Getting Treatment in Michigan

Michigan’s top cancer centers emphasize personalized therapies including immunotherapy and participation in clinical trials to access promising new treatments. With its extensive industrial history, particularly in automotive manufacturing, Michigan has seen significant asbestos exposure linked to mesothelioma. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 2018 to 2022, Michigan reported 500 new mesothelioma cases with an age-adjusted incidence rate of 0.80 per 100,000 people across all racial and ethnic groups.

Our Patient Advocates have connected people in Michigan with top doctors and cancer centers for more than 15 years. Our resources include support groups, webinars with experts and VA-accredited claims agents. We help families schedule medical appointments, navigate insurance, seek financial assistance and get second opinions.

Top Mesothelioma Centers in Michigan

The leading cancer treatment centers for mesothelioma in Michigan include two National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers: the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit and the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center in Ann Arbor. Both are recognized nationwide for their innovative cancer research and expertise in treating complex cases such as mesothelioma.

What to Look for in a Cancer Center in Michigan

  • American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer accreditation
  • NCI designation
  • Offers supportive care in addition to advanced surgical and oncology treatments

The Karmanos Cancer Institute and Rogel Cancer Center both meet the highest standards for cancer care. As NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers, they provide a full spectrum of services beyond diagnosis and treatment, including supportive care, clinical trials, and patient education. They are also active leaders in mesothelioma research and members of national oncology networks that set evidence-based treatment guidelines.

Michigan Doctors Who Treat Mesothelioma

Michigan offers access to several highly skilled mesothelioma cancer specialists dedicated to developing personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s unique diagnosis. Finding a physician with expertise in your specific mesothelioma type and its complexities is critical for optimal care.

Choosing a Specialist in Michigan

  • Collaborative approach with multidisciplinary teams, including surgeons, radiation oncologists and palliative care providers
  • Proven experience and expertise in managing your mesothelioma subtype
  • Up-to-date knowledge of emerging therapies and clinical trials
  • Focus on compassionate, patient-centered care and communication

Selecting a doctor who combines clinical expertise with a supportive, empathetic approach is essential. Mesothelioma treatment can be a prolonged and challenging journey, so it’s important you feel comfortable working closely with your doctor. Together, you can make informed decisions and navigate your care as a trusted team.

Dr. Raed Alnajjar, thoracic surgeon

Detroit, Michigan

Raed Alnajjar

Pleural Specialist | Thoracic Surgery

Expertise: Cardiothoracic Surgery Structural Heart Disease

Languages: English, Arabic

Dr. Gregory Kalemkerian, pleural mesothelioma oncologist

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Gregory P. Kalemkerian

Pleural Specialist | Medical Oncology

Expertise: Thoracic Malignancies Immunotherapy

Languages: English

Dr. Richard Berri, peritoneal mesothelioma surgeon

 Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan

Richard Berri

Peritoneal Specialist | Thoracic Surgery

Expertise: Cytoreductive Surgery HIPEC

Languages: English, Spanish

Dr. Hirva Mamdani, pleural mesothelioma specialist

Detroit, Michigan

Hirva Mamdani

Pleural Specialist | Medical Oncology

Expertise: Immunotherapy Research

Languages: English

Dr. Mohammad Chisti, medical oncologist

Troy, Michigan

Mohammad Muhsin Chisti

Pleural Specialist | Medical Oncology

Expertise: Immunotherapy Pleural Mesothelioma

Languages: English, Hindi, Urdu

Dr. Miguel Alvelo-Rivera, pleural mesothelioma surgeon

Midland, Michigan

Miguel Alvelo-Rivera

Pleural Specialist | Thoracic Surgery

Expertise: Minimally Invasive Surgery Thoracoscopic Pneumonectomy

Languages: English, Spanish

Dr. Shirish Gadgeel, lung cancer & mesothelioma oncologist

Detroit, Michigan

Shirish Gadgeel

Pleural Specialist | Medical Oncology

Expertise: Thoracic Malignancies Clinical Research

Languages: English, Hindi, Marathi

Dr. Craig W. Stevens, Department chair of Radiation Oncology

Royal Oak, Michigan

Craig W. Stevens

Pleural Specialist | Radiation Oncology

Expertise: Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy Clinical Trials

Languages: English

Clinical Trials and Cancer Research in Michigan

Many leading cancer centers in Michigan prioritize research and clinical trials to advance mesothelioma treatment. Clinical trials are vital because they offer patients access to the latest therapies being studied, which may not be widely available yet. These trials help researchers find more effective and targeted treatments for mesothelioma.

