Mesothelioma Treatment
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Valerie W Rusch, M.D.

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Valerie W. Rusch, M.D., is a physician at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. She earned her M.D. at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and performed her residency at the University of Washington Affiliated Hospitals. She is a board-certified surgeon and thoracic surgeon, and holds the post of Chief of Thoracic Service, as well as the Miner Family Chair in Intrathoracic Cancers. Her research and surgery specialties include lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs which is thought to be linked to workplace asbestos exposure. Additionally, Dr. Rusch has an interest in diagnostic techniques such as pulmonary endoscopy and laser endoscopy, which are two ways mesothelioma may be diagnosed without utilizing repeated invasive biopsies.

Unlike some cancer centers, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has a designated oncology, radiology, and surgery team specifically to help patients with mesothelioma, and Dr. Rusch is a member of this group of specialists. She helps conduct clinical trials for treatment of mesothelioma, and performs research on the genetics of lung and gastrointestinal cancers. These clinical trials can be very helpful for people suffering from mesothelioma, since conventional surgery is not often used to a great degree, and instead treatment involves radiation therapy and chemotherapy. By looking into which combinations of chemotherapy drugs are the most effective for mesothelioma and lung cancers, treatment outcomes can be maximized, while reducing the amount of unpleasant or dangerous side effects.

Some of Dr. Rusch's research holds promise for sufferers of mesothelioma, since genetic changes which take place in lung cancers may show some commonalities with those in mesothelioma, and these preliminary studies could open up the way to future genetic therapies for these cancers. Additionally, Dr. Rusch has collaborated on studies on surgical results, which have helped to move surgeries for some thoracic cancers towards using video-assisted surgery, which is less invasive than traditional surgery. This could be helpful for mesothelioma victims since normally surgery on mesothelioma tumors would involve removing nearby healthy lung tissue. By utilizing robotically controlled surgeries, healthy tissue can be spared, and surgery recovery outcomes could be improved.

Since Dr. Rusch has such an active interest in both the theoretical and practical aspects of mesothelioma treatment, and belongs to a specialized mesothelioma treatment team, patients seeking treatment for this form of cancer may want to consider looking into receiving treatment at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.