroughfares. Modern art, sculptures and seating (as well as a recent renovation) provide a sense of sterilized newness. Meanwhile, the inclusion of a former multi-story exterior brick wall, now enclosed (window boxes and all), gives it a well-lived-in feeling and pays homage to the facility’s long established history.

Fox Chase Cancer Center is the region’s only hospital devoted entirely to cancer treatment. Situated just outside of busy downtown Philadelphia and enclosed by a canopy of trees, the location of the 100-bed hospital is both accessible and serene. Fox Chase was among the first institutions ever to be designated a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center, and continues its long-established commitment to excellence today, consistently ranking among the top Cancer Centers in the nation by US News and World Report.

FCCC is about a a 30 minute drive from Philadelphia International Airport and all parking on the campus is free to patients and visitors (valet parking is available for a fee of $5.00). The main entrance was very quiet and easy to find, and a large reception desk provided directions and information. I made my way to the library, where I was scheduled to meet with thoracic surgeon Dr. Abraham Lebenthal. Upon meeting him, I quickly learned that his friends, colleagues and patients all call him “Avi”, and that he is genuinely passionate about the wonderful treatment available to patients at Fox Chase.

As we roamed the halls, I couldn’t help but feed off of Avi’s excitement and positive presence. He reveled in the success Fox Chase has had in research, including Nobel Prizes in Chemistry and Medicine, as well as the achievements of his nursing staff, who recently received a Magnet Status for Excellence in Nursing. Just as grand, however, was his pride in the accomplishments that do not garner national attention; a tranquil fountain in the garden for patients to sit by or enjoy from the many windows looking down into the courtyard, a clever system devised by the nurses using colored rubber bands to indicate how many “laps” each patient had made down the hallway that day, support groups created for patients to share and interact, and state-of-the art walkers complete with oxygen tanks to help patients who would not otherwise be able to incorporate walking into their therapy do so without the necessity of having to be held upright by a nurse.