M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas has a well-deserved reputation for diagnosing and treating patients with rare and aggressive cancers such as malignant mesothelioma.  People frequently travel from across the country to M. D. Anderson for mesothelioma treatment.

Fortunately for these out-of-state patients, there is a full-service hotel which is dedicated to M. D. Anderson patients and their families.  This is the Jessie H. Jones Rotary House International.  While this hotel is managed by Marriott International, it is actually owned by M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Many rooms at the Rotary House

The Rotary House has 322 rooms, all of which have wheelchair access. Seven new executive suites offer 10-foot high ceilings with a private floor and lounge as well as other amenities.  Most of the 322 rooms offer kitchenettes for those who do not wish to dine out for every meal.   Cancer support groups meet regularly at the Rotary House and are conducted both informally and formally.

The Rotary House provides many benefits for mesothelioma patients and their families.  First, because the Rotary House is dedicated to M. D. Anderson patients, the cancer center itself can help with a patient’s bookings.  Second, there is a spirit of camaraderie among the many patients and their family members, who all can understand and relate to each others’ medical situations.  Third, the Rotary House actually provides entertainment for the patients and their caregivers, whether it’s salsa dancers, musicians, or St. Patrick’s Day parties.

A Walk Away in the Best Place to Stay

The Rotary House is merely a walkway away from the M. D. Anderson Clinics and Hospital.  Thus, there is no more convenient place in which to stay if you are an outpatient at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.  There is no extra charge for parking and there are a variety of restaurants and shops within the Rotary House.  Most importantly, however, cancer patients are almost guaranteed to have an instant support system with the other “house guests”.  A number of clients of the law firm of Galiher DeRobertis Ono have gone to  M. D. Anderson for mesothelioma treatment and therapy.  As Gary Galiher said,

“When a person has been diagnosed with any cancer, but especially a cancer with a difficult prognosis such as malignant mesothelioma, quality of life is crucial.  Even with this diagnosis, you still have many options, including the choice of your medical team and where you will live during your medical treatment.  Finding accommodations that provide an instant support mechanism have been crucial to our clients.  As the treatment options become greater and more widely available, patients with mesothelioma can take back control of their lives from this disease.”

For more than 30 years, the law offices of Galiher DeRobertis Ono has represented victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses.  Through our work, we have learned much about mesothelioma and asbestos, and over the years, we have seen significant progress in the treatment and care of mesothelioma patients.

Today, mesothelioma patients’ quality of life is greatly improving.  The institutions that specialize in the treatment of mesothelioma are not  focused on just the disease itself.  Medical professionals today are increasingly focused on trying to maximize the patients’ overall well-being through a comprehensive approach to treatment.

Comprehensive Care of Mesothelioma Patients

Among the many impressive mesothelioma treatment institutions is Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, a treatment center that believes “treating the whole person, not just the disease, is the best approach.”  Sloan-Kettering has a team of specialists, including surgeons, scientists, medical oncologist, pathologists and radiation oncologists who aim to provide “experienced, up-to-date, and thoughtful care” of mesothelioma patients.

In addition to great medical care, Sloan-Kettering offers its patients and their families a wide base of support.  Sloan-Kettering understands that the emotional toll mesothelioma can have on patients and their family members can be as traumatic as the disease itself.

Support Services at Sloan-Kettering

Sloan-Kettering offers a significant array of support for its patients.  The following are some services that are provided for mesothelioma patients at Sloan-Kettering:

• Inpatient Counseling & Support Groups

Sloan-Kettering understands that there is no “one-size-fits-all coping style” when it comes to dealing with cancer.  Therefore, there are experienced counselors at Sloan-Kettering that are made available to all patients to help them handle any distress they may develop.

• Outpatient Counseling

Outpatient counseling at Sloan-Kettering is offered to cancer patients regardless of whether or not they are receiving care at Sloan-Kettering.

• Nutrition

At Sloan-Kettering you can request to meet with a certified dietitian-nutritionist who can help you assess certain diets and who can help you eat properly while undergoing treatment.  If loss of appetite is a problem, the dietitian can make suggestions of foods necessary for nourishment and energy.

