35-Sugarbaker - Why is it important to seek a specialty center for mesothelioma treatment
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Exclusive Content | Dr. David Sugarbaker: The Importance of Seeking a Mesothelioma Specialty Center
35-Sugarbaker - Why is it important to seek a specialty center for mesothelioma treatment

Exclusive Content

Dr. David Sugarbaker: The Importance of Seeking a Mesothelioma Specialty Center

What Is a Mesothelioma Treatment Center?

Mesothelioma treatment centers are special programs that focus on this rare cancer. They offer tailored treatment for people diagnosed with mesothelioma. This specialized care is more likely to extend your life after a cancer diagnosis. 

They offer expert teams, clinical trials and advanced therapies for treating mesothelioma. These centers partner with the best doctors with years of experience treating mesothelioma.

Dr. Jacques Fontaine is director of the Mesothelioma Research and Treatment Center at Moffitt Cancer. He tells us, “It’s so important to seek care in a mesothelioma specialized center. We get patients with mesothelioma coming from the four corners of the country. We’re able to become experts in this. And we’re able to find the correct treatment for patients.”

Top Mesothelioma Treatment Centers in the United States

Leading mesothelioma treatment centers are located across the United States. These centers are part of major hospitals, cancer centers and VA medical systems. This includes NCI-designated cancer centers. The National Cancer Institute recognizes these institutions for their research and innovation.

Programs like the International Mesothelioma Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital or the Mesothelioma Center at Moffitt Cancer Center focus only on mesothelioma. Some are part of larger lung or cancer teams like at the University of Pittsburgh or Baylor College of Medicine. The VA’s top programs include the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston and the VA Boston Healthcare System.

Each year, more than 1,000 people turn to The Mesothelioma Center for help being matched with trusted doctors at top mesothelioma centers. We’re proud to connect people to the support and care they need. Our unique team of Patient Advocates can help you schedule an appointment and work with your insurance.

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University of Chicago Cancer Center
UChicago Medicine

5841 S Maryland Ave, Chicago, IL 60637

Year Built: 1927
Number of Beds: 532 beds in the Medical Center
Number of Physicians: 4

MD Anderson Cancer Center, top mesothelioma cancer center
MD Anderson Cancer Center

1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030

Year Built: 1941
Number of Beds: 546 beds
Number of Physicians: 5

The H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, mesothelioma treatment center
Moffitt Cancer Center

12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612

Year Built: 1986
Number of Beds: 206 beds
Number of Physicians: 9

Mount Sinai Hospital
Mount Sinai Hospital

1 Gustave L. Levy Pl New York, NY 10029

Year Built: 1855
Number of Beds: 1,144 beds
Number of Physicians: 4

Top Treatment Centers for Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural patients need pleural mesothelioma treatment centers. Dr. Marcelo DaSilva is a thoracic surgeon specializing in pleural mesothelioma. He created and leads the Mesothelioma International Treatment Program at AdventHealth Cancer Institute. He tells us, “It’s very important to see a specialist in mesothelioma, a physician who has been treating mesothelioma for many years.”

Dr. Da Silva adds, “Understand that most physicians will never see a mesothelioma patient in their lifetime because it’s a rare disease.” He recommends people find a doctor with years of experience treating mesothelioma.

The top mesothelioma centers for pleural mesothelioma include:

  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Dr. David Sugarbarker founded the International Mesothelioma Program at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
  • Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center. Dr. Jeffrey Velotta treats patients at Oakland Medical Center, ranked as one of the best by U.S. News & World Report.
  • Moffitt Cancer Center. Moffitt is the third-largest cancer center in the United States. It’s one of only 2 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in Florida.
  • Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr. Andrea Wolf recently created the Women’s Lung Cancer Program at Mount Sinai. It focuses on clinical expertise, research and community outreach.
  • UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Robert Cameron leads UCLA’s Thoracic Oncology Program. It’s within the world-renowned Lung Cancer Program.

