Mesothelioma Foundations

Mesothelioma Doctors

Over 30 Billion dollars in trust fund money has been set aside for asbestos victims.

Get a Free copy of Surviving Mesothelioma, Lean on Me, or 100 Questions & Answers About Mesothelioma

Mesolink.org now offeres Free Assistance with VA Claims and other benefits.

The Cancer Center at Massachusetts General Hospital

Contact Information

55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114
(617) 726-2000

According to the U.S. News and World Report in 2009-2010, Massachusetts General Hospital is ranked fifth in the nation for America’s Best Hospitals. This ranking puts them among the top 1% nationally. Annually, Massachusetts General Hospital receives $500 million to conduct research on cancer, human genetics and regenerative systems, computational, cutaneous, and transplantation biology. In September 2008, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center was awarded $15 million from the Stand Up to Cancer Telethon. The telecast raised more than $100 million. The research funds promoted research for a microchip-based device used to detect “circulating tumor cells (CTCs)” in the blood. The chip is so advanced that it can detect one tumor cell amongst a billion blood cells. The device is designed to improve the prognosis of patients by detecting the disease in its earliest stages.

Mehmet Toner invented the remarkable CTC-chip, and Daniel Haber, M.D. has led a team of investigators consisting of researchers, engineers, oncologists and geneticists to examine and test the device in its intended environment. The team consists of the following investigators:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Sangeeta Bhatia, M.D., Ph.D.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: Bruce Johnson, M.D.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Mark Kris M.D.
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center: Roy Herbst, M.D., Ph.D.

Massachusetts General Hospital is the largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School and was established in 1811. The facility is conveniently located 4 miles from the airport in Boston, Massachusetts.

Massachusetts General Hospital conducts research in the following areas:

Genetic Therapy
Imaging Technology
Bioengineering
Molecular Therapeutics
Radiation Oncology
Radiology
Psychiatry

The cancer program at Massachusetts General Hospital is diverse and covers a variety of disciplines. Research is performed both in laboratories and is clinically based. Anti-angiogenesis is a new development in cancer treatment that is currently under clinical trial at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Massachusetts General Hospital collaborates with Dana-Farber Cancer Center to bring patients access to clinical trials. Over time, oncologists have treated nearly 9000 patients in almost 550 different clinical trials addressing a variety of cancerous diseases. Each year, the combined forces of Massachusetts General Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital serve over 60,000 cancer patients. The collaboration approach encourages rapid development of treatment for cancer patients.

Early diagnosis is one of the most important aspects of accurately diagnosing and treating cancer, and is a major stumbling block for those diagnosed with mesothelioma. Advanced diagnostic tools such as Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Positron Emission Testing (PET) are used to detect and monitor cancerous growths in the human body. Imaging tools are also used to identify tumors to perform biopsies or surgery.

The Center for Thoracic Cancers addresses patients suffering from rare cancer diseases, such as mesothelioma. Oncologists generally prescribe thoracic cancer patients multi-modal treatment options. Two or more of the following therapies are chosen to combat cancer: surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Scientists and oncologists are working together to develop other leading edge technologies. Some of these include:

Minimally invasive surgery techniques are often employed. Many use microscopic cameras to guide the surgeon during the procedure.
After chemotherapy, oncologists often employ bioimagery. The information gathered from this technique will provide oncologists with information needed to perform surgical procedures.
Some patients are not candidates for surgery. Therefore, radiofrequency ablation is employed to heat up and destroy cancer cells.

Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosis. Massachusetts General Hospital adopted a holistic approach for thoracic care patients. In partnership with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Jennifer Temel, M.D., performed research and clinical trials to treat not only cancer, but the depression and fatigue that often accompanies the disease.