The top mesothelioma cancer centers are industry-leading cancer treatment centers staffed by specialists. They offer the best, most advanced treatments and collaborative teams of specialists to handle all aspects of mesothelioma treatment and patient care. These cancer centers also host clinical trials.
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About Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment Centers
Over 900 hospitals and medical facilities in the U.S. offer specialized mesothelioma treatment to cancer patients. Many of these centers focus on cancer treatment in general, though all are also active in cancer research.
Specialists and scientists working in these cancer care centers focus on discovering new and effective treatments and carrying out research and clinical trials.
They also seek more effective treatments, including chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Cancer researchers look for ways to prevent cancer with vaccines, with the ultimate goal of completely eradicating all forms of cancer.
What Is the Number One Cancer Treatment Center in the U.S.?
Organizations and experts consistently rank the MD Anderson Cancer Center as the best cancer treatment facility in the U.S. Other facilities that rank high include the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, the Mayo Clinic with multiple locations, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
The top cancer centers in the U.S. are ranked by statistics like patient mortality rate and readmission. Also considered are the specialists on staff, the research conducted, and the variety of treatments available.
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer. Even the highest-ranked cancer centers do not treat very many cases. When choosing the right treatment facility for your needs, consider whether it treats mesothelioma patients and any specialists on staff with experience working with and helping mesothelioma patients.
Why Choose a Cancer Center for Mesothelioma Treatment?
A dedicated cancer center is not the only type of facility that treats cancer patients. General hospitals and individual oncologists also treat cancer.
It is important to choose a cancer center or mesothelioma cancer center for treatment for several reasons:
- Cancer centers treat cancer exclusively and specialize in various types of cancer.
- They have more resources than stand-alone oncologists or general hospitals.
- Many cancer centers are part of a larger network that provides additional resources to benefit patients.
- They have the most up-to-date treatments, equipment, and technologies for patient care.
- Cancer centers are staffed by specialists who can offer the best care.
- Some cancer centers have mesothelioma specialists on staff.
- Comprehensive cancer centers conduct research and provide patients access to the latest treatments through clinical trials.
Mesothelioma is rare, so you will get the best treatment at a cancer center staffed by physicians who specialize in mesothelioma or at least have experience treating it.
What Are the Best Cancer Centers for Pleural Mesothelioma?
Pleural mesothelioma, which develops in the chest cavity, is the most common form of this rare cancer. Several cancer centers in the U.S. can treat pleural mesothelioma.
1. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX)
Known informally as MD Anderson Cancer Center, this Houston-based facility was founded in 1941.
MD Anderson is affiliated with the University of Texas Health Science Center and the Baylor University School of Medicine. The main campus is a 616-bed facility that is both an academic institution and a cancer research and treatment center.
MD Anderson Cancer Center is one of the three original comprehensive care centers in the U.S. created by the National Cancer Act of 1971.
MD Anderson Cancer Center has treated over 900,000 patients since 1944, 115,000 in 2012. It has 19,000 employees and operates several off-campus facilities in the Houston area.
One area of specialty at MD Anderson is diagnosing and treating lung and chest cancers. This includes both pleural and the very rare pericardial mesothelioma. On staff is mesothelioma specialist Dr. Anne Tsao. She researches proton therapy, a novel treatment for patients with fewer side effects.
2. Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center (Cleveland, OH)
The Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center is an NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center with a staff of more than 700. It includes the Taussig Cancer Institute and 25 other clinics.
The lung cancer department treats patients with pleural mesothelioma. It offers video-assisted surgeries, immunotherapy, and all the standard therapies mesothelioma patients need. The Cleveland Clinic lung cancer specialists are recognized worldwide for their expertise and innovative care.
3. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston, MA)
This small 30-bed medical facility is affiliated with Harvard University Medical School and is part of a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Care Center. A
long with Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center, Dana Farber runs the International Mesothelioma Program (IMP), located in the Brigham and Women’s Cancer facility in Boston.
The IMP treats 300 mesothelioma patients a year. Though this number seems small, it’s a significant portion of the nearly 2,000 patients diagnosed with mesothelioma each year in the U.S. Founded by Dr. David Sugarbaker, the IMP focuses on research, treatment, and support of mesothelioma patients and their families.
4. Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (Baltimore, MD)
Johns Hopkins is the teaching hospital and medical research facility for Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins University.
Founded in 1889, the original hospital campus has been supplemented by a modern complex of 20 buildings that house 560 private rooms for adult and pediatric patients, with around 920 beds. It has a medical staff of 1,700 doctors and a support staff of 30,000 employees.
Johns Hopkins Hospital has four cancer-related departments under the guidance of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center. The Lung Cancer Program treats patients with pleural mesothelioma.
5. UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles
Pleural mesothelioma specialist Dr. Robert Cameron leads the Lung Cancer Program and Thoracic Oncology Program at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. He has been instrumental in developing lung-sparing surgical procedures for mesothelioma patients.
The Cancer Center was established in 1974 as a treatment and research facility. It became an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1976.
The Jonsson Cancer Center partners with the Pacific Mesothelioma Center. The goal of the Center is to cure mesothelioma and to develop treatments that help patients live longer with mesothelioma as a chronic illness.
6. Baylor College of Medicine Lung Institute, Houston
Baylor College of Medicine is an independent part of the Texas Medical Center, although it started as part of Baptist University. It is considered one of the best medical schools in the country.
For mesothelioma patients, Baylor is important for its Lung Institute, founded in 2014 by mesothelioma specialist Dr. David Sugarbaker. He founded the Institute for researching and treating various lung disorders.
