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Baylor College of Medicine Lung Institute

The Baylor College of Medicine Lung Institute is home to one of the world’s top mesothelioma treatment centers thanks to its leadership by the late Dr. David Sugarbaker — renowned thoracic surgical oncologist and developer of a curative surgery for pleural mesothelioma.

Address 7200 Cambridge St. 6th Floor, Suite 6A, Houston, TX 77030
Director, Mesothelioma Treatment Center Dr. Taylor Ripley

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About Baylor College of Medicine Lung Institute

The Baylor College of Medicine Lung Institute is a comprehensive diagnostic and treatment center for patients suffering from lung diseases.

Its multidisciplinary approach led by a diverse team of world-class specialized physicians uniquely positions The Lung Institute as Texas’s top pulmonary oncological institution.

Established in partnership between the Baylor College of Medicine and Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, the Lung Institute is considered a multi-specialty treatment facility.

One of the specializations offered at Baylor, is mesothelioma diagnosis, treatment, and research through the initiation of its Mesothelioma Treatment Center.

When the Lung Institute opened in 2014, the treatment programming was developed by the late Dr. David Sugarbaker — world-renowned thoracic surgical oncologist with a specialization in mesothelioma.

Having such a comprehensive mesothelioma treatment program in Houston, TX has revolutionized patient access to treatment in the region, as disease rates continue steadily.

Baylor Lung Institute is fully equipped with the most advanced oncological and diagnostic technology to ensure patients receive the most effective treatments possible. Baylor’s medical services include a combination of surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, and pulmonology.

Baylor Lung Institute Mesothelioma Treatment Center

One of the Baylor Lung Institute’s most defining specialty treatment programs is the Mesothelioma Treatment Center (MTC).

Offering specialized diagnostic and treatment services to patients with pleural mesothelioma, the MTC is recognized as one of the nation’s premier facilities for research and treatment of this rare disease.

Founded by Dr. David Sugarbaker, the MTC at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center is committed to providing the best possible treatment to pleural mesothelioma patients. The MTC does this in three primary ways.

Firstly, the MTC is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of healthcare specialists, each offering their unique talents and skillsets that give patients a well-rounded and integrated treatment experience.

Secondly, the specialists at Baylor Lung Institute’s MTC are dedicated to developing tailored and personalized treatment strategies for each patient admitted to the Center.

With a belief that no two patients are the same, the MTC’s mesothelioma specialists take the time to properly diagnose and assess each patient and develop a treatment plan that will provide the best results for that individual.

Finally, the mesothelioma doctors at the MTC are committed to improving mesothelioma treatment technology through their clinical research program.

Ongoing research and investment into mesothelioma treatments is the only way our medical communities will be able to one day achieve the goal of finding a cure for mesothelioma.

The MTC moves us closer to this goal through its comprehensive clinical trials program that actively tests and develops new, cutting-edge mesothelioma therapies.

Holistic Patient Care

Being specialists in mesothelioma, the team at the Mesothelioma Treatment Center is also highly in-tune with the severe emotional and mental suffering that accompanies a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Having worked with so many patients and families over the years, the MTC team is aware of the heavy financial and legal burdens that typically go hand-in-hand with mesothelioma.

Because the MTC team is uniquely positioned to treat such a devastating disease, their professional care staff are determined to go above and beyond to help patients and their families throughout the entire care experience.

From the first appointment scheduled to the follow-up care, the staff at MTC ensure that patients’ emotional needs are thoroughly supported.

Not only does MTC believe that the patient should play an active role in their own treatment, but they also believe that providing holistic support resources ultimately improves a patient’s response to treatments.

That’s why MTC has a holistic care team composed of social workers, chaplains and other patient care specialists. MTC has ensured that there is dedicated staff available to support patients emotionally, physically, financially and spiritually.

Mesothelioma Specialists at Baylor

The Mesothelioma Treatment Center employs a multidisciplinary team of specialized physicians and nursing care staff.

These healthcare professionals come from a range of backgrounds all offering unique skills and experiences. By bringing such diverse talents together, the team can cooperatively develop the best treatment approaches for patients.

The MTC team is led by the following surgical oncologists:

Dr. Bryan Burt, Associate Professor of Surgery
Dr. Shawn Groth, Assistant Professor of Surgery

In addition to their leaders in General Thoracic Surgery, the Mesothelioma Treatment Center also employs specialists in critical care, medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, and pathology.

