Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
4100 John R St, Detroit, MI 48201
Year Built: 1943
Number of Beds: 123
Number of Physicians: 2
Mesothelioma Treatment in Michigan
Table Of Contents
Mesothelioma patients in Michigan can access top-notch cancer treatment centers with specialists in mesothelioma diagnosis, treatment and research. Multiple cancer centers in Michigan offer surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment as well as access to clinical trials.
Written by Dr. Kristopher Bunting | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: June 4, 2024
Written by Dr. Kristopher Bunting | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: June 4, 2024
Getting Treatment in Michigan
Michigan is home to some of the country’s best cancer treatment centers, including two National Cancer Institute comprehensive cancer centers. These are the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute at Wayne State University in Detroit and the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center in Ann Arbor.
Michigan has a wide range of industries that are responsible for occupational asbestos exposure, most notably the automotive industry. In addition to automobile and auto parts manufacturing, Michigan also has many chemical, oil and food production facilities linked to asbestos exposure. Michigan ranks ninth in the U.S. for asbestos-related deaths, including a total of 1,992 recorded mesothelioma deaths. Based on data from 2020, the age-adjusted incidence of mesothelioma in Michigan is 0.6 cases per 100,000 people.
The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com is Michigan’s and the nation’s trusted source for mesothelioma information for patients and their families. For more than 15 years, The Mesothelioma Center has provided assistance in the form of patient advocates, VA claims, a doctor match program, support groups and webinars. The center provides resources for people with mesothelioma in Michigan to help them find the best possible care within the state.
Top Mesothelioma Centers in Michigan
Choosing a cancer treatment center is an important first step on your mesothelioma journey. With multiple cancer treatment centers to choose from in Michigan, how do you choose the one that is right for you?
When deciding on a cancer treatment center, consider these factors:
- Are they accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer?
- Are they a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center?
- Do they provide palliative care in addition to surgical and oncology services?
Michigan has many cancer centers across the state, but only two of these are NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers: the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit and the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center in Ann Arbor.
Other major cancer centers in Michigan include Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and the Van Elslander Cancer Center. These centers have doctors who specialize in mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment, providing the latest, most effective mesothelioma treatments to patients.
Rogel Cancer Center at University of Michigan
E Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Year Built: 1986
Number of Physicians: 1
Van Elslander Cancer Center
19229 Mack Ave. Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236
Year Built: 1952
Number of Physicians: 1
Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak
3601 W. 13 Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI 48073
Year Built: 1977
Number of Beds: 1,070 beds
Number of Physicians: 1
Michigan Doctors Who Treat Mesothelioma
In addition to finding a cancer treatment center, you must also choose the right cancer doctor. This is a very important part of your mesothelioma journey. Your doctor will work alongside you to help you select the best treatments that meet your individual needs. There is no shortage of competent physicians, but you must find someone who is a good fit for you.
When choosing a mesothelioma doctor in Michigan, consider the following:
- Are they highly trained and confident in their field?
- Do they have a background in your type of mesothelioma?
- Do you feel you can trust them and that they respect you?
Cancer treatment continues even after remission. You and your doctor need to build a good working relationship based on trust and respect. Personality matters as much as medical knowledge and clinical skills. You and your doctor need to work together as a team throughout your treatment. Be sure to find a teammate who is a good fit for you, someone you can feel comfortable working with for the long journey ahead.
Detroit, Michigan
Munther I. Ajlouni
Pleural Specialist | Radiation Oncology
Expertise: Precision Radiotherapy MRI-Guided Radiation
Languages: English
Detroit, Michigan
Raed Alnajjar
Pleural Specialist | Thoracic Surgery
Expertise: Cardiothoracic Surgery Structural Heart Disease
Languages: English, Arabic
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Gregory P. Kalemkerian
Pleural Specialist | Medical Oncology
Expertise: Thoracic Malignancies Immunotherapy
Languages: English
Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan
Richard Berri
Peritoneal Specialist | Thoracic Surgery
Expertise: Cytoreductive Surgery HIPEC
Languages: English, Spanish
Detroit, Michigan
Hirva Mamdani
Pleural Specialist | Medical Oncology
Expertise: Immunotherapy Research
Languages: English
Troy, Michigan
Mohammad Muhsin Chisti
Pleural Specialist | Medical Oncology
Expertise: Immunotherapy Pleural Mesothelioma
Languages: English, Hindi, Urdu
Midland, Michigan
Miguel Alvelo-Rivera
Pleural Specialist | Thoracic Surgery
Expertise: Minimally Invasive Surgery Thoracoscopic Pneumonectomy
Languages: English, Spanish
Detroit, Michigan
Shirish Gadgeel
Pleural Specialist | Medical Oncology
Expertise: Thoracic Malignancies Clinical Research
Languages: English, Hindi, Marathi
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
Some cancer centers in Michigan also conduct cancer research, including clinical trials of new mesothelioma treatments. Clinical trials are essential to improving mesothelioma treatment by recruiting patients to test the latest cutting-edge therapies. Enrolling in a clinical trial can give you access to mesothelioma treatments at the forefront of cancer research.
Mesothelioma clinical trials in Michigan are testing targeted therapies that use new drugs designed to treat cancers associated with specific gene mutations. Participating in cancer research can benefit you as an individual, but it also allows you to play a role in advancing cancer care for countless other patients. Are you interested in enrolling in a mesothelioma clinical trial? Let The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com help you find one that’s right for you.
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 work to meet the needs of cancer patients, caregivers and families. Both national and local resources are available to help residents of Michigan with mesothelioma.
The American Cancer Society’s cancer resource centers provide free wigs, hats, treatment information and other support for cancer patients. Their services also include help finding emotional support networks, financial assistance and lodging during treatment.
Mesothelioma Survivor, Caregiver & Family Support
The Mesothelioma Survivor, Caregiver & Family Support group on Facebook helps connect mesothelioma patients and caregivers in Michigan and around the country with other people dealing with mesothelioma. Newly diagnosed patients, survivors and others can share their experiences and offer peer support.
Michigan Health and Human Services
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has online information to help cancer survivors and caregivers find cancer support services. They also have a program to provide home-delivered meals to individuals who are unable to prepare meals for themselves, including cancer patients.
The Revive & Thrive Project provides healthy, fresh meals for individuals with cancer and other chronic and acute illnesses living in the Grand Rapids area of Michigan. It provides nutritional support to families and caregivers as well as patients.
The University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center offers a full range of support services for cancer patients and their families. It offers everything from art therapy and educational programs to support groups and spiritual care.
Michigan individuals and families dealing with a mesothelioma diagnosis have access to a wide range of resources and services. Along with mesothelioma treatment in Michigan, these resources can provide financial as well as emotional and spiritual support.
Recommended Reading
Get Free Recipes for Mesothelioma Patients
Mesothelioma Trust Funds
Find Active Mesothelioma Clinical Trials
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