We have compiled a list of some of the top treatment centers across
the nation that specialize in caring for people with mesothelioma cancer
with in house doctors, surgeons and other healthcare providers. The
research teams and medical experts that work at these centers specialize
in the rare form of cancer and work exclusively on finding and
providing effective pleural mesothelioma treatments and other
therapies, as well as support services and education for patients and
their families. We hope this list will help you in your search for the
right team of specialists to care for you or loved one.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer. Because the symptoms
can be similar to other illnesses, many patients are treated for other
illnesses before a mesothelioma diagnoses is made. And, by the time
mesothelioma is discovered, it is often at an advanced stage. Although
there is no cure for mesothelioma, there are several treatment options
and mesothelioma centers designed to help combat the symptoms and
provide patients with the highest quality of life.
Finding the right mesothelioma treatment center is crucial to a
patient’s prognosis; although the disease can’t be cured, a patient’s
life may be extended with certain treatments.
Mesothelioma Treatments & Specialists
Medical professionals at mesothelioma treatment centers include
doctors, oncologists, radiologists, palliative care specialists, nurses,
and more. Patients will benefit from a team of top mesothelioma
specialists who will design an individualized strategy tailored to his
or her specific needs. When determining a patient’s “needs,” the team
may look at factors such as a patient’s:
Age
Overall heath
Medical history
Family history of cancer and other illnesses
Level of cancer
There are a number of researchers at these mesothelioma centers who
are constantly developing and testing cutting edge treatment options for
people with mesothelioma and other progressive cancers. Although there
is no cure for mesothelioma, there are specific treatment options and
strategies that work to extend the lifespan of diagnosed patients. With
modern technological advances, diagnosed patients are often able to live
for five years, with some reaching closer to ten years of survival with
the help of mesothelioma cancer centers. Your team of specialists may
suggest trying an alternative form of treatment or joining a clinical
trial in efforts to extend the quality and length of life – these
options, of course, will be up to you and your family.
Participants of clinical trials receive interventions that may
include drugs or devices that are being tested by the clinical trial
operators. Whether you would like to join a clinical trial or try an
alternative form of malignant mesothelioma treatment is up to you –
but, this is something you may want to investigate as it may extend
your life and, in turn, help other future patients. If this is something
you may be interested in, it will be important to find a mesothelioma
treatment center that is conducting ongoing trials.
Treatment centers often conduct mesothelioma clinical trials,
which are designed to measure the efficacy of promising new drugs or
other treatments. Together with your health care team at mesothelioma
treatment centers, you may investigate the possibility of joining one of
these trials. Or you may benefit from the advancements such trials have
made in the mesothelioma treatment.
How to Choose the Right Mesothelioma Treatment Center
Choosing the right facility and team of specialists to help you (or
your loved one with mesothelioma) may seem like an overwhelming task.
Where do you begin? Who do you call? Here at
MesotheliomaTreatmentCenters.org, our goal is to help you sift
through all the mesothelioma treatment centers and facilities to find
the right one for you. We also offer assistance in finding an attorney
or lawyer to pursue legal cases for those that were unknowingly or
unwillingly exposed to asbestos.
Mesothelioma Treatment Centers in USA
Below you will find a list of some of the top mesothelioma cancer
centers in the U.S., listed by state. Please select from one of the
following states for a list of centers as well as information about each
state’s unique risks for asbestos exposure. We hope this helps you in
your search for a facility. If you have further questions, call us today
at (800) 568-8826.
Five major approaches to mesothelioma treatments are surgery,
radiation therapy, chemotherapy, palliative therapy, and biological
therapy. Each method may be used alone, but often they are coordinated
in combined programs to improve the overall treatment result. The extent
of any treatment is always dependent upon a patient’s physical health
condition, their age, the location and stages of mesothelioma (degree of disease) of the disease, and the extent of asbestos exposure.
Mesothelioma Surgery
Mesothelioma surgery occurs when patients are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma
and can be considered possible candidates for a surgical procedure
known as pneumonectomy. This is the surgical excision (removal) of the
diseased lung and, if need be, any affected parts of the surrounding
diaphragm. In reality, pneumonectomy is considered a high-risk
procedure, and eligibility is dependent upon the patient’s present state
of health and extent of asbestos exposure.
