There are two main treatment options for individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma:
* Standard Treatment: which includes chemotherapy and radiation therapy and is normally cheaper than the specialized types
* Focused Specialized Treatment: normally handled by a mesothelioma specialist which includes surgery
Any well equipped local health care facility will have the necessary equipment needed to perform these procedures, otherwise patients will need not travel to one that offers these services. However, most of the time, the situation is so critical that a mesothelioma specialist is required to administer treatment in order to provide immediate relief for the various symptoms.
Need for Mesothelioma Specialists
Owing to the seriousness of the condition, patients need to get special attention that local hospitals may not be able to provide. Mesothelioma specialists are capable of giving a surgical evaluation as well as suggest internal radiation therapy or other forms of specialized treatment. Some of the various forms of mesothelioma specialists include:
* Oncologists: - are specialists trained in treating cancer patients. There are two types of oncologists. Medical oncologists use chemotherapy while radiation oncologists use in internal or external radiation treatments.
* Pulmonologists: - specialize in treating patients with lung cancer
* Thoracic surgeons: - specialize in chest surgery from their training in removing the mesothelioma growth
* Radiologists: - are specialists who analyze imagings such as X-rays and CAT scans.
Patients require the services of mesothelioma specialist not only for diagnosis and treatment of the disease but also during the recovery period especially if the patient has undergone surgery. In addition, they are well versed with various techniques of post-operative care. They also implement evaluation of the health condition of the patients with emphasis placed on their age, tolerance level and mental health. Surgery done on individuals with good health show a high success rate of recovery, while those with poor health prior to surgery may experience complications, and normally have reduced success rate.
In addition, doctors must administer great care when administrating chemotherapy and radiation treatments as well as any other alternative treatments. These patients require perfect evaluation by the specialists for treatment options such as immunotherapy, gene therapy or clinical trials.
Mesothelioma specialists also offer advice to patients on pre-treatment preparation which is an important part of any medical procedure ranging from surgery to other alternative forms of treatment. They advise patients on the importance of adopting healthier lifestyles which included changes in the diet and medication.
Mesothelioma Specialist in and around the United States
As mesothelioma is considered to be a rare disease, most general physicians are not very familiar with mesothelioma diagnosis, progression and treatment. As a result, individuals diagnosed with the disease travel to far distances to consult with a mesothelioma specialist who can then address the illness in a systematic way. These specialist develop a plan to treat patients based on the developmental stage of the illness. Considering these aspects, it is usually advisable for patients to source a list of mesothelioma specialists in and around their area and analyze their track record prior to deciding on which one to opt for. Below is a list mesothelioma specialists operating within the United States:
* Valerie W Rush (FACS): - is a Thoracic Surgeon working with Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and specializes in treating patients with cancer of the lungs, oesophagus, mediastinum or chest wall. She has also successfully conducted research in the area of lung cancer and mesothelioma as well as clinical trials for mesothelioma.
* Paul H Sugarbaker (MD; FACS; FRCS) Director, Surgical Oncology, Washington Cancer Institute: - specializes in peritoneal mesothelioma with a focus on surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
* Robert N Taub (MD) Professor of Clinical Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York Presbyterian Hospital: - has extensive experience in the field of medical and clinical oncology.
* Mary Louise Keohan (MD), Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York Presbyterian Hospital: - has been treating as well as conducting various studies on patients with mesothelioma.
* Gregory P Kalenkerion (MD), Co-Director of Thoracic Oncology, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center: - has been developing innovative clinical trials on patients with mesothelioma.
* Joseph S. Friedberg (MD) Chief of Thoracic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital: - is responsible for various surgical and therapeutic clinical trials that have had positive effects on mesothelioma.