Dr. Hedy Kindler is director of the University of Chicago Medicine Mesothelioma Program. She spoke to us about her own father’s cancer journey. Her firsthand experience sparked her passion to grow the center’s focus.

“So many of my patients are hard working and ready to enjoy their well-earned retirement,” Dr. Kindler tells us. “They deserve the best possible care.”

Andrea-Wolf-ASB-15-How can mesothelioma patients and family members prepare for their appointment

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Dr. Andrea Wolf: How can mesothelioma patients and family members prepare for their appointment?

Top Treatment Centers for Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma treatment centers offer specialized care like heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy or HIPEC. Experts at these centers have a deep understanding of peritoneal mesothelioma’s challenges.

The top mesothelioma centers for peritoneal mesothelioma include:

  • Hillman Cancer Center. This NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center specializes in peritoneal mesothelioma care. It’s one of the U.S.’s largest cancer networks.
  • Mount Sinai Hospital. Mount Sinai is home to the largest WTC Health Program Clinical Center of Excellence. The program offers long-term medical care to 9/11 survivors.
  • Ridley-Tree Cancer Center. Dr. W. Charles Conway expanded the multidisciplinary mesothelioma team in 2017. It now includes a focus on peritoneal cancer.
  • Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Sylvester is a renowned treatment center at the University of Miami in South Florida. It offers the HIPEC procedure and mesothelioma clinical trials.
  • The University of Chicago Medicine. Dr. Hedy Lee Kindler directs the gastrointestinal oncology program. It’s one of the world’s most extensive mesothelioma programs.

Dr. W. Charles Conway is director of surgical oncology at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center in Santa Barbara, California. He tells us these centers can “make a difference for mesothelioma patients with the hard work and the experience we have. We’re well-equipped to handle this specialized care here.”

Dr. Jacques Fontaine and Dr. Andrea Wolf
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How Do I Choose the Best Mesothelioma Treatment Center?

When choosing a mesothelioma treatment center, consider your personal treatment needs and priorities. Ask your Patient Advocate about skilled specialists, emerging treatments and available support services. Discuss the factors most important to you.

  • Access to clinical trials. Consider a treatment center with a robust clinical trial program. Access to new treatments in these tests may improve your life expectancy.
  • Multidisciplinary teams. Teams with specialists in diverse types of care offers you more choices. Combined or multimodal care shows significant benefits. This can include surgery, immunotherapy, nutrition, exercise and pulmonary rehab.
  • Virtual appointment availability. Distance to your treatment center shouldn’t be a limitation. Virtual visits can help you follow up regularly from your home.

Karen Selby is a registered nurse and member of our Patient Advocate team. She tells us location is commonly a deciding factor for people.

“Most mesothelioma specialty centers no longer offer virtual consultations for initial evaluations. But they do provide virtual care for existing patients,” she explains. “This helps with the travel burden. I help families navigate their options to ensure they receive the best care possible, whether close to home or at a top center.”

The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com rigorously vets Mesothelioma Cancer Centers

How We Choose Top Cancer Centers

Since 2006, The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com has built relationships with more than 200 specialty mesothelioma centers across the United States. We use that experience to develop the criteria you and your family need to choose the best mesothelioma center for you.

  • They’re award-winning for cancer care.
  • Their health care teams take a multimodal approach.
  • They participate in gold-standard clinical trials.
  • They utilize the latest technology.
  • Palliative care and counseling are available.

Finding the right cancer center for you can lead to better, personalized treatment plans. These mesothelioma centers also have specialized expertise in diagnosing mesothelioma. Patients often seek second opinions at these centers.

Why Choose a Specialized Cancer Center for Mesothelioma Treatment?

A specialized cancer center has experienced mesothelioma doctors. The medical teams at these centers have spent years developing their skills. They know the latest and best treatments available for this type of cancer. 