Radiation Treatment of Mesothelioma
Radiation treatment,
or radiation therapy, is the mesothelioma treatment of disease using
either an external source of high-energy rays (x-rays or gamma rays) or
internally implanted radioactive substances. These rays and substances
are effective in destroying tissue and stopping the growth of malignant
cells. In contrast to chemotherapy, radiation therapy is targeted
towards a specific area and can treat the affected area without exposing
the surrounding healthy tissue. Radiation can be used as a combination
treatment along with surgery, or can be used alone to combat
mesothelioma cancer. As with most treatments, a high dose of radiation
can cause health complications.
Chemotherapy Treatments for Mesothelioma
Chemotherapy
is the use of drugs in the cancer treatment. Standard chemotherapy
treatments are either administered in the form of pills or injected
medication, and may be used alone or in combination with surgery and
irradiation. In chemotherapy, drugs are given according to a written
protocol, or plan, that details exactly how the drugs will be given.
Once these drugs are distributed in the body, however, both tumor cells
and normal tissue cells are susceptible to their lethal effects, often
making the patient very ill. Usually drug therapy is continued until the
patient achieves a remission, which is the absence of all signs of
disease. Common side effects of chemotherapy include nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea, bleeding, weight loss, hair loss, and overall physical
fatigue.
Palliative Therapy Treatment
Palliative therapy
is a relieving, but not a curative method for treating and controlling
the symptoms of mesothelioma cancer. During palliative therapy
treatment, mesothelioma patients experience some relief when a needle is
used to drain and suction excess fluid from the affected tissue.
Generally, post-palliative drugs are administered to the patient in
order to prevent further accumulation of fluids.
Biological Treatment for Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer
Biological treatment is a more recent approach to all cancer
treatments, including treatment of mesothelioma cancer. It is the use of
the body’s own defense mechanisms to fight tumor cells. Medical experts
are exploring how elements of the immune system can be restored,
enhanced, mimicked, and manipulated to destroy cancerous cells.
Substances produced by normal cells that either directly block tumor
growth or stimulate the immune system and other body defenses are called
biological response modifiers. Examples of these substances are
interferon (made by lymphocytes, which are important in immune
response), monoclonal antibodies (derived from mouse cells and capable
of binding to human tumors in an immune response), colony-stimulating
factors (CSFs) that stimulate blood-forming cells, and interleukins that
stimulate the immune system.
If you or a loved one has been fighting mesothelioma, contact a
lawyer today. A qualified attorney will walk you through your health
options and discuss any money that you are entitled to throughout your
battle.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects cells found in the
mesothelium, a protective membrane surrounding the majority of the
body’s internal organs. The cells that make up this membrane protect the
organs by making a special fluid that allows the organs to move and, in
particular, help the lungs to move during breathing.
The vast majority of people who develop this deadly disease have
inhaled asbestos particles, often through their jobs. In fact, a history
of asbestos exposure in the workplace is reported in approximately 70
to 80 percent of all mesothelioma cases. In addition to mesothelioma,
the inhalation of the deadly mineral fibers can cause lung cancer and
asbestosis. The World Health Organization estimates that
asbestos-related diseases kill approximately 107,000 people around the
world each year.
Asbestos was originally prized by the ancient Greeks and Romans due
to its resistance to fire and use as an insulator. Use of the mineral
increased rapidly during the 19th century, particularly during the
Industrial Revolution. By the mid-1930s, however, it was known that
exposure to asbestos could cause a range of serious illnesses.
Mesothelioma Facts
Mesothelioma comes in three varieties:
Pleural: most common (75% to 80% of diagnosed cases), originates within the chest and impacts the lungs
Peritoneal: second most common (15% to 20% of diagnosed
cases), originates in the abdomen and can involve the testicles, or
spread to liver, spleen or bowel
Pericardial: very rare (less than 2%), originates around the heart
Mesothelioma Prognosis
While mesothelioma is relatively rare, approximately 2,500 new cases
of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. And
unfortunately, the average survival time of those with malignant forms
of the disease is ten to fourteen months. The prognosis for a long life
expectancy is not good even when symptoms appear early and treatment
begins quickly.
