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Pleural Mesothelioma Treatment Centers

Patients making decisions about their pleural mesothelioma treatment have a number of options to consider. Mesothelioma treatment is a relatively specialized discipline and while specialized mesothelioma treatment centers do exist, many patients are treated at ordinary cancer centers and clinics because those facilities are much closer to their homes.

While there are surgical procedures that are only performed by physicians at well-equipped surgical treatment centers, other forms of cancer treatment can be received at almost any physician’s office. Because of the wide range of treatment options and strategies available, it is important for a mesothelioma patient to choose a treatment center that has the right mix of skill and knowledge for their particular case.

Finding the Right Treatment Center

It is also important to consider questions of cost and convenience. For example, a patient who has been diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma at a very advanced stage, when no surgical intervention or effective treatment is likely possible, may choose to receive treatment through their local community hospital or private-practice oncologist. Other patients may choose to receive treatment on the other side of the country. Either way, every case is different and each patient must decide where to receive their treatment.

Even if a national cancer center is not a good choice for you, there are many excellent treatment facilities available. The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer maintains a list of more than 1,400 cancer centers nationwide that have high levels of clinical expertise in cancer treatment. All educational, informational and emotional support can be crucial to a patient’s care and selecting the center that best fits you can make all the difference.

Experimental and Palliative Treatment

A patient may also consider the possibility of a clinical trial. The National Cancer Institute’s Web site maintains a list of clinical trials available in the field of cancer, including mesothelioma-specific treatments. The NCI also has a Community Cancer Centers program, which provides the latest cancer-fighting treatments and techniques to local hospitals. If you are relying on your local hospital for your mesothelioma treatment center, check to ensure that they are involved with this program and keeping up with all current research.

Despite the best efforts of mesothelioma treatment centers and pleural mesothelioma doctors, a patient may exhaust all treatment options. When this day comes, the patient may need to look into palliative care, or hospice care, which specializes in pain management, reducing symptoms and providing as much comfort as possible in the last stages of life. The hospice movement has expanded greatly in the United States and American mesothelioma patients should be able to find a quality hospice program in their local area. Many hospitals are connected with hospice organizations or provide palliative care consultations and your primary care physician may be able to help you as well.

Sources

1. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_2_2x_how_to_choose_right_hospital_worksheet.pdf.asp
2. http://www.aaci-cancer.org/
3. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/FTC/ftc_0.asp?sitearea=ETO