• Symptom Management and Support

Sloan-Kettering is dedicated to ensuring that all its patients do not suffer from avoidable discomfort.  If a patient is experiencing pain or other symptoms from treatment, Sloan-Kettering has created a Pain and Palliative Care Service that offers help with physical symptoms such as shortness of breath or nausea but also non-physical symptoms such as sadness, anxiety or depression that can lead to pain.

• Extra Help At Home

Sloan-Kettering recognizes that after a patient is released, they may need further assistance or they may need certain equipment at home.  Therefore, Sloan-Kettering has case managers who are available on each floor that will help patients get the care and supplies they need.

• Complementary Therapies

Therapists in the Integrated Medicine Service create services that complement your treatment and are targeted to help the spirit, mind, and body.

• Patient-to-Patient Volunteers

Sometimes nothing can be more comforting to a mesothelioma patient than talking with someone who has been through what you are currently experiencing.  Sloan-Kettering attempts to match patients with other patients who have been through a similar experience.

• Patient Representatives

Patient Representatives are available at Sloan-Kettering.  They can help you with any complaints or concerns you may have.  They act as your advocate to ensure that your rights are respected and any concerns you may have are addressed.

Better Treatment for Mesothelioma Patients

Over the years, the law firm of Galiher DeRobertis Ono has worked with many researchers and medical professionals who have made great progress in their search for better treatments and, ultimately, a cure for mesothelioma.  Attorney Gary Galiher says, “we are pleased to see institutions such as Sloan-Kettering focusing on improving the quality of life of mesothelioma patients, not just focusing on treating the disease.  These relatively new approaches to treating the entire patient will no doubt continue to expand and will allow mesothelioma patients to have a higher quality of life while dealing with this disease.”

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare disease in the general population.  About one person per million contracts this aggressive cancer, which is caused by exposure to asbestos products.  By way of comparison, about 215,000 people were diagnosed with lung cancer in 2009 versus about 3,000 who were diagnosed with mesothelioma.  As a result, the ability for research scientists to rapidly gather data about the disease is limited by the number of patients seen by the researcher’s facility.  Fortunately, the International Mesothelioma Program (IMP) at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston has helped to solve this problem and advance research in this area because of its extensive tumor bank and patient registry.

International Mesothelioma Program Shares Tissue Samples to Advance Research

The International Mesothelioma Program, under the leadership of Dr. David Sugarbaker, sees approximately 300 mesothelioma patients for consultation each year.  Last year, over 160 of these patients also underwent surgery.  The IMP maintains a patient data registry as well as a tumor bank of all patients who are seen at Brigham and Women’s Hospital for mesothelioma treatment.  Because the International Mesothelioma Program works collaboratively with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, mesothelioma patients treated at any of these facilities become part of this important patient data registry.  If surgery is performed, their pathology material is preserved in the International Mesothelioma Program’s tumor bank as well.

There is significant research underway at the International Mesothelioma Program using the tissue samples and the data from the patient registry.  However, the IMP also recognizes the importance of advancing  mesothelioma research in other hospitals and cancer institutes.  Accordingly, the IMP readily shares the information in the patient data registry and the tissue samples from the mesothelioma tumor bank with researchers at other cancer centers to advance the study of the development of mesothelioma and how to treat this disease.

One such researcher is Dr. V. Courtney Broaddus, a professor of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco.  Dr. Broaddus is studying the role played by other cells such as immune cells around the mesothelioma cells.  She studies macrophages to understand the role they play in assisting the mesothelioma tumor’s growth.  To do this research, the IMP sends tumor tissue to Dr. Broaddus via Federal Express from tumors that are resected from patients.  After the overnight flight from Boston to San Francisco, the tumor cells are still alive when they arrive.  Dr. Broaddus commented that this just shows how tough and hardy these mesothelioma cells are.  She grows these cells in vitro to observe the growth of the macrophages.  Growing these cell lines also enables her to test various treatments on mesothelioma cells.

