Mesothelioma Doctor

In addition to the standard mesothelioma treatments, one new drug has been approved by the FDA for treatment of the disease. Alimta (pemetrexed) in combination with cisplatin, a powerful chemotherapy drug, is the first licensed treatment for mesothelioma. The combination of cisplatin and Alimta has been the most effective chemotherapy drug used to shrink mesothelioma tumors. The drug was approved in February 2004. There are
clinical trials being conducted to research the effectiveness of other experimental mesothelioma treatments as well.

Mesothelioma is a very difficult disease to diagnose. The symptoms of both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma (the most common forms of the disease) are similar to those of other less serious diseases. There are a number of tests doctors can use to diagnose mesothelioma. Most doctors will initially perform a physical examination, breathing tests, research medical history, and ask if you have a history of asbestos exposure. If abnormalities are found, more testing will be performed to determine if scarring, thickening, excess fluid, tumors, or cancer are present.

The best way to learn if your physician is able to deal with mesothelioma cases is to ask. If your doctor is affiliated with an institution or cancer center that treats mesothelioma patients, they can refer you to a specialist. Even if your doctor is not associated with a cancer center, they will be able to refer you to the closest qualified center in your area. Mesothelioma is a rare disease so it is possible that your physician does not have a large
amount of experience with the disease. You may also want to find out if your insurance company will cover a second opinion if you would like one.

There is no cure for mesothelioma at present. There are, however, many treatments that can help prolong life and increase quality of life after diagnosis. There are many options available depending on the circumstances of each mesothelioma patient. It is important to not give up hope and seek as much help as possible.

Alabama Mesothelioma Doctors
James W. Ballard, MD
4012 Greystone Drive
Birmingham, AL 35242
email: jwballard@albreader.com

California Mesothelioma Doctors
Robert Cameron, MD
P. O. Box 951741
Los Angeles, California 90095–1741
Phone: 310–794–7333
email: rcameron@mednet.ucla.edu

David Jablon, MD
UCSF Mt. Zion Medical Center
2330 Post St., Suite 420
San Francisco, CA 94115
415–885–3882

Theirry Jahan, MD
2356 Sutter, 7th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94115
415–567–5581

Connecticut Mesothelioma Doctors
Mark Cullen, MD
Yale University School of Medicine
Occupational and Environmental
135 College Street, 3rd floor
New Haven, CT 06510–2483

Jack A. Elias, MD
Pulmonary Medicine
Yale Cancer Center
203–785–4163

Michael Grey, MD
UConn Health Center
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06032

Bruce G. Haffty, MD
Therapeutic Radiology
Yale Cancer Center
203–785–2959

Graeme L. Hammond, MD
Cardiothoracic Therapy
Yale Cancer Center
203.–785–2699

Michael Kashgarian, MD
Pathology
Yale Cancer Center
203–785–2750

Ronald Ponn, MD
Thoracic Surgeon
333 Orchard St., Suite 107
New Haven, CT 06511

Carrie A. Redlich, MD, M.P.H.
Occupational Medicine
Yale Cancer Center
203–737–2817

Washington, DC Mesothelioma Doctors
Cesar A. Moran, MD
Department of the Army
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
Washington, DC 20306

Paul Sugarbaker, MD
Sugarbaker Oncology Associates, P.C.
110 Irving St., NW
Washington, DC 20010
Phone: 202–877–3908

Florida Mesothelioma Doctors
Lary A. Robinson, MD
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
At The University of South Florida
12902 Magnolia Dr.
Tampa, FL 33612

John Ruckdeschel, MD
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
Tampa, FL 33612–9497

Massachusetts Mesothelioma Doctors
Richard Kraiden, MD
Pulmonary Pathologist
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA 02114

David Sugarbaker, MD
Dana Farber Cancer Institute &
Brighams & Womens Hospital
75 Francis Street
Boston, MA 02115

Michigan Mesothelioma Doctors
Harvey Pass, MD
Karmanos Cancer Institute
Detroit, MI
313–745–8746

Gregory P. Kalemkerian, MD
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Co-Director of Thoracic Oncology
Cancer Center Member
University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center/Ann Arbor, MI
Phone: (734) 936-5281

Minnesota Mesothelioma Doctors
Arkadiusz Dudek, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant professor of medicine
Phone: 612-624-0123
Email: dudek002@umn.edu

Nebraska Mesothelioma Doctors
Brian Loggie, MD
Creighton University Medical Center
Cancer Center, Suite 2321
601 N. 30th Street
Omaha, NE 68131
Phone: 402–280–5009

New York Mesothelioma Doctors
Manjit Bains, MD
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
1275 York Avenue
New York, NY 10021

Philippe A. Chihanian, MD
Mt. Sinai Hospital
5 East 98 St.
New York, NY 10029
212–241–6368

David Ilson, MD
Borys Mychalczak, MD
Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center
New York, NY

Valerie Rusch, FACS
Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center
1275 York Avenue
New York, NY 10021
Phone: 212–639–5873
email: ruschv@mskcc.org

Stephen Rush, MD
North Shore University Hospital
Manhasset, NY

Roman Perez–Soler, MD
NW York University Kaplan Cancer Center
550 First Avenue
New York, NY 10016
212–263–8043
212–263–6485

Robert N. Taub, MD
Professor of Clinical Medicine, Program Director
Columbia–Presbyterian Hospital
Atchley Pavilion Room 907
161 Fort Washington Ave.
New York, NY

North Carolina Mesothelioma Doctors
David H. Harpole, Jr., MD
Associate Professor of Surgery
Director of General Thoracic Surgery (DUMC)
Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery (Durham VAMC)
Appointments (919) 684-3683

Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Doctors
Larry R. Kaiser, MD
University of Pennsylvania
4th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Phone: 215–662–7538
Email: Kaiser@mail.med.upenn.edu

Joseph S. Friedberg, MD
Chief of Thoracic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Philadelphia, PA
Phone: (215) 955-2996 or 1-800-JEFF-NOW (1-800-533-3669)

Rhode Island Mesothelioma Doctors
David Ettensohn, MD
Pulmonary Medicine
109 Beechwood Avenue
Pawtucket, RI

David Kern, MD
Memorial Hospital of RI
Occupational Health Clinic
111 Brewster Street
Pawtucket, RI 02860

John Pella, MD
St. Joseph Hospital
Pulmonary Fatima Unit
200 High Service Avenue
North Providence, RI 02904

S.T. Sambandan, MD
Oncologist
1180 Hope Street
Bristol, RI

Anthony Testa MD
Oncologist
100 Highland Avenue
Providence, RI 02904

South Carolina Mesothelioma Doctors
James Bradof, MD
406 Tiffany Park
Gaffney, SC

Spencer McCachren, MD
Thompson Cancer Center
Knoxville, TN
423–541–1812

Texas Mesothelioma Doctors
W. Roy Smythe, MD
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Box 39, Rm. R7.2215
Houston, Texas 77030
Phone: 713–792–6933

Claire Verschraegen, MD
Department Of Clinical Investigation
University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Box 39, Rm. R7.2215
Houston, Texas 77030
Phone: 713–792–7959

Washington Mesothelioma Doctors
Samuel Hammer, MD
700 Lebo Road
Bremerton, WA 98310
360–479–7707

Eric Vallieres, MD
Box 356310
1959 NE Pacific
Seattle, WA 98195–6310
Phone: 206–543–3093