Other Mesothelioma Facts
It usually takes a long time before symptoms of mesothelioma appear (on average 20 to 50 years)
There is a difficulty in diagnosing mesothelioma because its symptoms are common to many types of infections and cancers
There is often a challenge of putting together the puzzle pieces for an accurate diagnosis
Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women
The risk of developing mesothelioma increases with age, although anyone can get mesothelioma
Treatment depends on cancer location, the patient’s general health and disease stage
Standard treatment options include radiation therapy, surgery and chemotherapy. In some instances, these are combined
While treatments are available for some people with mesothelioma,
they are mostly used to improve the quality of life of people whose
survival prospects are typically measured in months and not years.
Mesothelioma Causes
The only real mesothelioma causes come from asbestos fibers that
enter the body in the air we breathe. Like other dust particles that we
breathe, most of the asbestos fibers are stopped long before they enter
the small airways of the lungs. For example, we sometimes choke when we
enter a dusty room. We literally cough up the mucus that contains most
of the irritating substances. However, because asbestos fibers are so
small and thin, many of them pass all the way down to the small airways
and air sacs that fill the lung.
Once the fibers are inside the lungs, the body’s defense mechanisms
try to break them down and remove them. However, many fibers still
remain in the body and are potential disease-causing agents:
Each fiber is a foreign body and inflammations develop as our bodies
try to neutralize, break down or move the sharp, irritating asbestos
fibers, just like splinters that get stuck under the skin.
These processes lead to development of the various kinds of asbestos-caused diseases.
Mesothelioma Symptoms
Symptoms of mesothelioma usually appear between 20 and 50 years after
the first exposure to asbestos. Recognizing early symptoms of malignant
mesothelioma may aid in diagnosis. Many mesothelioma symptoms mimic
symptoms of other, less serious illnesses, delaying diagnosis even
further.
Malignant mesothelioma is diagnosed in one of three forms: pleural, peritoneal, or pericardial.
Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms
Primary symptoms of pleural—lung membrane—mesothelioma include:
Shortness of breath
Coughing, wheezing or hoarseness
Blood in coughed up fluid
Fatigue or anemia
Chest pain due to accumulation of fluid around the lungs, in the pleural space
Pleural mesothelioma symptoms are shared by many other illnesses—if
standard treatments for bronchitis, the flu and pneumonia do not bring
relief, your doctor should take steps to rule out mesothelioma as a
possible cause.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms
Primary symptoms of peritoneal—abdominal lining—mesothelioma include:
Abdominal pain
An abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen (ascites)
Bowel obstruction
A mass in the abdomen
Anemia
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma often do not appear until the
advanced stages of the illness, and even then resemble symptoms of other
illnesses.
Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms
Primary symptoms of pericardial—heart membrane—mesothelioma include:
Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat
Chest pain
Heart murmur
Difficulty breathing, even at rest or lying down
Fever or night sweats
Cough
Fatigue
Pericardial mesothelioma makes up fewer than six percent of all
recorded mesothelioma cases. Like pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma,
the symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma closely resemble the symptoms
of other heart conditions, usually delaying diagnosis.
The importance of mesothelioma screening
The National Cancer Institute’s definition of screening for cancer is
the examination or testing of people for early signs of certain type of
cancer even though they have no symptoms – this is the best way to
achieve a diagnosis as early as possible. Early detection and diagnosis
is particularly important for people with historical exposure to
asbestos due to the latency period (up to 50 years) before which
symptoms of malignant mesothelioma cancer may become apparent.
Sometimes more invasive tests are required which may include
screening methods for diagnosis of asbestos-related diseases using
various imaging tests. In addition to regular X-rays, imaging tests
include:
Computed Tomography / CT Scan. Computed tomography
is a recently developed special radiographic technique. Usually a spiral
CT scan, it produces a clear cross-sectional image allowing a
radiologist to see distinct aspects of the lung or pleura not readily
apparent from a standard X-ray image.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Positron emission tomography (PET)
Mesothelioma Screening Methods to Identify Asbestos-Related Disease
After a preliminary physical examination, your doctor may employ the following procedures to find out more about your condition:
Thoracoscopy – A scope is used to look inside your
chest cavity. A small cut will be made in your chest and a small piece
of tissue may be removed for examination (biopsy) during the procedure.