Research Comparing Surgical Results Based On Patient Age

Although the International Mesothelioma Program was officially formed in 2002,  a patient data registry has been maintained for many years because patients have been treated at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital for mesothelioma since the 1980s.  The database has 400 fields, so all kinds of information has been captured and recorded for 2,000 patients.

One example of the type of research that has been conducted involves a study done by Dr. Andrea Wolfe of the IMP and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.  Dr. Wolfe compared the outcomes for mesothelioma patients having either an extrapleural pneumonectomy or a pleurectomy with decortication and were 65 years old and older.  She found that older patients fared less well immediately after the extrapleural pneumonectomy, but in terms of longer term outcomes of those who survived the surgery, both surgeries produced similar results.  She was able to do this research retrospectively looking back at 227 patients who were in the patient data registry.

Attorneys Recognize Valuable Resource for Mesothelioma Research

Attorney Gary Galiher, who has successfully represented hundreds of mesothelioma clients, remarked that the IMP’s patient data registry and tumor bank are, “an incredibly valuable resource for scientists so they can do cutting edge research that will eventually lead to a cure for this devastating disease.”   While Galiher and his law firm Galiher DeRobertis Ono have been able to obtain fair compensation for their mesothelioma clients and their families, the untold suffering caused by mesothelioma can only be addressed by medical research being done by Dr. Sugarbaker, the IMP and other scientists.

Because mesothelioma is a relatively rare form of cancer, it is often difficult to diagnose and treat.  Fortunately, researchers all over the country are working hard to improve our understanding of the disease in order to develop better treatments, and ultimately a cure for this terrible disease.

At the Mesothelioma Program at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas, a team of multidisciplinary scientists and physicians have made significant strides in developing more accurate methods of surgical staging for malignant pleural mesothelioma.  “Staging” is the medical term for the process of determining the extent to which a tumor has spread through the body.

Proper Staging of Mesothelioma Essential to Treatment

M. D. Anderson’s team of more than 30 physicians have worked together to develop an innovative surgical staging process that helps them properly assess and describe the extent of the disease.  This is crucially important, because mesothelioma must be properly staged before a patient begins treatment in order to provide the most effective therapy.  For example, surgical procedures such as extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) are can be very effective for a patient in the early stages, but are generally not recommended for patients in the later stages.

Initially, staging is usually done through radiographic imaging, such as a CT scan, an MRI, and/or a PET scan.  Doctors may also use serum mesothelin blood tests to measure certain proteins that are secreted by mesothelioma tumors.  These tests may also be confirmed by biopsy or thoracentesis.

Surgical Staging Also Required Before Surgery

However, these methods are not entirely accurate.  As a result, all patients who undergo surgery at M. D. Anderson also undergo a thorough surgical staging to ensure the mesothelioma has not spread to the lymph glands or abdomen.  This is done through a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure, usually on an outpatient basis.

According to Dr. Anne Tsao, Director of the Mesothelioma Program, this surgical staging is crucially important to make sure that the patient is a viable candidate for surgery.  Dr. Tsao explained that, “the reason why it’s so hard to treat is often times people have more extensive disease than what we initially realize from the radiographic imaging.  So here at M. D. Anderson before we make the patient undergo a very large surgical procedure, we have to do a smaller surgery that stages the patient to be sure that they’re a correct candidate for that surgery.”

Attorneys Recognize Important Strides Toward Improved Treatment

Attorney Gary Galiher and the law firm Galiher DeRobertis Ono have represented clients with mesothelioma for more than 30 years.  Our attorneys and staff have seen firsthand the devastating effect of this disease on patients and their families.  Gary Galiher says, “We salute the physicians and researchers at M. D. Anderson who are making important strides toward improving the treatments for mesothelioma and giving patients real hope for a cure.”

The International Mesothelioma Program (IMP) at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston has already made significant progress in developing new treatments to extend the lives of mesothelioma patients.  Under the leadership of Dr. David Sugarbaker, the specialists at the IMP have pioneered a number of innovative multimodality therapies.  IMP researchers have also collaborated with other institutions to enhance the scientific understanding of mesothelioma.

