What to Look for in a Top Mesothelioma Doctor in the U.S. (2024)

A diagnosis of mesothelioma is life-altering. One of the many important steps after a diagnosis is to find one or more medical professionals to determine the right treatment for your specific type of mesothelioma and help you make an informed decision about your future. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, and a small number of providers have the skill and specialization to treat it. As you look for a provider, it is important to know what to look for in a top mesothelioma doctor in the U.S.

How to Find Mesothelioma Healthcare Providers

The first step is to determine which medical professionals are available to you, depending on your unique circumstances. There are several methods you can use to discover these doctors, including:

1. Other Providers: These may include your primary care provider or others involved in the process of diagnosing your mesothelioma.
2. Research: You can do research on nearby mesothelioma centers and their providers. This can help you get specific locations and names as well as find providers with experience that is relevant to your diagnosis.
3. Reviews: Online news reviews and many websites have lists of top treatment centers and medical providers in the U.S. They can also help you determine the quality of these centers and providers.
4. Professionals: These may include mesothelioma attorneys or patient advocates. Such individuals know where mesothelioma patients are treated and other up-to-date information.

These can be good starting points for compiling lists of mesothelioma medical providers, but you still have to determine whether they are the right provider for you.

What to Look for in an Ideal Mesothelioma Doctor

High-quality treatment is essential for mesothelioma patients, and it can have a significant benefit on the prognosis and life quality of a patient. There are several qualities you want to look for when reviewing mesothelioma medical providers, the most important being specialization.

Specialization

There are different types of mesothelioma, which are classified based on where the tumor is located. The most common forms are pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma, located in the lining of the lungs and the lining of the abdomen, respectively. Some mesothelioma specialists can treat both types, while others focus on one type or the other.

It’s important to find a doctor who specializes in mesothelioma treatment for the type you have been diagnosed with. Sometimes, mesothelioma providers will be listed as abdominal or thoracic oncologists or other types of oncologists, depending on the location of the tumor.

Other Qualities of an Ideal Mesothelioma Doctor

Other important characteristics of an ideal mesothelioma doctor include:

1. Experience: Check the experience of a provider and see if they are experienced with treating mesothelioma, such as providing therapies or surgeries. The more experience a provider has, the more likely their medical care will be high-quality.
2. Qualifications: You want to be sure that a doctor has the proper medical certifications from accredited organizations and is affiliated with relevant medical centers.
3. Quality Cancer Center: When a provider works in a high-quality cancer center, patients are able to access more resources, collaboration between providers, and other benefits.
4. Availability: Immediate treatment is essential after diagnosis. If a provider is unable to treat you for some time due to scheduling demands, you should find another provider who can see you more quickly.
5. Location: The proximity of a provider is important if you are not able to travel significant distances. Mesothelioma treatment is not easy, and many prefer the nearby comfort of their own home. However, some of the top medical providers for mesothelioma are not located near you, and there are sometimes resources for getting that high-level care at a more distant location.
6. Trust, Communication, and Compassion: Treating and fighting mesothelioma is an incredibly difficult process. It is crucial that you feel comfortable with your medical team and can put trust in them. You should feel as though you can ask them questions, discuss concerns, and be cared for during treatment.

FAQs

Q: What Type of Oncologist Treats Mesothelioma?

A: A medical oncologist is the primary oncologist for treating mesothelioma, as they focus on treating solid cancer tumors, particularly those in the lungs for both mesothelioma and non-mesothelioma lung cancer. They typically provide chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy.

Radiation oncologists may also treat mesothelioma patients and create a plan for radiation therapy. Surgical oncologists are able to provide surgical treatment for early-stage mesothelioma. It’s important to work with medical providers who have the necessary knowledge to diagnose and treat mesothelioma.

Q: What Is the Drug of Choice for Mesothelioma?

A: The common chemotherapy drugs used by medical professionals for mesothelioma treatment are cisplatin, pemetrexed, and carboplatin. Other common chemotherapy drugs include:

• Vinorelbine
• Raltitrexed
• Gemcitabine
• Cyclophosphamide
• Doxorubicin

Mesothelioma chemotherapy drugs are most effective for those who haven’t received cancer treatment before. In addition to chemotherapy drugs, other types of drugs are used to treat mesothelioma, including immunotherapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy, and photodynamic therapy. These may also be considered chemotherapy drugs, but they block the growth of cancer cells, rather than killing cancer cells and the surrounding healthy cells.

Q: Is It Worth Having Chemo for Mesothelioma?

A: Determining whether it is worth having chemotherapy for mesothelioma is a very personal decision that should be made with your medical professional. Chemotherapy can extend the life expectancy of patients and improve their overall quality of life, but it can also cause other health complications. It is also often not effective for late-stage patients.

Whether chemotherapy is the suggested treatment will depend on the location, stage, and cell type of the mesothelioma, as well as the age, well-being, and specific health conditions of the patient.

Q: What Is the Life Expectancy of Someone With Mesothelioma Chemotherapy?

A: The life expectancy of someone who gets chemotherapy treatment for mesothelioma is between 1 and 5 years, depending on several other factors. These include:

• If other forms of treatment are used alongside chemotherapy
• The cell type of the mesothelioma, as some respond to aggressive treatment better than others
• How far the mesothelioma has progressed, as later-stage mesothelioma is harder to treat and has a shorter life expectancy
• Where the tumor begins, as some types of mesothelioma are rarer and are, therefore, harder to treat

Find an Experienced Mesothelioma Attorney

Receiving any form of treatment for mesothelioma can be incredibly expensive. In many cases, patients develop mesothelioma because the negligence of other parties caused them significant and/or continued exposure to asbestos. When this is the case, these patients can file a claim for compensation, which can help them cover these crucial medical costs.

At Wallace & Graham, P.A., we want to help you file for the compensation you deserve so that you can get the quality care you need. Contact us today to learn how we can help.