Mesothelioma Foundations

Mesothelioma Doctors

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MD Anderson

Contact Information

1515 Holcombe Boulevard Houston, TX 77030
(877) 632-6789

Affiliated Doctors

Ranked the top cancer hospital by U.S. News and World Report. Magnet nursing recognition from the American Nursing Credentialing Center. Over 11,000 patients participating in clinical research – the largest program of its kind supported by the National Cancer Institute. These and many other accolades belong to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. One of the original three comprehensive cancer care centers designated by the National Cancer Act of 1971, M.D. Anderson is a premier academic center that focuses exclusively on cancer treatment, teaching, and research.

Patient Care

Patients enter the M.D. Anderson system either through self or physician referral and begin their treatment with a primary care team in one the specialized Cancer Care Centers. Centers are assigned to each patient based on the location or type of their cancer. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the pleura, the membrane tissue that covers the lungs and the inner chest, or thoracic cavity. Thoracic is one of the Cancer Care Centers at M.D. Anderson. In the Thoracic Center, oncologists, surgeons and radiation therapists work together to provide treatment for mesothelioma and other cancers of the chest. Diagnosis is aided by advanced tools such as positron emission tomography (PET) scanners, high resolution CT scanners , bronchoscopy and ultrasound. Possible treatments include surgery, including minimally invasive techniques, cutting edge radiation therapies and/or the newest and most effective chemotherapy.

The primary care team may refer patients to any of a number of Specialty and Treatment Centers or Clinics for consultation if needed. These include Cancer Prevention, Cardiopulmonary, Sleep, Proton Therapy, Radiation Treatment, and Orthopedics, among others. The Clinics will manage issues related to cancer or its treatment, such as fatigue, smoking cessation, or skin evaluation to name a few.

A patient referred to the Integrative Medicine Clinic can be evaluated for any helpful complementary or alternative medicine treatments than can be added to their standard cancer care. Someone referred to the Clinical Center for Targeted Therapy may be evaluated for eligibility to enter a phase I clinical trial. Clinical trials are research projects that use patients to determine if a particular treatment, medication, or prevention strategy is safe and effective. Phase I trials generally evaluate how a new drug should be given, such as by injection or by mouth. While patients must be carefully evaluated before entering a research study, as there are potential risks, clinical trials can offer patients with aggressive cancers like mesothelioma an opportunity to be treated with the newest chemotherapy that might help them.

MD Anderson also has a number of satellite offices for medical and radiation oncology, and support services throughout the Houston area and in New Mexico.

Patient Education and Outreach

One way to begin exploring MD Anderson is by visiting its extensive web site which is a good starting point to learn more about the center and about cancer itself. Topics on the cancer information site include cancer types, current clinical trials, a glossary of cancer terms, and community services. Cancer types can be looked up alphabetically, and under the letter ‘M’ is a detailed description of mesothelioma – proving that this facility takes this disease seriously.

M.D. Anderson can also be of service to patients who are outside of the Houston area. The Pathology Second Opinion service accepts tissue samples from outside physicians who want to confirm a diagnosis of cancer. Information on how to do this is available to physicians on the M.D. Anderson web site under Education and Resources- Resources for Professionals.

M.D. Anderson has been been involved in the fight against cancer since 1941 and plans to continue its mission to eliminate cancer in Texas, the nation and the world.