This page was reviewed by:
Real Help. Real People. Every Step of the Way.
About The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com
After a mesothelioma diagnosis, families face a lot of questions, decisions and moving pieces at once. Our Patient Advocates are real people who help you understand your options and guide your decision on what to do next.
20+ years
guiding mesothelioma patients and families
10,000+ families
secured legal, financial and medical support
Top Rated
5.0 Google Rating (400+ reviews)
Who We Are
We Are a Free Patient Advocacy & Support Organization
We are not a law firm, a hospital or a government agency. We are a team of Patient Advocates, including a registered nurse, a medical doctor, an oncology patient navigator, a VA-accredited claims agent, a hospice care director, a legal advisor and a military veteran. Our team helps patients and families find the right specialist, law firm and financial resources so you can take the next steps after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Our services are always free. We work alongside the doctors, attorneys, VSOs and other professionals that families already rely on and help them find the right ones when they want support and any legal option recommendations.
You’ll speak with a real person who can listen first, then help you understand your options.
We Are
- A free patient advocacy and support organization helping families since 2006.
- A central resource to help you understand your options and connect you with trusted medical, legal, financial, veterans and family support.
- A service that remains free whether or not you pursue a legal claim.
The Networks We’ve Built
We've Spent 20 Years Building the Right Connections
Our Patient Advocate team coordinates these networks using their combined expertise across the medical, legal, veterans and emotional needs families face. No other mesothelioma resource brings this level of care, compassion and knowledge together in one place.
Medical Network
We have direct relationships with 500+ mesothelioma specialists at 100+ cancer Centers of Excellence. Our Medical Outreach team helps patients access experienced care, identify clinical trials and schedule timely appointments.
Veterans Network
Roughly 30% of legal mesothelioma cases are tied to military asbestos exposure. Our Veterans Network helps connect veterans with VA claims support, exposure documentation, appeals guidance and mesothelioma treatment resources.
Support Network
We have built a nationwide community of survivors, caregivers and Patient Advocates. The Support Network connects families through support groups, a private Facebook community and survivor stories, helping them feel less alone.
Legal & Financial Network
We help families explore financial and legal support, including trust funds, military-related claims, experienced mesothelioma firms and other relevant resources. Legal help is optional. We explain what options may be available without pressure.
What is a Patient Advocate?
Meet the People
Who Will Guide You
A Patient Advocate is a real person who helps patients and families understand next steps, find resources and connect with support.
When you contact The Mesothelioma Center, a Patient Advocate on our team responds, usually within minutes. You communicate directly with a team that has spent decades supporting mesothelioma patients and families, answering questions, offering guidance and making the overwhelming feel more manageable.
Available to Assist 7 Days a Week
A real person, not a chatbot or call queue, ready to help your family take the next step.
100+ Years Combined Experience
Nurses, doctors, veterans, navigators and a lawyer coordinated as one team.
Built Around Your Personal Situation
From specialist appointments to VA claims, financial help and hospice decisions.
Patient Advocates
Karen Selby, RN
Registered Nurse
Dr. Snehal Smart, MD
Medical Doctor
Vanessa Blanco
Oncology Patient Navigator
Amy Pelegrin
Hospice Care Director
Medical Outreach
Missy Miller
Medical Outreach Director
Dr. Catherine Perrault, DO
Medical Officer
Jose Ortiz
Medical Outreach Liaison
Veterans Department
Aaron Munz
Director of Veterans Department
Danielle DiPietro
VA-Accredited Claims Agent
Legal Advisor
Joe Lahav
Lawyer & On-Site Legal Advisor
How We Help Families Navigate Mesothelioma
We Identify the Next Step for Your Specific Journey
Some families need a specialist. Others need financial or legal guidance. Some need veterans support, caregiver resources or someone who can patiently help them understand what to do first. Patient Advocates listen to your situation, help identify the next step that may matter most and guide you toward the right support. You do not need to know what kind of help you need before you contact us.
When you contact us:
- 1 We listen to your situation.
- 2 We help identify your most urgent needs.
- 3 We guide you toward medical, financial, legal, veterans or support resources.
- 4 We help you move forward at the pace that feels right for you.
Doctor Match & Treatment Centers
Mesothelioma is rare. Not every cancer doctor has deep experience treating it. We help families find the right specialist for their diagnosis, location, insurance and treatment goals. We can also schedule appointments when they're ready.