Within the Lung Institute is the Mesothelioma Treatment Center, which has some of the most sophisticated diagnostic technology in the world. It treats pleural mesothelioma patients in collaborative teams of specialists. Patients also benefit from the research done here and have access to clinical trials.
7. Mount Sinai Hospital, New York
Mount Sinai Hospital was established in 1852 and is one of the world’s most esteemed medical treatment centers. It brings together specialists from the Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Cancer Center, and Tisch Cancer Institute to treat patients with pleural mesothelioma.
Specialists at Mount Sinai use a multidisciplinary approach to treat patients from all angles and with various therapies. Mesothelioma expert Dr. Raja Flores is on staff here and heads the thoracic surgery department.
Under Dr. Flores, the mesothelioma team at Mount Sinai has developed safer surgical procedures for patients, including video-assisted surgeries. He also leads mesothelioma research and provides patients with access to clinical trials.
8. H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa
Florida State Representative H. Lee Moffitt helped spearhead the effort to open this world-leading cancer treatment center in 1978. His support included helping to levy a cigarette tax to fund the cancer center. Its doors officially opened in 1986.
The thoracic oncology department, led by specialist Dr. Jhanelle Gray, treats patients with pleural mesothelioma. Another team member, Dr. Jacques Fontaine, is a thoracic surgeon specializing in treating pleural mesothelioma.
The Moffitt Cancer Center offers all the latest treatments for mesothelioma patients. Moffitt’s treatment outcomes for mesothelioma are 2.5 times higher than the national average.
What Are the Best Cancer Centers for Peritoneal Mesothelioma?
Peritoneal mesothelioma, which develops in the abdomen, is even rarer than pleural mesothelioma. Still, several excellent treatment centers in the U.S. have specialists who treat peritoneal mesothelioma.
1. H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa
The Moffitt Cancer Center specializes in treating both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma patients. Moffitt offers cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC, the leading and most effective treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma.
On staff is Dr. Sophie Dessureau, a gastrointestinal surgical oncologist. She specializes in treating GI cancers, including peritoneal mesothelioma. She can perform cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC. Another specialist at Moffitt, Dr. Tawee Tanvetyanon, also offers this procedure.
2. The University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago
The Cancer Center is part of the medical campus at the University of Chicago. It became an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center in 2008. It receives federal funding for research into mesothelioma and other cancers and to conduct clinical trials.
The Cancer Center’s Mesothelioma Program is a leading research and treatment facility for mesothelioma. It is the largest such program in the Midwest. Research conducted here led to developing the standard mesothelioma chemotherapy combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin.
Dr. Hedy Lee Kindler leads the Mesothelioma Program. She is a specialist in gastrointestinal cancers, including peritoneal mesothelioma. She leads treatment for patients and also organizes and gives patients access to important clinical trials.
3. Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Hillman Cancer Center was established in 1984. It has more than 300 physicians on staff, as well as researchers leading cancer studies and clinical trials.
Hillman’s Mesothelioma Specialty Care Program opened in 2011. It provides mesothelioma patients with a multidisciplinary approach to treatment.
Dr. David Bartlett leads the surgical oncology department and is an expert in treating abdominal cancers, including peritoneal mesothelioma. He led the development of regional perfusion, the type of chemotherapy used in HIPEC, the leading treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma. It has proven more effective than traditional intravenous chemotherapy for most patients.
4. The Washington Cancer Institute, Washington, D.C.
The Washington Cancer Institute is part of the Washington Hospital Center. It was founded in 1992 and is the largest cancer treatment center in Washington, D.C.
Specialist teams here can treat any type of mesothelioma, but the primary area of specialty is peritoneal mesothelioma. Treatment is led by Dr. Paul Sugarbaker, a leading expert in peritoneal mesothelioma.
Dr. Sugarbaker developed the now standard treatment of cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC. It is often referred to as the Sugarbaker procedure.
The Washington Cancer Institute also specializes in innovative types of radiation therapy. The radiation oncology department is often involved in treatment teams for mesothelioma patients.
Mesothelioma Treatment for Veterans
Veterans have some of the highest rates of mesothelioma. The military, especially the U.S. Navy, used asbestos heavily in the past. Veterans can access treatment through U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals and medical centers, but not all treat mesothelioma.
The West Los Angeles VA Medical Center does have a mesothelioma program. It is led by Dr. Robert Cameron of the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. Veterans here benefit from his expertise and network.
The VA Boston Healthcare System also has affiliations with top mesothelioma specialists. It is affiliated with mesothelioma treatment programs at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center is in Houston and is affiliated with the Lung Institute and Mesothelioma Treatment Center at the Baylor College of Medicine.
How to Choose a Mesothelioma Treatment Center
If you have a mesothelioma diagnosis, you should begin treatment as soon as possible. Specialist care at a dedicated cancer center is the best option. Consider these factors when doing research and making your choice:
- Specialists. Most importantly, look for treatment somewhere that has mesothelioma specialists on staff. They should have experience treating patients with the same type of mesothelioma that you have.
- Innovative Treatments. Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to treat, so you should have the option of benefitting from the latest, and most effective therapies.
- Clinical Trials. Look for a facility that can provide access to clinical trials. You could benefit from treatments not yet available to the general population.
- Multidisciplinary Teams. Patients benefit from working with a team of specialists. The best cancer centers use multidisciplinary teams of different specialists who collaborate and share information to provide the best care.
- Location. Practical matters are important too. Can you access the facility easily? If you need to travel for treatment, how far is it reasonable to go, and where will you stay?
Getting Legal Help
Don’t forget to fill out our form to get our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area. Remember to use our Asbestos Attorney Locator Tool to find an experienced mesothelioma attorney in your area. If you have questions, contact us toll-free at 800-793-4540.