While you may feel some pressure, there is usually no pain.
Peritoneoscopy uses another specialized instrument
that allows for examination inside your abdomen. A scope is inserted
into an opening made in the abdomen, and a biopsy specimen may also be
taken.
If the presence of fluid is indicated by either of these procedures,
the doctor may drain it by inserting a needle into the affected area.
Removal of chest fluid is called thoracentesis. Removal of abdominal fluid is call paracentesis.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos
is the name for a group of naturally occurring silicate minerals that
can be separated into fibers. The fibers are strong, durable, and
resistant to heat and fire. They are also long, thin and flexible, so
that they can even be woven into cloth.
Because of these qualities, asbestos has been used in thousands of
consumer, industrial, maritime, automotive, scientific and building
products. During the twentieth century, some 30 million tons of were
used in industrial sites, homes, schools, shipyards and commercial
buildings in the United States.
There are several types of asbestos fibers, of which three have been used for commercial applications:
Chrysotile, or white, comes mainly from Canada, and has been very
widely used in the US. It is white-gray in color and found in serpentine
rock.
Amosite, or brown, comes from southern Africa.
Crocidolite, or blue, comes from southern Africa and Australia.
Amosite and crocidolite are called amphiboles. This term refers to the nature of their geologic formation.
Other asbestos fibers that have not been used commercially are
tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite, although they are sometimes
contaminants in asbestos-containing products. It should be noted that
there are non-fibrous, or non-asbestiform, variants of tremolite,
anthophylite and actinolite, which may not have the same adverse health
consequences that result from exposure to commercial forms of asbestos.
Why is asbestos still a problem?
Asbestos is still a problem because a great deal of it has been used
in the United States and elsewhere, because many asbestos-containing
products remain in buildings, ships, industrial facilities and other
environments where the fibers can become airborne, and because of the
serious human health hazards of inhaling the fibers.
Many Americans believe that use of asbestos in products was banned
years ago. The fact is that asbestos-containing products are still being
imported and sold in this country, continuing to endanger people who
may come in contact with such products. A majority of these products are
imported from Canada and Mexico, two countries where asbestos is still
used. Further, not all imported products are clearly labeled with proper
content information.
Asbestos Products
What is common to many asbestos products is that they were (are) used
to contain heat (i.e. thermal insulation.) It is impossible to list all
of the products that have, at one time or another, contained asbestos.
Common asbestos products:
pipe-covering
insulating cement
insulating block
asbestos cloth
gaskets
packing materials
thermal seals
refractory and boiler insulation materials
transite board
asbestos cement pipe
fireproofing spray
joint compound
vinyl floor tile
ceiling tile
mastics
adhesives
coatings
acoustical textures
duct insulation for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems
roofing products
insulated electrical wire and panels
brake and clutch assemblies
Some of these products contained a very high proportion of asbestos, while others contained small amounts.
Asbestos Exposure
Exposure to asbestos fibers can cause asbestos-related diseases including malignant mesothelioma
and other cancers. A potentially dangerous asbestos exposure can result
from very small fibers at low exposure levels. Most such exposure would
likely have occurred prior to the 1980s, but the latency period can be
up to 50 years for most asbestos-related cancers to develop.
Many people have come into contact with asbestos fibers
at their jobs. This is occupational exposure. There is also a risk to
the family members of those working in at-risk occupations; this
exposure is called paraoccupational exposure. Approximately 70% to 80%
of the cases of mesothelioma are believed to be the direct result of
easily identified occupational or paraoccupational exposure to asbestos
fibers.
A third group of people are also at risk, not from their job, but
from where they live. Sites likely to have asbestos include refineries,
power plants, factories, shipyards, steel mills and demolished
buildings. Those who live nearby can be exposed by the release of
asbestos fibers that contaminate their residential neighborhoods.
Specific Industries and Occupations with Asbestos Exposure Risk