Legal Navigation
Mesothelioma legal cases are highly specific. We help families connect with a qualified mesothelioma law firm based on exposure history, jobsite, military service, state of residence and the facts of each case. If legal questions are part of your situation, we can help you understand those options.
Financial Help
Mesothelioma can create unexpected costs for treatment, travel, caregiving and family needs. We help families understand financial options that may apply, including trust funds, legal compensation, VA benefits, grants and disability.
Veterans Support
Many people diagnosed with mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos during military service. Our Veterans Outreach team helps veterans and families with exposure documentation, VA claims, appeals and benefits questions.
Patient & Family Support
A mesothelioma diagnosis affects the whole family. We support patients and loved ones with one-on-one Patient Advocate help, an online support group, free educational guides, and caregiver and mental health resources.
Not sure where to start?
Your Patient Advocate Sorts It Out With You on the First Call
You don’t need to know which support options apply to you and your family. That’s where we can help. Contact us today to get started.
Why Families Trust The Mesothelioma Center
Clear Guidance Backed by Experts, Advocates & Survivors
Expert-Reviewed Information
Our content is researched, edited, fact-checked and reviewed with input from qualified medical, legal, scientific and health professionals. We use peer-reviewed research, government databases, reputable clinical sources and expert review to make complex mesothelioma information easier for families to understand.
Medical & Legal Contributors
An outside network of more than 30 expert contributors, including thoracic surgeons, oncologists, oncology nurses, dietitians, mental health professionals, attorneys and our on-site legal advisor, validates the clinical and legal claims we publish.
Informed by Real Patient Experience
We interview patients, survivors and caregivers regularly through our Wall of Hope, survivor features and ongoing conversations with our Patient Advocate team. What we learn from the people we help informs the questions we answer, the resources we build and the support we offer.
What Families Say After Working With Us
“There were times when my surgery got canceled twice, and I would call crying to Missy. She was like, ‘I'll find out what's going on. I'll find out, and I'll let you know.’ She was in contact with my daughters, and she was just there with all of the questions. All of the answers that I had.”
Continued Support
Connect With the Mesothelioma Community
Online Support Group
Our weekly online support group is led by a licensed mental health counselor and attended by patients and caregivers who truly get it. You’ll find empathy, answers and real connection.
Join Our Online Support GroupJoin Our Facebook Group
Our private Facebook community is a supportive space for patients and loved ones who want to connect in real time. Share your story, ask questions or simply listen.
Join Our Private Facebook GroupSurvivor & Caregiver Stories
We’ve collected stories to honor the strength of people who’ve been through this and others still fighting. Their journeys offer hope, perspective and proof that you can take the next step.
Read Their StoriesCaregiver Resources
Practical guides for the people taking care of someone they love.
Latest News
Treatment advances, research updates and policy changes that matter.
Watch a Webinar
Recorded sessions with specialists, advocates and survivors.
Giving Back & Building Partnerships
Since 1988, we have donated over $3,000,000 to cancer research, veterans groups, student scholarships and awareness organizations. We partner with researchers, advocacy groups and veterans organizations working toward a world with fewer mesothelioma diagnoses, more survivors and better support for the families facing it today.
Learn How We Give Back
Ready to Talk to Someone?
A Patient Advocate
Is Available,
7 Days a Week
If your family is facing mesothelioma, we can help you understand what matters now and what support fits your situation.
(855) 404-4592
Tap to call. No forms, no wait queue.
Commonly Asked Questions
No. We are not a law firm, and we do not provide legal advice. We help families understand their legal options and connect them with experienced asbestos law firms when families choose to do so.
No. We are a free patient resource. We help families connect with experienced mesothelioma specialists and treatment centers, but we do not provide medical care.
Nothing. Every service we offer is free to patients and families.
Asbestos.com operates as a separate organization, supported through flat annual funding from a small number of leading asbestos law firms, including The Peterson Law Firm, Weitz & Luxenberg and Simmons Hanly Conroy. This funding allows us to provide all of our resources free of charge to any mesothelioma patient and their family.
These resources are available to everyone, including families who already have an attorney, families who never plan to pursue a legal claim and families who simply want help understanding their options. You do not need to work with any of these firms to access our services. Asbestos.com is a free advocacy center, and our support is never tied to a legal connection.
