Hillman Cancer Center
5115 Centre Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15224
Mesothelioma Treatment in Pennsylvania
Table Of Contents
Mesothelioma patients in Pennsylvania have access to some of the world’s finest cancer treatment centers. Mesothelioma treatment in Pennsylvania is available at cancer centers throughout the state that offer surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy and cutting-edge clinical trials.
Written by Karen Selby, RN | Edited by Walter Pacheco | Last Update:
Getting Treatment in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has some of the leading mesothelioma cancer treatment centers in the country, including three National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers. Both the Abramson Cancer Center and the Fox Chase Cancer Center have been NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers for nearly 50 years.
Pennsylvania has one of the highest rates of mesothelioma in the U.S. due to its long history of asbestos mining, coal mining, coal refinery and use of asbestos in various industries, including steel production. The state is ranked third in the country for asbestos-related deaths. The incidence of mesothelioma in Pennsylvania is 0.8 cases per 100,000 people.
The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com has more than 15 years of experience working with mesothelioma survivors and their families. In addition to being the nation’s most trusted source for mesothelioma information, it provides assistance through patient advocacy, VA claims, a Doctor Match program, support groups and webinars. The Mesothelioma Center helps people in Pennsylvania find the best possible mesothelioma treatment within the state.
Expert Take
Dr. Jacques Fontaine: How Multidisciplinary Teams Work
Cancer is a complex disease to treat. And that’s why it’s so important to have different type of experts, different type of physicians who all focus on lung cancer or who all focus on mesothelioma or esophageal cancer, and they all come together to work in unison.
So the radiation oncologist will give their input on that specific case. The medical oncologist will chime in. The thoracic surgeon will provide his or her expertise. The pulmonologist, the pathologist who will review the slides, the radiologist, and they all have a focus on that one specific type of cancer. They all work together as a singular team under one roof in the same clinic space.
So the radiation oncologist will give their input on that specific case. The medical oncologist will chime in. The thoracic surgeon will provide his or her expertise. The pulmonologist, the pathologist who will review the slides, the radiologist, and they all have a focus on that one specific type of cancer. They all work together as a singular team under one roof in the same clinic space.
Top Mesothelioma Cancer Centers in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania offers many options when it comes to cancer treatment centers. How do you choose which center is right for you? A mesothelioma diagnosis is life-altering. Choosing the treatment center that is best for you is an important personal decision.
When choosing 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?
Several cancer centers in Pennsylvania specialize in mesothelioma care. The Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania has the Mesothelioma and Pleural Disease Program. UPMC Hillman Cancer Center has the Mesothelioma Specialty Care program. Temple Health in Philadelphia has the Temple Health Lung Center and the Fox Chase Cancer Center. Allegheny General Hospital is one of the best thoracic surgery centers in the U.S.
Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine
3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Allegheny General Hospital
320 E. North Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Temple Health Lung Center
3401 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19140
Fox Chase Cancer Center
333 Cottman Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19111
Pennsylvania Doctors Who Treat Mesothelioma
Finding the right mesothelioma doctor is as important as finding the right cancer treatment center. Mesothelioma treatment will continue throughout your life, so you want to find someone you feel comfortable with.
When choosing a mesothelioma doctor in Pennsylvania, be sure to consider:
- Is the doctor knowledgeable and confident?
- Do they have experience with your specific type of mesothelioma?
- Do they make you feel comfortable and respected?
Finding the right cancer doctor doesn’t mean just finding the best cancer doctor. You have to find the best cancer doctor for you. Be sure to find someone who is a good fit for your long-term treatment. You need to build a strong working relationship based on trust and respect. You and your doctor need to become a team to work together throughout your mesothelioma journey.
Keith Cengel
Pleural Specialist | Radiation Oncology
Expertise:
Photodynamic Therapy
Clinical Trials
Expertise:
Photodynamic Therapy
Clinical Trials
Dr. Keith Cengel is the executive director of Penn Medicine’s Mesothelioma and Pleural Diseases Program, which includes an all-encompassing, multidisciplinary approach to treatment.
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Christine A. Ciunci
Pleural Specialist | Hematology
Expertise:
Research
Immunotherapy
Expertise:
Research
Immunotherapy
Dr. Christine A. Ciunci is a medical oncologist with the Mesothelioma and Pleural Disease Program at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia.
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Joseph S. Friedberg
Pleural Specialist | Thoracic Surgery
Expertise:
Lung-Sparing Surgery
Clinical Trials
Research
Expertise:
Lung-Sparing Surgery
Clinical Trials
Research
Dr. Joseph Friedberg is a renowned thoracic surgeon and pleural mesothelioma specialist at Temple Health in Philadelphia.
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Andrew Haas
Pleural Specialist | Pulmonary Medicine
Expertise:
Diagnostics
CAR T-Cell Therapy
Expertise:
Diagnostics
CAR T-Cell Therapy
Dr. Andrew Haas is an interventional pulmonologist who focuses on thoracic oncology. He plays a key role in the Mesothelioma and Pleural Disease Program and has expertise in asbestos-related diseases. He is board certified in pulmonary medicine and orthopaedic surgery.