Quality of Life Issues Addressed by IMP

Just as importantly, the clinicians and researchers at the IMP are working on ways to enhance the quality of life for mesothelioma patients and their families.  Despite all the improvements in treatment, mesothelioma is still a difficult disease, and the treatments themselves can be grueling.   Even with the best care, the disease can take a heavy toll on mesothelioma patients and their loved ones.  Members of the IMP team are well aware of this fact, and are working to find ways to help patients cope with their disease, and to ease the burden on their caregivers.  Some of the concerns raised by patients include fatigue, feeling anxious or afraid, depression, pain and cognitive problems sometimes called “chemo brain”.  A mesothelioma patient will need to find a new balance or equilibrium to his life.  One’s personal goals and needs will change so that quality of life is redefined by the patient as he journeys through his treatment.

Having represented hundreds of mesothelioma clients over the last 32 years, attorney Gary Galiher commends the IMP for making the mesothelioma patient’s quality of life issues an integral part of their multidisciplinary team approach to patient care.

IMP Study Focuses on Mesothelioma Patients’ Quality of Life

In order to take a more focused look at the quality-of-life needs of mesothelioma patients, the IMP has recently reopened a new study which seeks to identify the factors that make the biggest difference in a mesothelioma patient’s quality of life.  The study is being conducted by Alice Kornblith, a senior research scientist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and is funded by the International Mesothelioma Program. Kornblith hopes to enroll up to 400 IMP patients in this effort to compile a database of information about mesothelioma symptoms and quality of life.

The patients who enroll in the study will be asked to complete special questionnaires every three weeks for a period of 36 weeks.  The questionnaires will collect information about their ongoing symptoms, their pain, their physical functioning, and their emotional and psychological concerns.  This will allow researchers to get a better understanding of the factors that affect a patient’s quality of life, and will help them assess the impact of various different treatment regimens on the patient’s overall sense of well-being.

One sub-set of the study will focus on mesothelioma survivors who are cancer-free for one year or more after completing treatment.   According to Kornblith, “Little is known about this group of patients, but as therapy improves and more patients survive longer, it is important to understand how survivors adjust to their disease, how their quality of life is affected, and what supports might be beneficial for them.”

This research will be used at the IMP and other mesothelioma treatment facilities to better address the quality-of-life needs of mesothelioma patients.  Clinicians will be able to use the study’s data to identify the greatest needs of mesothelioma patients, and create new treatment protocols and support services to enhance patients’ health and well-being.

As you or your loved one is considering the course of treatment for mesothelioma, you and your physician will need to explore the possibility of enrolling in a clinical trial as a critically important option.  A clinical trial is a study to evaluate new treatments to determine how effective and safe a certain medication, combination of medications, a surgical or radiation procedure or a combination of these modalities might be.  Patients enrolled in clinical trials are monitored closely.  These clinical trials allow medical research to progress, so that diseases once thought to be incurable are now curable.

Misconceptions About Clinical Trials Dispelled

Having never made such a monumental decision, many are concerned about enrolling in a clinical trial.  Some worry that the patient will be treated like a guinea pig or will receive the placebo or sugar pills.  Worse yet, some think that clinical trials should be considered only when there is no hope.  These misconceptions about clinical trials are dispelled at the International Mesothelioma Program (IMP) at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.

Dr. David Sugarbaker, the founder and director of the International Mesothelioma Program and the Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, has been treating mesothelioma patients along with his colleagues at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute since the 1980s.  In fact, the clinical trials being conducted at the IMP are at the forefront of state-of-the-art mesothelioma treatment and care in the United States.  Each year approximately 160 mesothelioma patients are treated at the International Mesothelioma Program by Dr. Sugarbaker and his team of medical experts.  Twice that number of patients are seen for consultation.