Currently, several open Michigan clinical trials are recruiting participants. They’re testing innovative approaches such as targeted immunotherapy drugs that attack specific genetic mutations associated with mesothelioma, and novel combinations of chemo with immune checkpoint inhibitors. These trials are conducted at top centers like the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Henry Ford Cancer and the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center.

If you’re interested in enrolling in a mesothelioma clinical trial, Patient Advocates can answer your questions and guide you as you explore your options. This support can help you navigate the often complex process of finding and assessing trial opportunities.

Clinical Trial
Phase 1 Study of INBRX-109 in Subjects With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors, Including Sarcomas

This is a trial of an experimental immunotherapy drug, INBRX-109, designed to treat mesothelioma and other solid tumors.

  • Condition: Pleural Mesothelioma
  • Intervention: Immunotherapy
  • Locations: Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • Recruiting: October 28, 2018 – Present
Clinical Trial
Study of ASTX295 in Patients With Solid Tumors With Wild-Type p53

This trial is testing a new drug that targets a protein in the p53 gene associated with cancer.

  • Condition: Pleural Mesothelioma
  • Intervention: Targeted Therapy
  • Locations: Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • Recruiting: June 2019 – Present
Clinical Trial
PRO1184 for Advanced Solid Tumors

This study is evaluating a treatment that consists of a targeted therapy drug bound to an antibody against receptors on cancer cells, including mesothelioma and other solid tumors.

  • Condition: Malignant Mesothelioma
  • Intervention: Targeted Therapy/Immunotherapy
  • Locations: Detroit, Michigan
  • Recruiting: October 2022 – Present

Stories From Survivors

Chuck Gast
Pleural Mesothelioma Survivor

Chuck Gast traveled to Michigan to receive life-saving treatment for pleural mesothelioma after his diagnosis in 2016. His former wife had received a mesothelioma diagnosis just three years prior, so he had firsthand experience with the cancer.

He underwent pleurectomy and decortication (P/D), an aggressive surgery to remove the lining of his lung, at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor before returning home to Ohio for chemotherapy. With the love and support of his wife, stepdaughter and church, Gast has been able to return to his normal life. He was able to return to work, walking a half mile to and from work every day, and resumed weightlifting and playing softball. According to Gast, surviving mesothelioma has made him stronger.

Cancer Support Services in Michigan

Cancer support services are designed to meet the needs of patients, caregivers and families facing mesothelioma. There are both national and local resources available to help people in Michigan with mesothelioma. Along with treatment, these programs provide important financial, emotional and spiritual support.

American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society offers cancer resource centers that provide free wigs, hats, treatment information and other types of support to patients. Their services also include helping individuals find emotional support groups, financial aid and lodging during treatment.

Mesothelioma Survivor, Caregiver & Family Support
This Facebook group connects mesothelioma patients and caregivers in Michigan and across the country. It gives newly diagnosed patients, survivors and their families a place to share experiences and offer peer support.

Michigan Health and Human Services
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services provides online information to help cancer survivors and caregivers find support services. They also offer a program that delivers home-delivered meals to people who cannot prepare food on their own, including those living with cancer.

Revive & Thrive
The Revive & Thrive Project delivers fresh, healthy meals to individuals with cancer and other health challenges in the Grand Rapids area. It provides nutritional help to not only patients but also their families and caregivers.

Rogel Cancer Center
The University of Michigan’s Rogel Cancer Center offers many support services for cancer patients and their families. These include art therapy, educational programs, support groups and spiritual care.

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