The Mesothelioma Center conducted a survey among doctors and nurses in 2025 that explored the best primary care settings for mesothelioma patients. About 21% of respondents said cancer centers offer the best primary care for people with mesothelioma. These centers usually have doctors with experience treating different types of mesothelioma.

How we’ll help you:

  • Communication: We’ll communicate directly with your health care team. And we’ll communicate with you, offering support and answering any questions you have.
  • Referrals: Some insurance plans require this step. We can assist you in obtaining a referral.
  • VA Benefits.: We can assist you with VA claims and insurance. We help you file VA benefits claims. And we work with your insurance provider to help you receive coverage.

These centers also work with our Medical Outreach and Patient Advocate teams to make the process easier for you. We’ll help you coordinate your scheduling for visits and procedures. Once your appointment is scheduled, we continue to ensure you get the care and support you need.

Peritoneal mesothelioma survivor D.G. Blackburn tells us treatment at a top hospital made a key difference for his peace of mind. He shares, “I’m kind of a tough, stoic person. I don’t worry about any of this stuff. I believe in my doctors. They’re the best in the world. I go to the best hospital in the world.” 

Best Cancer Centers for Veterans

U.S. veterans with mesothelioma have access to top doctors at VA hospitals. These medical experts are leaders in innovative treatments. They understand the needs of those who were exposed to asbestos during service.

For example, Dr. Hassan Khalil is the director of the VA Boston Mesothelioma Program. He also serves as a thoracic surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. And Dr. Khalill is an instructor at Harvard Medical School.

Treatment centers for veterans include:

  • VA Boston Healthcare System
  • VA West Los Angeles Medical Center
  • Miami VA Healthcare System
  • Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
  • Atlanta VA Health Care System

Many benefits at VA centers compare to private hospitals. These include: clinical trials, minimal copays, multidisciplinary teams and telehealth visits. However, some veterans prefer care outside the VA network. The Veterans Choice Program offers that option. 

VA-accredited claims agent and Patient Advocate Danielle DiPietro tells us more about this option. She explains, “Patients can receive care outside of the VA while the VA covers the expense. So, as a veteran patient, you’re entitled to civilian and VA resources, and we can help patients access both.”

Benefits of Accredited Cancer Centers

When a cancer center has accreditation, it means it’s met quality standards. It can also mean it’s demonstrated expertise in mesothelioma.

Examples of various types of accrediting agencies are:

  • American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
  • Commission on Cancer (CoC)
  • National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  • National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)

You can expect the best care from an accredited cancer center. Their expert teams will collaborate to develop a treatment plan for you. Accredited centers have access to the latest therapies. They also offer clinical trials. 

Common Questions About Mesothelioma Cancer Centers

Do all cancer centers treat mesothelioma?

No, not all cancers treat mesothelioma. Because this cancer is rare and aggressive, it requires specialized care from trained experts. A general cancer center is less experienced in treating mesothelioma and may misdiagnose your cancer. Only a top mesothelioma cancer center has the resources to provide the best care for asbestos-related cancer.

How can I determine what treatments are provided at each cancer center?

Treatment availability at a cancer center depends on the physicians who practice there. Top mesothelioma centers have expert teams that can administer chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, immunotherapy and more. The Mesothelioma Center can connect you with specialists at these centers who offer the treatments that work best for your cancer diagnosis.

How expensive is mesothelioma cancer treatment?

Mesothelioma cancer treatment can cost thousands of dollars each month. Financial assistance is available to mesothelioma patients to cover the cost of your treatment. The Mesothelioma Center’s Patient Advocates connect patients to dozens of financial aid programs that help pay for the best mesothelioma care available.

What accreditations should I look for when choosing a treatment center?

Organizations that accredit mesothelioma cancer centers include the National Cancer Institute, the Association of American Cancer Institutes and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Accreditation by these organizations ensures your access to specialists and advanced treatment options. They also provide mental health services for patients and families.

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