Notable Mesothelioma Cancer Centers
It takes cutting-edge technology, innovative research and a multidisciplinary team of doctors who have dedicated part of their career to mesothelioma to be considered a specialty mesothelioma treatment center.
Cancer centers that specialize in mesothelioma are among the best health facilities in the world.
According to the 2017 issue of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals for Cancer, several mesothelioma cancer centers made the national list. These include programs at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic and UCLA Medical Center.
Picking the right cancer treatment center might be the most important medical decision you can make. Don’t take it lightly. Do your homework to find the best fit for you. Or you can lean on us for help, and we’ll walk you through it.
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New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center
630 W 168th St. New York, NY 10032
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University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center
1824 6th Ave S. Birmingham, AL 35233
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The UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
1600 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
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Christiana Care Helen F. Graham Cancer Center
4701 Ogletown-Stanton Road, Newark, DE, 19713
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Washington (D.C.) Cancer Institute at Washington Hospital Center
110 Irving Street, NW Washington, DC 20010
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University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center
5841 S Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637
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Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center
535 Barnhill Drive Indianapolis, IN 46202
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National Cancer Institute Center for Cancer Research
9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20892
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Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins Bayview
4940 Eastern Ave. Baltimore, MD 21224
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University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center
22 S. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
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University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
195 Little Albany St., New Brunswick, NJ 08903
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Presbyterian Hospital Columbia University Medical Center
622 W 168th St, New York, NY 10032, USA
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Hollings Cancer Center at the University of South Carolina
86 Jonathan Lucas St. Charleston, SC 29425
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Lung Institute at Baylor College of Medicine
6620 Main Street Suite 1325 Houston, TX 77030
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University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030
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University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390
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Froedtert Hospital and Medical College of Wisconsin
9200 W Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53226
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Top Treatment Centers for Pleural Mesothelioma
A team of experts and a focus on clinical research is necessary to properly treat pleural mesothelioma. The following cancer centers feature some of the nation’s leading experts in pleural mesothelioma. They provide patient-focused care and sponsor the latest mesothelioma clinical trials.
Brigham and Women's Hospital
75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115
- Home to the world-renowned International Mesothelioma Program.
- Leader in the latest clinical trials for mesothelioma.
- Partners with Harvard Medical School to promote research and medical advancements.
UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
10833 Le Conte Ave Los Angeles, CA 90024
- Considered the best cancer center in the western U.S. and among the top three in the nation.
- Home to mesothelioma expert Dr. Robert Cameron, who pioneered the P/D surgery.
- The UCLA Lung Cancer Program is one of seven to receive the NCI's prestigious SPORE grant.
Lung Institute at Baylor College of Medicine
6620 Main Street Suite 1325 Houston, TX 77030
- Inaugural director was the late Dr. David Sugarbaker, a renowned mesothelioma pioneer.
- Leader in genetic research and development of medical technologies.
- A designated NCI facility that offers multidisciplinary care.
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030
- Voted No. 1 cancer center in the nation numerous times by U.S. News & World Report.
- Home to several mesothelioma experts, including Drs. Anne Tsao and David Rice.
- An NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center that hosts more clinical trials than most hospitals.
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612
- Opened the Mesothelioma Research and Treatment Center in 2012.
- Home to the latest technology in cancer care, including heated chemotherapy.
- Offers multidisciplinary care and unique mesothelioma clinical trials.
University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center
5841 S Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637
- The most effective chemotherapy regimen for pleural mesothelioma was discovered here in 2003.
- Its mesothelioma program has contributed to innovative research for more than 20 years.
- Home to mesothelioma expert Dr. Hedy Kindler, who directs the mesothelioma program.
Top Treatment Centers for Peritoneal Mesothelioma
The facilities on this list offer the life-extending hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) procedure combined with surgery. It revolutionized standard of care for people with peritoneal mesothelioma. Not all cancer centers have the equipment to perform this procedure. Half of patients who qualify for this treatment strategy live longer than five years.
Washington (D.C.) Cancer Institute at Washington Hospital Center
110 Irving Street, NW Washington, DC 20010
- Home to the world’s leading expert on peritoneal mesothelioma Dr. Paul Sugarbaker.
- Sugarbaker pioneered the HIPEC procedure here.
- The Peritoneal Surface Malignancies Program has treated mesothelioma patients since 1993.
Ochsner Medical Center
1514 Jefferson Highway, New Orleans, LA 70121
- The most advanced cancer center in the Gulf South region.
- Enjoys a long-standing research partnership with the nearby LSU Health Sciences Center.
- Offers the latest therapies, such as HIPEC, along with multidisciplinary care.
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
5115 Centre Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15232
- One of the nation’s top centers for clinical trial research.
- Home to peritoneal mesothelioma surgeon and researcher Dr. James Pingpank.
- Consistently named one of the best cancer centers in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center
3855 Health Sciences Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093
- Recipient of numerous awards, high safety ratings and ranked among the best cancer centers in the nation.
- Home to peritoneal mesothelioma surgeon Dr. Joel Baumgartner.
- Moores’ HIPEC Center is the largest of its kind on the West Coast.
