Mesothelioma Specialists
A specialist who regularly treats mesothelioma knows what to look out for in imaging tests, bloodwork and other diagnostic tools. Specialists in mesothelioma may also offer advanced treatments that could improve the chances of survival.
When choosing a mesothelioma specialist, consider the hospital affiliation, experience and availability. Patients should feel at ease and supported throughout each visit.
Raja Flores
Dr. Raja Flores is a highly regarded mesothelioma specialist known for his compassion for patients and surgical skills. He is currently the head of thoracic surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.
Flores developed his expertise in lung cancer and mesothelioma treatments during his time at Brigham and Women's Hospital, where he was trained by well-known mesothelioma surgeon Dr. David Sugarbaker. He is well-versed in the treatment of pleural mesothelioma lung cancer, esophageal cancer and pleural mesothelio cancer.
He helped pioneer the lung-sparing pleurectomy/decortication surgery that has been successfully used as a curative procedure in scores of mesothelioma cases. He also played a key role in the creation of the video-assisted surgery thoracic (VATS) lung lobectomy that is now considered the most effective treatment for lung cancer. This minimally invasive procedure entails making three small incisions to remove cancerous sections of the lung.
During his mesothelioma treatment experience, Flores has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters. He has received many professional accolades and awards, including being named a New York and America Top Doctor. He has also contributed to several clinical studies, including a study that looked at the effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in mesothelioma.
A physical exam as well as blood tests and imaging are all used to diagnose mesothelioma. Patients may not show symptoms until the disease is at an advanced stage. They may experience chest, throat or abdomen discomfort, fatigue, coughing, and difficulty breathing. A doctor can remove the excess fluid to look for cancerous cells and determine if the patient has epitheliod or mixed mesothelioma.
Asbestos is the most common cause of mesothelioma. Those who are exposed to asbestos during the construction, maintenance, or repair of power stations, ships, or factories are at a greater risk of mesothelioma development.
A multidisciplinary team can offer patients the most effective mesothelioma treatment. Patients should also consider radiation specialists and medical oncologists who specialize in treating mesothelioma. These doctors can create a plan for treating the cancer using radiotherapy or chemotherapy. It is also important for mesothelioma patients inquire with their doctors about how many mesothelioma cases have they treated.
Robert Cameron
A well-known mesothelioma specialist, Robert Cameron graduated medical school at UCLA nearly 30 years ago. He completed his surgical residency at Cornell University Medical Center and the National Cancer Institute before starting his mesothelioma-specific specialty. Patients suffering from mesothelioma benefit from his expertise in lung-sparing surgeries and minimally invasive techniques such as thorascopic surgery. Cameron is also a mesothelioma researcher. He has published more than 35 articles regarding thoracic and oncology.
He is the co-founder of Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation and is the scientific advisor for the Pacific Mesothelioma Center. He is also the director of thoracic surgery at both the University of California Los Angeles and West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center mesothelioma programs.
Dr. Cameron is a leader in mesothelioma treatments and has helped thousands of asbestos patients. He is committed to improving the quality and access of mesothelioma treatments for patients. He also advocates for patients and their families throughout their treatment process.
As a specialist in mesothelioma, Cameron has experience treating both mesothelioma that is peritoneal and pleural. Cameron is proficient in a number of surgical mesothelioma treatment options, including cytoreductive surgery, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapeutic treatments and pleurectomy/decortication. He is also skilled in pericardial mesothelioma treatments that involves the removal of tumors from lining of the heart and surrounding tissues.
It is important that you choose a mesothelioma doctor with privileges at a cancer center that you can trust. A reputable specialist has the staff, equipment and clinical trials to ensure that you receive the treatment you require. It is also important to bring any relevant work history documents and imaging scans with you to your appointment. It is also possible to bring a family member or friend along with you for support and to help here you remember important information at your appointment.