Surgical Clinical Trials Leading to Increased Survivability

In a lecture given in late 2009, Dr. Sugarbaker noted that through his surgical clinical trials, the IMP is seeing a 17 percent survival rate for patients who are four years post-surgery.  This is remarkable when you consider these patients’ original prognosis, which was a mere six to nine months to live.  Dr. Sugarbaker is seeing survivors who are eight to ten years post-surgery and a few others who are living as long as 13 years with no recurrence.

Attorney Gary Galiher, who has represented mesothelioma clients for 32 years, is very hopeful when he see the results Dr. Sugarbaker has had from his clinical trials.

“I have seen my clients suffer and die from this devastating cancer.  Dr. Sugarbaker’s clinical trials portend much hope and promise that one day in the not so distant future mesothelioma will be a curable disease.”

Clinical Trials at the International Mesothelioma Program

One important mesothelioma clinical trial is Protocol 07-091 for patients with resectable pleural malignant mesothelioma; that is, a tumor that can be removed surgically.  The surgery is followed by heated chemotherapy drugs applied directly into the chest cavity during the surgical procedure.  The drug combination used is Cisplatin along with Gemcitabine.  Amifostine is also used to protect the normal cells.  The patient is then followed weekly.

Of 304 patients screened, Dr. Sugarbaker says 64 were enrolled in this clinical trial.  The study is still open and accepting patients.  The clinical trial requires that certain criteria are met in order for a patient to qualify for enrollment in Protocol 07-091.  Since time is of the essence, it is important that patients discuss this and other possible courses of treatment with their physician right away.   They may also consider calling the IMP directly at phone:  617-732-5922 to get immediate information.

It is clear that through a number of clinical trials, medical advances are taking place at the International Mesothelioma Program under Dr. Sugarbaker’s leadership.  Virtually all advances in cancer treatment involve clinical trials.  These advances translate to hope and a prolonged and enhanced quality of life for mesothelioma patients.

New Clinical Trial Underway

The International Mesothelioma Program will be conducting a new clinical trial for patients with advanced stage mesothelioma.  This new Phase I trial would use the neoadjuvant mTOR inhibitor followed by administering Cisplatin in combination with pemetrexed or Alimta.  After the chemotherapy regimen, depending on the patient’s response, an extrapleural pneumonectomy could then be performed.

Over the years through the clinical trials, the IMP has been able to increase the dose of chemotherapy drugs to the maximum tolerable amount.  Additionally, because of Dr. Sugarbaker’s experience treating so many mesothelioma patients, he and the IMP have learned the site of recurrence of the cancer is usually in the chest or abdomen where the original tumor appeared.  Dr. Sugarbaker explained that he and his medical team have observed over the last 15 years that, even after surgery, microscopic cells are present and thus he developed the in vivo model, as he calls it, of administering the heated chemotherapy in the maximum tolerable dose into the open chest cavity.

His patients have words of praise and gratitude as they speak of Dr. Sugarbaker being a hero and a pioneer in mesothelioma research with the clinical trials which the International Mesothelioma Program is conducting.

Patients diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma are usually given a very grim prognosis, and in the past had very few treatment options.  However, due to the pioneering efforts of Dr. David Sugarbaker at the International Mesothelioma Program (IMP) at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, patients have a much better prognosis with surgery aimed at removing the tumor, followed by chemotherapy to kill any remaining cells.  These procedures are called cytoreductive (or debulking) surgery and intrathoracic heated chemotherapy administered during surgery.

Surgery to Remove the Tumor

Cytoreductive surgery falls into two categories:  (1) extrapleural pneumonectomy that involves the removal of the affected lung, and (2) pleurectomy and decortication which is the removal of the pleura and as much tumor tissue as possible.  The type of surgery that a patient receives at the IMP depends upon how early the mesothelioma was diagnosed and the extent to which the disease has spread.  It is part of the preoperative protocol at the International Mesothelioma Program to perform a procedure called a mediastinoscopy, to biopsy the patient’s lymph nodes in the  mid-chest area or mediastinum.  This procedure tells the physicians at the IMP the extent to which the malignant mesothelioma has spread.

