Brigham and Women’s Hospital

A Truly Comprehensive Mesothelioma Program

Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) is an international leader in many areas of medicine, launching a comprehensive mesothelioma program to address the rise of mesothelioma cases worldwide. The International Mesothelioma Program (IMP) includes a clinical program, a research program, and a support program. The IMP brings together the most knowledgeable doctors to look for new ways to fight mesothelioma.

For many years, the program only treated pleural mesothelioma patients. Dr. Marcelo DaSilva led the initiative to add a new peritoneal program at the hospital. Many of his pleural patients were eventually developing peritoneal mesothelioma. Dr. DaSilva was frustrated with having to send them away to other facilities for treatment.

“They kind of feel like we’re cutting and running…and that didn’t sit well with our group,” Dr. DaSilva told Mesothelioma Guide in an interview.

So he came up with a plan to add peritoneal treatment to the International Mesothelioma Program.

“One center, we know their history, we know their families, we know their social issues, we know how much chemo they’ve gotten. There’s no drop or gap in their care because it’s all done here at the Brigham.”

Dr. DaSilva has since left Brigham & Women’s Hospital and now works at AdventHealth in Orlando, Florida.

Innovation in Mesothelioma Treatment

Brigham and Women’s Hospital is a major teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, continuously working to improve its knowledge and extend its reach into the medical community.

BWH has a tumor bank, established in 1992, that contains frozen samples of more than 600 malignant pleural mesothelioma cases, supplying specimens for genetic and genomic studies. The tumor bank provides researchers with hands-on information to help create profiles of abnormalities and pioneer new diagnostic methods.

BWH is a definitive leader in mesothelioma treatment and their research has helped many patients become survivors. In February 1996, survivor Sissy Hoffman had radical treatment to remove her mesothelioma tumors at BWH. Sissy survived more than 15 years thanks to these treatments.

Furthering the level of support offered by BWH are services like the Patient Matching Program. This program matches patients with mesothelioma survivors who have received the same type of treatment with whom patients can relate and learn from.

Birthplace of the EPP

The extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), a radical, life-saving surgical option for pleural mesothelioma patients, is considered the gold-standard of treatment. This surgical procedure was developed and perfected by renowned specialist Dr. David Sugarbaker during his time at Brigham and Women’s. The mesothelioma surgeons at BWH are experts in this treatment method, which has improved the prognosis of countless patients over the decades.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Founded in 1947, Dana-Farber has been a pioneer of cancer-related research and treatment for decades. Dana-Farber is an internationally recognized cancer center with close involvement in the International Mesothelioma Program. The Institute employs nearly 4,000 people and supports more than 300,000 patient visits per year while remaining involved in approximately 700 clinical trials.

By partnering with Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center and the International Mesothelioma Program, Dana-Farber is able to collaborate with the brightest minds and leading experts in cancer care. While Brigham and Women’s is a leader in the field of mesothelioma surgery, Dana-Farber brings the added benefit of its medical oncology team to the table.

Is Brigham and Women's Right for You?

There is no doubt that BWH is one of the top treatment centers for mesothelioma patients. Patients who come to Brigham and Women’s generally come here for:

• Access to clinical trials
• Experience handling over 300 patient consultations a year
• Specialized counseling and support groups

Many patients have experienced promising results here, including remission of their disease. Choosing the right cancer center, however, can be stressful. The team at Mesothelioma Guide is here to help you find the perfect treatment center. Contact one of our patient advocates to get in touch with Brigham and Women’s Hospital at 1-888-385-2024 or get a complete list of cancer centers in our free Mesothelioma Guide.