MTC specialists include:

Dr. Jun Zhang — Oncology
Dr. Anita Sabichi — Oncology
Dr. Benjamin Musher — Oncology
Dr. Mark Bowen — Radiation Oncology
Dr. Pavan Jhaveri —Radiation Oncology
Dr. Rony Kampalath — Diagnostic Radiology
Dr. Thomas Wheeler — Pathology and Immunology
Dr. Rodolfo Laucirica — Pathology
Dr. Prasad Manian — Pulmonology

Treatments Offered at Baylor Lung Institute

Every patient at the Mesothelioma Treatment Center undergoes a personalized treatment plan. Though there are no standard ways to treat mesothelioma, MTC believes in administering a multimodal treatment approach.

Treatment plans at MTC include a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy with support therapy through new treatments in clinical trials.

Did You Know?

MTC specialists typically develop a surgery-based treatment that involves surgically removing as much of the visible mesothelioma tumor as possible.

At the Mesothelioma Treatment Center at the Baylor Lung Institute, eligible mesothelioma patients undergo one of two primary surgery options.

The first option is the extrapleural pneumonectomy, developed by former Baylor Lung Institute Director, Dr. Sugarbaker. It involves removing the diseased lung, pleura (lung lining), pericardium (heart lining), and part of the diaphragm.

In an alternative surgery option, the pleurectomy with decortication, mesothelioma patients have their diseased pleura removed but are spared their lung.

Research At Baylor Lung Institute

Being an institute dedicated to mesothelioma research and development, the Mesothelioma Treatment Center has a robust clinical trials program testing new and promising therapies.

Baylor currently has several clinical trials, and they are actively recruiting patients to participate in these important studies.

Some of the current clinical trials at Baylor Lung Institute include:

Studying the effects of two new mesothelioma drugs—anetumab ravtansine and vinorelbine
Studying how two different anti-cancer therapies help improve surgery in patients with resectable mesothelioma
Studying the results of administering direct heated chemotherapy into the chest during pleural mesothelioma surgery

Though these clinical trials cannot guarantee a cure, many of the therapies can give late-stage mesothelioma patients the best hope at life-extending treatments.

Getting Mesothelioma Treatment at Baylor Lung Institute

Patients treated at Baylor Lung Institute are guaranteed a world-class mesothelioma treatment experience.

By working with a multidisciplinary team of specialists, undergoing a personalized treatment plan, and receiving support through the Institute’s holistic care philosophy, patients are offered the absolute best chance at undergoing life-extending treatment.

If you’re interested in seeking mesothelioma treatment at the Baylor Lung Institute, then contact our Claim Advocates today.

We can review your diagnosis and match you with the mesothelioma specialists at Baylor or other mesothelioma cancer centers.

Don’t delay in getting the treatment you deserve.

Written by:Stephanie Kidd

Editor-in-Chief

Stephanie Kidd grew up in a family of civil servants, blue-collar workers, and medical caregivers. Upon graduating Summa Cum Laude from Stetson University, she began her career specializing in worker safety regulations and communications. Now, a proud member of the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) and Editor-in-Chief of the Mesothelioma Cancer Network, Stephanie serves as a voice for mesothelioma victims and their families.

View 4 Sources

Baylor College of Medicine, “About the Lung Institute” Retrieved from: https://www.bcm.edu/healthcare/care-centers/lung-institute/about-us. Accessed on January 10, 2018.
Baylor College of Medicine, Mesothelioma Treatment Center, “Clinical Trials” Retrieved from: http://mesotreatmentcenter.org/understanding-mesothelioma/how-is-mesothelioma-treated/clinical-trials.html. Accessed on January 10, 2018.
Baylor College of Medicine, Mesothelioma Treatment Center, “Physician Team Mebers” Retrieved from: http://mesotreatmentcenter.org/about-the-mtc/members-of-the-team/physician-team-members.html. Accessed on January 10, 2018.
Baylor College of Medicine, Mesothelioma Treatment Center, “Surgery” Retrieved from: http://mesotreatmentcenter.org/understanding-mesothelioma/how-is-mesothelioma-treated/surgery.html. Accessed on January 10, 2018.