Mesothelioma Specialists
A specialist who is regularly treating mesothelioma will know what to look out for in imaging tests, bloodwork, and other diagnostic tools. Doctors who specialize in mesothelioma might also offer advanced treatments that could improve the chances of survival.
When selecting a mesothelioma physician, consider the hospital affiliation, experience and availability. Patients should feel comfortable and supported throughout each visit.
Raja Flores
Dr. Raja Flores is a highly regarded mesothelioma specialist who is known for his patient care and surgical skills. He is currently the head of the thoracic surgery department at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.
Flores gained expertise in treating lung cancer and mesothelioma during his time at Brigham and Women's Hospital. He was trained by renowned mesothelioma specialist Dr. David Sugarbaker. He is knowledgeable about the treatment of mesothelioma pleural 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 contributed to the creation of the video-assisted surgery thoracic (VATS) lung lobectomy that is now considered the gold standard treatment for lung cancer. This minimally-invasive procedure requires only three tiny incisions to facilitate the removal of diseased lung sections.
In his mesothelioma-related career, Flores has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters. He has received many professional distinctions, including being named as a New York Top Doctor and America Top Doctor. He has also contributed to numerous clinical research studies. One of them looked at the effectiveness neoadjuvant therapy for mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma can be detected through a physical exam as well as blood tests and imaging. In many cases, patients do not experience symptoms until the disease has progressed to a late stage. When this occurs, they may suffer from pain in the throat, abdomen, or chest, fatigue, coughing and breathing problems. A physician can drain excess fluid to determine the presence of cancer cells and determine whether an individual suffers from the epitheliod mixed or sarcomatoid variant of mesothelioma.
Asbestos is the main reason for mesothelioma. Those who are exposed to asbestos in the construction, maintenance, and repair of ships, power stations, or factories are at a greater risk of developing mesothelioma.
Multidisciplinary teams can offer the best treatment for mesothelioma. In addition to an experienced surgeon, patients should seek out medical oncologists and radiation specialists who specialize in mesothelioma therapy. These doctors can create an action plan to treat the cancer through radiotherapy and chemotherapy. It is also crucial for mesothelioma patients ask their doctors how many mesothelioma patients they have treated.
Robert Cameron
A well-known mesothelioma specialist, Robert Cameron graduated medical school at UCLA around 30 years ago. He completed surgical residencies 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 surgery and minimally invasive techniques like 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 chief of thoracic surgery at both the University of California Los Angeles and the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center mesothelioma centers.
Dr. Cameron has helped thousands asbestos victims and is a pioneer in mesothelioma treatments. He focuses on improving the mesothelioma treatment's quality and ensuring that patients are able to access the most skilled mesothelioma experts. He is also a strong advocate for patients and their family members throughout the treatment process.
Cameron is a mesothelioma expert with experience in treating both peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma. Cameron is skilled in a number of surgical mesothelioma treatment options, including cytoreductive surgeries, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapeutic treatments and pleurectomy/decortication. He has also treated pericardial tumors that involves the surgical removal of tumors in the lining of heart and surrounding tissue.
When searching for a mesothelioma doctor, it is important to choose one with privileges at a cancer center you can trust. A reputable doctor has the equipment, staff and clinical trials to make sure you receive the treatment you require. It is also important to bring any relevant work history records as well as scans of images to your appointment. It is also a good idea to take a friend or family member along for support and help you remember information during your appointment.
Radiation and immunotherapy are options for patients who are not interested or unable to undergo surgery. Many mesothelioma experts are experienced in coordinating these other treatment options that include surgery. The mesothelioma specialists in your cancer center can assist you in making these choices after receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Raphael Bueno
Bueno is an expert in the treatment of thoracic cancers including mesothelioma. He is working to improve the way that mesothelioma and other lung cancers, are treated and diagnosed. Bueno's research is helping doctors better understand mesothelioma at the molecular level. This knowledge will help mesothelioma patients to be diagnosed, and could lead to new strategies 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 institution's world-leading position in mesothelioma treatment and research. Bueno is attorney for mesothelioma 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.
Although the leadership of patient care, and teaching were all important aspects of his professional life but his time at BWH has been focused on research. He has developed tests that aid surgeons in identifying mesothelioma tumors during a surgical biopsy, and is working on techniques to make the procedure less invasive. He is also studying the gender differences in mesothelioma, and analyzing how tumors develop and spread.
Bueno began working at BWH as a surgical student after he graduated from Harvard Medical School. He gained a lot of knowledge about mesothelioma through working with Dr. David Sugarbaker. Following his internship, he completed an oto-cardiothoracic surgical residency at Massachusetts General Hospital. He returned to BWH and established an individual surgery practice as well as mesothelioma research lab.
Among his most significant accomplishments is the development of iVats, a system that allows surgeons to precisely identify mesothelioma tumors and remove them during an extrapleural pneumonectomy. The new method is an improvement over the conventional method, which is often ineffective and removes more tissue than necessary. Furthermore, the new method has resulted in better outcomes for mesothelioma patients.
Bueno is involved in many clinical trials to create innovative methods for mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment. He is an active member of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and has appointments at Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital and Carney Hospital. He is a fellow in the American College of Chest Physicians.
Paul Sugarbaker
Paul Sugarbaker is a nationally recognized mesothelioma specialist, known for his work in mesothelioma of the peritoneal region and cancers of the abdomen. He was a pioneer in treatment for this form of mesothelioma. His innovative treatment for this rare cancer has helped increase the survival rate. He created, refined and popularized an approach that combined chemotherapy and cancer surgery to treat peritoneal msothelioma. The Sugarbaker procedure is the name given to this unique method. He continues to travel the world to teach young surgeons this revolutionary procedure.
A mesothelioma specialist has years of experience treating asbestos-related diseases. They may also be familiar with the most current mesothelioma treatment options and clinical trials. Patients suffering from mesothelioma must be prepared by having medical records available, a list questions and a desire to communicate to their first appointment with a specialist.
There are a variety of mesothelioma experts, and each mesothelioma specialist will have their own specialization. These include thoracic surgeons, general surgeons, pulmonologists, radiation oncologists and pathologists. Each of these experts plays a critical role in the treatment of patients.
A thoracic surgeon treats cancers and other issues within the chest cavity, including pleural mesothelioma. They may also perform lung surgeries to remove the amount of tumors they see or improve breathing abilities. They may prescribe medication to ease symptoms or increase the life duration.
As a mesothelioma specialist, surgeons with thoracic expertise can assist patients with the most difficult treatment options. They can also aid patients in finding mesothelioma organizations and other resources.
Paul Sugarbaker received his undergraduate degree from Wheaton College in Illinois. He was a student at 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. He then moved to Atlanta, Georgia where he worked at Emory University for two years before returning to Washington, D.C.
Paul Sugarbaker is an internationally renowned cancer specialist and surgeon. He was named one of America's Top Doctors and has been an active member of several professional organizations. He is renowned for his ferocious search for a cure to mesothelioma of the peritoneal region, which led to the HIPEC (heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy) procedure, which has been shown to prolong the lives of patients with this rare type of cancer.