If the patient’s malignant mesothelioma is discovered early enough, Dr. Sugarbaker may perform an extrapleural pneumonectomy.  Not only is the affected lung removed, but the diaphragm, pleura, and pericardium are also surgically removed.  The diaphram and other structures in the chest are re-built using Gortex, which is a synthetic gas-permeable membrane.   The other surgery, a pleurectomy/decortication is used to removed the diseased pleura and as much of the patient’s mesothelioma tumor as possible.

Chemotherapy Drugs Administered Immediately

At the International Mesothelioma Program, following either the extrapleural pneumonectomy or the pleurectomy/decortication, the patient’s chest cavity is infused with a lavage (washing out the organs) of heated chemotherapy drugs.  Researchers and physicians at the IMP have determined that there is much greater chemotherapy penetration when the drugs are heated and washed directly over the affected area compared to being delivered intravenously.  The purpose of the intracavitary heated chemotherapy lavage is to kill the malignant mesothelioma cells that might be left behind after surgery and that cannot be seen by the surgeon.

Success With Dr. Sugarbaker’s Techniques

Dr. Sugarbaker and his team have been very successful in using cytoreductive surgery and intracavitary heated chemotherapy in prolonging the lives of malignant pleural mesothelioma patients.  Dr. Sugarbaker reports some patients surviving five to 10 years using this combination of surgery and heated chemotherapy.

Clinic Trials Recruiting Pleural Mesothelioma Patients

Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in collaboration with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, are currently recruiting patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma for two clinical trials.  The first is a Phase I clinical trial that will study the effects of extrapleural pneumonectomy/pleurectomy decortication followed by a combination of heated chemotherapy drugs Cisplatin and Gemcitabine administered during surgery.  The second is a Phase II clinical trial that will study the effects of pleurectomy/decortication combined with intraoperative heated Cisplatin, then followed by an intravenous administration of sodium thiosulfate to reduce the effects of the Cisplatin.

by Gary Galiher, Attorney

Dr. David Sugarbaker is a mere mortal, but to hear his patients talk about him, you might conclude otherwise.  Dr. Sugarbaker is the director and founder of the International Mesothelioma Program (IMP), a unique program at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston that is dedicated to the treatment and ultimately finding a cure for mesothelioma, a devastating cancer in the lining of the lungs or abdomen.

Many patients find their way to Dr. Sugarbaker and his team at the International Mesothelioma Program after being given a grim prognosis by their own doctor.  But Dr. Sugarbaker has designed a unique program that offers state-of-the-art treatment with the goal of improving and extending patients’ lives.  The real goal, however, is to find a cure for mesothelioma.  Dr. Sugarbaker gives his patients hope where others had given none.  It is no surprise that so many of his patients revere him, and it is no wonder that one of our clients who was recently operated on by Dr. Sugarbaker simply calls him “The Man.”

Patients Hold Dr. Sugarbaker in Highest Esteem

Our client went to the International Mesothelioma Program after hearing from his own doctors that Dr. Sugarbaker offered the best treatment available.  Our client told his friends that it was not until he spoke to a doctor at the IMP that he heard the word “survivability” in relation to his cancer.  Dr. Sugarbaker’s treatment offers hope to patients like our client who had been given very stark and grim news about his condition.

Once at the International Mesothelioma Program, our client met Dr. Sugarbaker who evaluated his case to determine if he was a candidate for the cutting edge surgical treatment protocol that Dr. Sugarbaker himself has pioneered.  After many tests and consultations, Dr. Sugarbaker concluded surgery was the appropriate treatment for our client.  Our client told his friends that he met “The Man, the program’s director, Dr. David Sugarbaker ” and went on to add…”and by the way HE IS THE WORLD’S  BEST” – his own emphasis.  Our client underwent surgery just a few weeks ago and is recovering with a degree of hope that did not exist when he first learned of his mesothelioma diagnosis.  It is easy to see why he considers Dr. Sugarbaker “The Man.”

Who Is Dr. David Sugarbaker?