Van Elslander Cancer Center
19229 Mack Ave. Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236
- Home to peritoneal mesothelioma surgeon Dr. Richard Berri.
- Berri is the director of the Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Program.
- Offers integrative oncology in addition to multidisciplinary care.
Importance of Choosing a Mesothelioma Specialty Center
The rarity of mesothelioma in comparison to many other cancers is what makes a specialist so hard to find. Around 3,000 Americans are diagnosed each year. Most doctors rarely see it and don’t understand it fully. A mesothelioma-focused specialist does.
These centers also offer a multidisciplinary approach to cancer care. This means a team of doctors specializing in different areas of medicine meet regularly to discuss your care. Oncologists at these centers collaborate with other specialists, such as surgeons, radiologists, pathologists and palliative care doctors. This allows them to offer the most comprehensive cancer care possible.
Mesothelioma Is Often Misdiagnosed
Too often with mesothelioma, patients are initially misdiagnosed. They begin treatment for a surface-level symptom or a problem they don’t have. Many of the first symptoms of mesothelioma mimic and can be confused with less serious illnesses. This is why an individual’s history of asbestos exposure should be communicated early to a physician who understands it.
Mesothelioma Requires Specialized Treatment
Surgeries, chemotherapy drugs and radiation treatments can be part of a multimodal treatment approach. The best treatments today for this cancer are specialized. It is no longer a one-size-fits-all regimen. A decade ago, the prognosis for a mesothelioma patient usually meant six to 12 months to live. Specialized treatment centers are extending more lives beyond that prognosis.
The Right Care Can Extend Your Life
Some people live for five years or more with the disease. Many of the specialized centers have patients who have lived for 10 years and still are going strong with specialized proper care. Although no cure has been found, there is a belief that mesothelioma one day will be treated like a chronic illness.
How to Choose the Right Cancer Center
Research Top Doctors
Mesothelioma should be treated by an oncologist. However, not all cancer doctors are mesothelioma specialists. It is important to work with a doctor with experience treating asbestos-related cancers.
Read About Top Mesothelioma Doctors
Decide on a Treatment Strategy
In general, the treatment for mesothelioma is much like the treatment for other cancers. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the most common treatments. Asbestos-related cancers have no cure. Doctors often point patients to emerging therapies and clinical trials for the latest treatments such as immunotherapy. Mesothelioma cancer centers tend to offer more mesothelioma clinical trials than other facilities.
Review Treatment Options for Mesothelioma
Consider Treatment Costs and Other Expenses
There’s no getting around the fact that treating cancer is costly. Even with the best insurance plans, families can go through a financial crisis to make sure that loved ones get the prescribed treatments that could save lives or buy wanted time with family and friends. The cost of traveling to a specialized cancer center is a major concern for many families. According to a November 2016 study, Medicare patients without supplemental health insurance spend 23 percent of their income on cancer care.
Need Money for Treatment?
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may qualify for financial assistance.
Get Help NowVA Hospitals and Mesothelioma Treatment
Many veterans were exposed to asbestos during their time in the military and later developed related diseases. Although their military history makes them eligible for treatment at VA hospitals, that doesn’t mean there aren’t choices to make. The VA has hospitals to choose from that specialize in mesothelioma treatment.
Once in the VA health care system, a veteran can seek treatment anywhere in the country. They only need a referral to receive specialized care.
Abraham Lebenthal, M.D. Surgeon at VA Boston Healthcare System and former Israeli infantry commander“The most important thing is, if a patient trusts me, if they believe in me, at the end of the day, we’re going to a really big battle together. The stakes are pretty darn high. If you don’t believe in the person you’re going to battle with, if you’re not comfortable with him, then you should go with someone else.”
Surgeon at VA Boston Healthcare System and former Israeli infantry commander
Lebenthal specializes in mesothelioma and veterans issues. His own military background plays a role in that interest. Because veterans are disproportionately affected — approximately one-third of all mesothelioma lawsuits in this country are filed by veterans — he has encouraged all veterans with the disease to find him.
The mesothelioma program in Boston often can arrange free or discounted housing. For many veterans, the biggest cost is the travel. There also are charitable organizations that can help.
“This is not a knock on anyone, but mesothelioma is so complex, and its care so specialized, that a patient really needs the best care in the world,” Lebenthal said. “We’re in a unique position to offer that.”
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Last Modified January 3, 2019
Karen Selby, RN
Registered Nurse and Patient Advocate
Karen Selby joined Asbestos.com in 2009. She is a registered nurse with a background in oncology and thoracic surgery and was the regional director of a tissue bank before becoming a Patient Advocate at The Mesothelioma Center. Karen has assisted surgeons with thoracic surgeries such as lung resections, lung transplants, pneumonectomies, pleurectomies and wedge resections. She is also a member of the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators.
3 Cited Article Sources
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Narang, A.K. and Nicholas, L.H. (2017, June 1). Out-of-Pocket Spending and Financial Burden Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Cancer.
Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27893028 -
Cancer.net. (2017, July). Mesothelioma: Statistics.
Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/mesothelioma/statistics - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (n.d.). Asbestos and Mesothelioma. Retrieved from: https://www.boston.va.gov/services/surgical/Asbestos_and_Mesothelioma.asp