If you're not interested in surgery or unable to undergo it, there are alternative options for mesothelioma treatment such as immunotherapy and radiation. Many mesothelioma specialists are adept in coordinating these additional treatments that include surgery. The mesothelioma specialists at your cancer center can read more help you in making these choices following a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Raphael Bueno
Bueno is an expert in the treatment of thoracic tumors including mesothelioma. He is currently working to improve the way mesothelioma and other lung cancers are treated, diagnosed and treated. Bueno's research is helping doctors better understand mesothelioma at a molecular scale. This will make it easier for mesothelioma to be diagnosed, and it could lead to new methods of treatment.
As the Chief of Thoracic Surgery and Vice-Chairman of Surgery for Cancer Research at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Raphael Bueno is committed to maintaining the hospital's position as a world-class institution in mesothelioma research and treatment. Bueno is director of the hospital's International Mesothelioma Program. He has a broad array of expertise in relation to mesothelioma treatment as well as diagnosis and prevention.
While leadership, patient care here and teaching have all been crucial aspects of his work, research has dominated his time at BWH. He has developed tests to assist surgeons in identifying mesothelioma-related tumors in a surgical biopsy, and he is working on methods to make the procedure less and less invasive. He is also researching gender differences in mesothelioma and analyzing how tumors develop and expand.
Bueno began working at BWH as a surgical fellow after graduating from Harvard Medical School. He worked alongside mesothelioma expert Dr. David Sugarbaker, and he learned a lot about mesothelioma through his mentor. After his training, he completed an oto-cardiothoracic surgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital before returning to BWH to establish a private practice in surgery and a mesothelioma research laboratory.
One of his most notable accomplishments is the creation of iVats. This system allows surgeons to precisely detect mesothelioma tumors and remove them when performing an extrapleural lung pneumonectomy. The new procedure is a step up from the conventional method, which is often inaccurate, and removes more tissue than here is necessary. The new method has improved the outcomes for patients with mesothelioma.
Bueno is involved in numerous clinical trials to develop innovative methods of mesothelioma detection and treatment. He is a member of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and has appointments at Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital and Carney Hospital. He is a fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians.
Paul Sugarbaker
Paul Sugarbaker is a nationally recognized mesothelioma specialist. He is well-known for his work with peritoneal mesothelioma and abdominal cancers. He set the bar for treatment for this form of mesothelioma. His innovative treatment for this rare cancer helped to increase the survival rate. He invented, refined and then popularized the technique of combining cancer surgery with chemotherapy that is heated to treat mesothelioma of the peritoneal region. The Sugarbaker procedure is the name given to this method that is unique. He continues to travel the world to train young surgeons on this revolutionary procedure.
A mesothelioma specialist has years of experience treating asbestos-related diseases. They are also conversant with the latest mesothelioma treatments and clinical trials. Patients with mesothelioma should be prepared by having medical records available, a list questions and a willingness to talk to their first appointment with a specialist.
There are a variety of mesothelioma experts, and each mesothelioma specialist will have their own specialization. There are thoracic and general surgeons as well as pulmonologists. Radiation oncologists, pathologists and radiation oncologists. Each of these specialists play a vital role in the treatment of patients.
A thoracic surgeon can treat tumors and other problems in the chest cavity, for example pleural mesothelioma. They may also perform lung surgeries to eliminate tumors or improve breathing capabilities. They may also prescribe medication to ease symptoms or increase life expectancy.
A thoracic specialist can help patients who have the most difficult treatment options. They can also assist patients find mesothelioma support groups and other sources.
Paul Sugarbaker earned his undergraduate degree at Wheaton College, located in Illinois. He attended Cornell University Medical College in New York City before completing his surgical residency at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston which is a Harvard University affiliated program. Then, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he worked for Emory University in Atlanta here for two years before returning to Washington, D.C.
Paul Sugarbaker is an internationally recognized cancer surgeon and specialist. He has been recognized as one of America's Top Doctors, and he is a member of numerous professional associations. He is most well-known for his aggressive pursuit for an effective treatment for mesothelioma in the peritoneal which led to the HIPEC procedure (heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy), which has been confirmed to prolong the lives of patients suffering from this rare cancer.