David Sugarbaker is a surgeon and the Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.  In the early 1980s, this hospital began seeing a significant number of mesothelioma cases that were developing decades after patients had been exposed to asbestos.  Given the extensive use of asbestos in the shipbuilding industry which at one time employed thousands in the New England area, it was understandable why there was a high incidence of this cancer in New England.  Dr. Sugarbaker brought the treatment of mesothelioma to the forefront of the Thoracic Surgery Division once he became its Chief.  Under his direction, the Brigham and Women’s Hospital began to develop an expertise in the surgical treatment and chemotherapy protocols related to this disease.

As the number of mesothelioma patients coming to the Brigham and Women’s Hospital continued to increase, the number of doctors and staff dedicated to the treatment of this disease also began to grow.  In 2002, Dr. Sugarbaker had the initiative to set up a multidisciplinary program dedicated solely to mesothelioma.  The International Mesothelioma Program was born.

The International Mesothelioma Program

There is no doubt that the International Mesothelioma Program is Dr. Sugarbaker’s “baby.”  Not only has he been key in the development of the IMP’s surgical treatment options and cutting edge chemotherapy protocols, but his vision and strategic partnering has allowed the program to expand to includes doctors and researchers from across the field of medicine, all focused on finding better treatment options and ultimately a cure for mesothelioma.

Dr.  Sugarbaker’s vision for his program included not only state-of-the-art treatment, but also an environment where patients and their families receive the supportive care needed for those facing a disease like mesothelioma.  The support team that Dr. Sugarbaker has brought together includes a social worker and two chaplains who explain the array of services available to the patients and their families and help them through the process from the introductory patient orientation meeting to the day the patient heads back home.  Soon our client will be heading back home, having benefited from the vision, commitment and dedication of  “The Man.”

Mesothelioma patients and their families face many concerns as they seek treatment for this asbestos-related disease.  In addition to the extensive number of tests and procedures that may be needed to diagnose this rare cancer, many patients are concerned about the cost.  Patients worry that they may not be able to pay for the best treatment options offered by their doctors and medical team.

Many mesothelioma patients seek treatment at the International Mesothelioma Program (IMP) at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) in Boston, Massachusetts.  This unique program includes doctors from many disciplines, including  pathologists, surgeons, oncologists, and clinicians, all focused on finding the best treatment options and ultimately a cure for mesothelioma.  Dr. David Sugarbaker, the Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, is the founder and director of the International Mesothelioma Program.

The entire team at the International Mesothelioma Program has dealt with issues related to the cost of medical care for many years and can help guide patients through the process.  Dr. Sugarbaker considers this guidance part of their overall mission to ensure that patients receive all of the support and advice they need at every level.

Treatment is the First Priority

The International Mesothelioma Program works with the patient’s health insurance provider to ensure that a lack of personal financial resources does not interfere with the patient’s mesothelioma treatment – whether it is surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of therapies.  There may be differences in allowable benefits among health insurance providers, including private insurers such as Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO plans and HMOs like Kaiser Permanente, federal Medicare and state Medicaid programs, Veterans Affairs’ beneficiaries and dependents, and active duty military personnel covered by Tricare.  However, each insurer has an obligation to honor the terms and conditions of the patient’s insurance policy or plan benefits.

A Patient’s Role and Obligations

When a mesothelioma patient contacts the International Mesothelioma Program for a consultation or evaluation, the administrators at Brigham and Women’s Hospital work with the health insurance carriers or plan administrators to verify eligibility and obtain payment approvals.  To accomplish this, current insurance information from the patient as well as a referral from the primary care physician or treating doctor is needed.  In some cases, additional documentation such as a statement of a lack of necessary and recommended care at the patient’s local hospital or medical clinic is required before treatment at the International Mesothelioma Program may begin.  While the staff at the International Mesothelioma Program often deals with the insurance carrier directly, they may ask for the patient’s help to expedite matters by obtaining certain required documents or contacting the primary care physician.

