Top Mesothelioma Doctors
Immediately following a mesothelioma diagnosis, most patients want to find the cancer specialist who will lead them to the path of recovery.
However, finding this type of doctor isn't a simple task. With thousands of doctors to choose from, it's hard to determine who would be the best to treat your rare cancer and give you the best guidance. Because your oncologist will lead your care team, you want to be sure you find one who has values similar to yours, is rated high in the field, is on the cutting edge of medical advancements and will be accessible and honest.
Choosing a Doctor
Because choosing your doctor is such a crucial decision, you should not be afraid to interview them and ask questions. If you feel worried about doing such, ask a friend or loved one to help. All of the questions should help give you a broad idea of the physician's ideologies and principles.
You should ask questions about the physician's general medical background and then ask ones that apply to your specific type of mesothelioma:
- How long have you been practicing medicine?
- How much experience do you have with mesothelioma? Which kind?
- What kind of support team do you have?
- What kind of options do I have?
- Do you embrace alternative medicines?
- Are you associated with any clinical trials and can you help me qualify for some?
Identifying Treatment Experts & Specialists?
Even though there are thousands of oncologists nationwide, only a few have specialized knowledge of mesothelioma. These doctors are known to be on the cutting-edge of medical technology, are widely involved in clinical trials and work at prestigious hospitals or treatment centers. There are six oncologists and cancer surgeons who fit this bill:
- Dr. David Sugarbaker, Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery, founder and current director of the hospital's International Mesothelioma Program.
- Dr. Harvey Pass, New York University (NYU) Medical Center, director of the Thoracic Surgery Division, oversees the Mesothelioma Pathogenesis Program Project.
- Dr. David Rice, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, assistant professor with a specialty in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery.
- Dr. Robert Cameron, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, director of thoracic surgery at the medical center and medical advisor for the Pacific Meso Center in Los Angeles.
- Dr. Hedy Kindler, University of Chicago Medical Center, director of the mesothelioma program.
Use Our Doctor Match Program to Make an Appointment
To eliminate the confusion of finding a physician, our exclusive Doctor Match program is aimed at connecting you with a specialist. All we need is some information -- your location, the type of mesothelioma you have and some insurance details -- and we do the rest of the work. This free program is solely designed to help patients quickly move forward with treatment.
Sources:
- Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. Frequently Asked Questions About Mesothelioma. Retrieve from http://www.curemeso.org/site/c.kkLUJ7MPKtH/b.6543289/k.4148/Frequently_Asked_Questions_About_Mesothelioma/apps/nl/newsletter.asp
- Mayo Clinic. Mesothelioma -- Coping and Support. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mesothelioma/DS00779/DSECTION=coping%2Dand%2Dsupport