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Giorgos Karakousis
Peritoneal Specialist | Surgical Oncology
Expertise:
Cytoreductive Surgery
HIPEC
Expertise:
Cytoreductive Surgery
HIPEC
Dr. Giorgos C. Karakousis is a surgical oncologist at the Abramson Cancer Center in Philadelphia, where his specialties include the treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma.
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Anthony R. Lanfranco
Pleural Specialist | Pulmonology
Expertise:
Minimally Invasive Procedures
Pleural Mesothelioma
Expertise:
Minimally Invasive Procedures
Pleural Mesothelioma
Dr. Anthony R. Lanfranco is an interventional pulmonologist who specializes in diagnosing pleural mesothelioma at the Mesothelioma and Pleural Diseases program at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia. He is board-certified in internal medicine and pulmonary medicine.
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Corey J. Langer
Pleural Specialist | Thoracic Oncology
Expertise:
Multimodality Therapy
Immunotherapy
Expertise:
Multimodality Therapy
Immunotherapy
Dr. Corey J. Langer is director of thoracic oncology at the University of Pennsylvania Abramson Cancer Center in Philadelphia. He has extensive experience in treating pleural mesothelioma.
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Edmund K. Moon
Pleural Specialist | Interventional Pulmonology
Expertise:
Respiratory Disease
Pleural Mesothelioma
Immunotherapy
Expertise:
Respiratory Disease
Pleural Mesothelioma
Immunotherapy
Dr. Edmund K. Moon is a respected interventional pulmonologist for Penn Medicine in Philadelphia, seeing patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and other respiratory diseases. He also specializes in immunotherapy, bronchoscopies and pleurodesis procedures.
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Sunil Singhal
Pleural Specialist | Thoracic Surgery
Expertise:
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Bronchoscopy
Expertise:
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Bronchoscopy
Dr. Sunil Singhal is the highly esteemed director of the Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
Read BioClinical Trials and Cancer Research in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is home to world-class cancer research. The Fox Chase Cancer Center has some of the world’s leading cancer researchers, including Nobel Prize-winning scientists. The Abramson Cancer Center is working with other top cancer centers in the U.S. on a clinical trial for a new T-cell therapy designed to treat difficult cancers, including mesothelioma. Throughout the state, numerous other cancer centers and hospitals are involved in clinical trials that are testing new treatments for different types of mesothelioma.
Participating in clinical trials can give you access to the latest cutting-edge mesothelioma treatments. 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
Chemotherapy With or Without Immunotherapy for Peritoneal Mesothelioma
This study is testing the addition of atezolizumab and bevacizumab immunotherapy to standard surgery or chemotherapy.
- Condition: Peritoneal Mesothelioma
- Intervention: Immunotherapy
- Locations: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Recruiting: August 2021 – Present
Clinical Trial
Durvalumab With Chemotherapy as First-Line Treatment in Advanced Pleural Mesothelioma (DREAM3R)
Patients in this study receive first-line treatment with standard chemotherapy of pemetrexed and cisplatin. Two-thirds of participants will also receive durvalumab immunotherapy.
- Condition: Pleural Mesothelioma
- Intervention: Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy
- Locations: Atlanta, Georgia
- Recruiting: April 2020 – Present
Marian Levin
Pleural Mesothelioma Survivor
Marian Levin, from Philadelphia, was 57 when she was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. Aggressive surgery and chemotherapy helped control her cancer. One of her greatest joys is hosting Thanksgiving dinner for her family. In 2015, her surgery kept her from enjoying Thanksgiving, but one year later, she was able to host holiday dinners again for her children and grandchildren. Although mesothelioma has limited some of her activities, like traveling the world, her successful treatment has given her extra years to spend with her family.
Virginia Beach
Pleural Mesothelioma Survivor
Virginia Beach was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma and was told she might live only about a year and a half even with treatment. She passed away in 2016 at age 88, more than 10 years after her diagnosis. Multiple rounds of chemotherapy helped manage her disease, giving her over a decade to share time with her many children and grandchildren.
Cancer Support Services in Pennsylvania
Cancer support services help cancer patients, caregivers and families coping with mesothelioma. These services often include financial, emotional and spiritual support. Both local and national resources are available to assist people in Pennsylvania.
Abramson Cancer Center Patient & Family Support Services
The University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center offers many services alongside medical treatment. These include support groups, transportation, spiritual care, rehabilitation, exercise programs, home care, palliative care and hospice care to support patients and their families.
The American Cancer Society’s resource centers provide free wigs, hats, treatment information and other support. They also help patients find emotional support networks, financial aid and lodging during treatment.
Cancer Support Community Greater Philadelphia
This organization provides more than 150 free programs for those affected by cancer. Services include support groups, networking, lectures, workshops, nutritional programs and mind-body wellness activities. It also offers social events, creative activities and services for children and teens.
Mesothelioma Survivor, Caregiver & Family Support
This Facebook group connects mesothelioma patients and caregivers in Pennsylvania and beyond. Newly diagnosed patients, survivors and families share experiences and offer peer support.
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Resources for Living With Cancer
The Hillman Cancer Center provides outpatient pain management, social work and educational resources. Its Cancer LiveWell Survivorship Program offers specialized care from psychologists, physical therapists, dietitians and other health experts to support cancer survivors.
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