Recent Patients’ Experiences

Some of the mesothelioma patients seeking treatment at the International Mesothelioma Program are represented by Gary Galiher, an attorney with over 30 years experience handling thousands of asbestos-related personal injury claims.  Over the years, some of his clients have had surgery performed by Dr. Sugarbaker to remove the mesothelioma cancer.  Attorney Galiher is mindful of the importance of ensuring their health insurers work hand in hand with the IMP staff:

“We are all aware of the high costs associated with medical care and treatment, especially when surgery and hospital care are required.  The treatment which Dr. Sugarbaker and his team at the International Mesothelioma Program provides includes surgery to remove the visible mesothelioma tumor, followed by a treatment of chemotherapy drugs.  This surgery is typically followed by a few days of recovery in the Intensive Care Unit and another week or 10 days of hospitalization.  Because of the associated costs, it is important that a patient’s health insurance company and the IMP staff coordinate closely with each other.”

One such patient had private insurance while another received health care benefits through Veterans Affairs because of his military service.  Both of these patients received prior approval from the insurance company and Veterans Affairs respectively before their operations.  With all that a mesothelioma patient is dealing with, seeking pre-approval from the medical insurance carrier may seem stressful and overwhelming.  The team at the IMP has vast experience in working with the various medical insurance carriers and will lend a supportive hand so a patient’s treatment can be scheduled expeditiously, and financial concerns about insurance coverage will not be a stumbling block to proceeding.

For over 30 years, the law firm of Galiher DeRobertis Ono has represented people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma.  We have worked closely with our clients and their families.  We have also worked with treating physicians, clinicians, world-renowned researchers and scientists, and through our work, we have learned a lot about mesothelioma, and we have seen the evolution of mesothelioma treatment and care over the past three decades.

Today, the treatment and care of mesothelioma patients are often comprehensive and targeted at treating patients as a whole.  The International Mesothelioma Program(IMP) at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston has become an excellent example of a facility that embodies this philosophy and approach to treating mesothelioma patients.  The  IMP offers state-of-the art treatment, cutting edge research, and an extended network of support for patients and families.  In terms of patient support, the IMP recognizes the need that patients have to talk directly with other patients about their experiences.  To meet this need, the IMP has developed a “Patient Matching” program.

Patient Matching Program at the International Mesothelioma Program

Dr. David Sugarbaker is the founder and director of the International Mesothelioma Program in Boston, Massachusetts, and is the Chief of Thoracic Surgery.  He possesses a great understanding of mesothelioma, but he also understands the devastating emotional effects this disease has on patients and their families.  According to Dr. Sugarbaker,  “Mesothelioma takes an emotional toll on patients and their families that cannot be underestimated; it can be nearly as significant as the disease itself.”

We all know that being faced with a serious, life threatening diagnosis such as mesothelioma can be frightening.  Patients begin to wonder what treatments are available to them, how they will respond to treatment, what will the recuperation period be like and so forth.  That is why the IMP has created the Patient Matching Program.

The Patient Matching Program connects current patients of the International Mesothelioma Program with survivors to help provide a more grounded perspective on the difficult and frightening prospects patients have to face when diagnosed with mesothelioma.  We all know how comforting it can be to hear encouraging words from someone who has been in your position before, and the IMP attempts to accomplish that through this program.

The program attempts to match patients by gender, age, state and the type of treatment received; however, many patients connect over the telephone and with patients of either gender and  any age from around the world, and strong bonds are often forged.

Mesothelioma Patient Matching Program Grows Exponentially

Doug Burnett, a farmer in Western Massachusetts, underwent surgery in early February of 2006.  Since then, he has been paired with more than 20 people from Florida to Israel.  He states that he and other patients often compare notes on medications and the symptoms they are experiencing.  Mr. Burnett stated, “We all need to pull together to get through this…I’m happy to do whatever I can to help.”

Mr. Burnett has given new hope and perspective to current or incoming patients who will hopefully give a sense of hope to a new generation of patients as the IMP continues to further its goal to provide mesothelioma patients with longer, healthier lives.