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Dr. David H Harpole Jr
Over the last 25 to 30 years, a number of doctors have chosen to become specialists in the treatment of mesothelioma. Research into this disease is ongoing, and new treatments are constantly being investigated. Despite the fact that it is rarer than most other forms of cancer, its aggressiveness has led many of the top physicians in the country to focus their attention on mesothelioma.
One such physician is Dr. David H. Harpole, Jr., M.D. After graduating in 1980 from Washington and Lee University with double Bachelors of Science degrees, Dr. Harpole then attended the University of Virginia, receiving his medical degree in 1984. His residency in general surgery was completed in 1991 at Duke University Medical Center, which he followed with a residency in thoracic surgery in 1993, also at Duke University Medical Center. After this, he completed a fellowship in thoracic oncology (1993-1995) at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, which is affiliated with Harvard Medical School. Dr. Harpole was also a member of the faculty at Brigham and Women's Hospital from 1993 to 1996.
Currently, Dr. Harpole is a professor of surgery at Duke University, and also holds the position of Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Virginia Medical Center in Durham, Virginia. He is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
In addition to mesothelioma, Dr. Harpole's clinical interests include thoracic oncology, advanced thoracoscopic surgery, general thoracic surgery, and both benign and malignant diseases of the lungs and esophagus. His research interests include non-small cell lung cancer, the evaluation of metastatic tumors involving non-small cell lung cancer, evaluation of tissue and serum biological markers of recurrence in instances of localized non-small cell lung cancer, and molecular biologic staging of lymph nodes in instances of non-small cell lung cancer.
Dr. Harpole is widely published and, alone or with his colleagues, has prepared papers on such topics as molecular biologic sub-staging, intra-operative techniques to prevent air leaks, molecular staging of lung and esophageal cancer, genetic analysis of the beta-tubulin gene (TUBB) in non-small cell lung cancer, and predicting the sites of metastases from lung cancer using molecular biologic markers. His clinical research activities have included the development of risk associated models of morbidity in patients undergoing general thoracic surgery procedures, as well as membership on the Duke Gastrointestinal Malignancy Research Committee to develop treatment protocols and outcome evaluations on esophageal cancer treatments.
An interest in molecular biology has led Dr. Harpole to research the markers that could help identify patients for whom adjuvant chemotherapy might be beneficial. He also favors the post-surgical use of adjuvant chemotherapy.
When planning an appointment with Dr. Harpole or any other mesothelioma doctor, you might wish to prepare ahead of time so that you can get the most out of your appointment. Start a written list of questions you want to ask, such as concerns about the treatments you might receive. Record any symptoms you might have, as well, so that you can discuss them at your appointment. It might also be beneficial to take someone else along and ask them to take notes, or to take along a tape recorder and record the visit.
During your visit, be sure to ask for explanation of anything you don't fully understand. Experienced mesothelioma doctors such as Dr. Harpole understand that you may have many questions and concerns and that you need adequate information to make informed decisions.
Dr. Harpole is affiliated with the Duke Health Raleigh Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina and Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina.