A Pleural Specialist on the West Coast
Because mesothelioma is such an uncommon type of cancer, you need to find a doctor who specializes in treating the disease. Dr. Robert Cameron is one of the best in his field. He’s one of the top doctors treating veterans with mesothelioma through the VA Healthcare System.
Dr. Robert Cameron is the director of the mesothelioma program at the David Geffen School of Medicine in Los Angeles. He is also the chief thoracic surgeon at the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Medical Center. This is one of the few places in the U.S. where veterans can go for mesothelioma treatment.
If you are eligible for medical treatment in the VA, you can see Dr. Cameron. It doesn’t matter which part of the country you are from if you handle traveling. There is also a mesothelioma specialist in the VA on the east coast if Los Angeles is too far.
Dr. Robert Cameron has made a name for himself as being one of the lead surgeons in the management of pleural mesothelioma. He also works as the scientific advisor to the Pacific Mesothelioma Center. The PMC is a leader in research for new mesothelioma treatments. Dr. Cameron also uses his expertise as a board-certified physician in both general and cardiothoracic surgery to treat all types of thoracic diseases.
The Lung-Sparing Specialist
Dr. Robert Cameron has treated mesothelioma for more than 20 years. He is a pioneer of a surgical procedure known as the pleurectomy with decortication. He feels this is a better choice than lung-removing operations. Patients who keep their lung have a better quality of life, according to Dr. Cameron. The surgery focuses on ridding the thoracic cavity of all visible evidence of mesothelioma tumors. Dr. Cameron has performed this procedure on hundreds of mesothelioma patients over the years of his practice.
Dr. Cameron believes the P/D is equivalent to the EPP when it comes to successfully removing tumors. He has said the P/D removes tumors “with much less sacrifice of lung function and risk of having certain surgical complications.” The two surgeries have similar survival statistics, indicating that Dr. Cameron’s medical opinion is correct.
Dr. Cameron’s Multimodal Treatment Approach
Research has shown that multimodal treatment is the most effective way to extend life expectancies. A multimodal approach involves two or more treatments. These treatments can take place together or simultaneously. Dr. Cameron’s multimodal approach starts with surgery.
A typical treatment plan offered by Dr. Cameron includes:
- Pleurectomy with decortication
- Radiation therapy
- Long-term maintenance therapy with immunotherapy
Using immunotherapy as a long-term treatment is a special part of Dr. Cameron’s treatment. He uses an immunotherapy drug called Interferon.
“[Interferon] basically controls the tumor cells that are left at and keeps them at bay and hopefully prevents them from growing back for years,” Dr. Cameron said in 2009. “And we have a number of patients who have actually been on Interferon for as many as 6 or 7 years, and these patients are doing quite well.”
History and Background
As part of his training, Dr. Robert Cameron graduated from the University of Michigan and UCLA. He achieved an excellent education and excelled to the point where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He continued his training by attending the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. He then completed five years of residency training in the field of general surgery at UCLA. Following this, he completed a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery on the east coast at the Cornell New York Hospital and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.
Dr. Robert Cameron was one of the former directors and a co-founder of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. He played a large role in numerous research studies. The studies were focused on providing gold standard treatments for patients with mesothelioma. Patients are now able to receive better care thanks to the research by Dr. Cameron and many more in the foundation.
Research Pioneer and Advocate
Dr. Robert Cameron has been a pioneer in the research of mesothelioma treatment. He has improved surgical and oncological techniques. He does his research at the National Cancer Institute, the UCSF School of Medicine, the Stanford University School of Medicine and the UCLA School of Medicine.
Dr. Cameron travels throughout the United States lecturing and teaching other surgeons about the management of mesothelioma. He has contributed to dozens of scientific research papers.
He has also written prolifically in academic books related to cancer research and the treatment of mesothelioma of the lungs. He also serves as the editor of the academic journal “Practical Oncology.”
Dr. Robert Cameron has numerous associations in the field of medicine and surgery.
Some of the associations of which he is a member include the following:
- American Society of Clinical Oncology
- Western Thoracic Surgical Association
- Society of Surgical Oncology
- American College of Surgeons
- American Association of Cancer Research group
- International College of Surgeons
- International Society for Biologic Therapy of Cancer
- Pacific Coast Surgical Association
- International Association for the study of Lung Cancer
Through his numerous medical affiliations, Dr. Cameron is able to interface with other surgeons and researchers to put together the best practices in the field of mesothelioma and related lung cancers.
Get help with:
- VA Disability Claims
- Survivor Benefits
- Finding Veteran Doctors
Seeing Dr. Robert Cameron
Dr. Robert Cameron is one of the best mesothelioma doctors in the world. His work developing the pleurectomy with decortication is unmatched by any other doctor. Patients who see Dr. Cameron often report a happier and better overall quality of life. He has also expanded his treatment to include seeing more veterans with mesothelioma.
Veterans choose Dr. Cameron because:
- He’s a top surgeon performing the lung-sparing P/D.
- He uses emerging treatments like immunotherapy.
- He treats veterans at the Los Angeles VA.
Treatment from Dr. Cameron has led to long-term survival for many mesothelioma patients. His combination of surgery, radiation and experimental treatments is helping patients manage their disease. Veterans seeking treatment through the VA Healthcare System may have easier access to this top doctor. Learn More about VA health care and VA benefits now.
The Mesothelioma Veterans Center has no affiliation with and is not endorsed or sponsored by Dr. Robert B. Cameron. The contact information above is listed for informational purposes only. You have the right to contact Dr. Cameron Directly.
