VA Hospitals for Veterans With Mesothelioma

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It’s estimated that veterans account for up to one-third of all patients diagnosed with mesothelioma. Because of this, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers excellent treatment options to veterans with mesothelioma at several of its medical centers.

VA hospitals provide the same quality of care as civilian hospitals, if not better.

Top VA hospitals treating mesothelioma include:

• Miami VA Healthcare System
• Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
• VA Atlanta Healthcare System
• VA Boston Healthcare System
• West Los Angeles VA Medical Center

These medical facilities employ some of the world’s top mesothelioma specialists. Further, VA hospitals treat mesothelioma patients on a regular basis, ensuring veterans get the best health care possible.

Veterans with mesothelioma may be able to seek treatment from these hospitals provided they are enrolled in VA health care. With VA health care, mesothelioma treatments are often free or inexpensive.

Get VA health care to access mesothelioma treatment at VA hospitals as well as other benefits right now.

List of Mesothelioma VA Hospitals

There are nearly 1,300 hospitals in the VA health care system and several of these have doctors on staff to treat patients with mesothelioma. Many of the mesothelioma doctors that work within the VA health care system are world-renowned specialists with decades of experience.

View the VA hospitals that treat veterans with mesothelioma below.

West Los Angeles VA Medical Center

Los Angeles, California

SpecialistDr. Robert Cameron

ProceduresPleurectomy with decortication (P/D)

The West Los Angeles VA Medical Center treats veterans who have pleural mesothelioma (which forms in the lung lining) from all over the country.

Dr. Robert Cameron, the center’s chief thoracic surgeon, is a leading expert in mesothelioma surgery. He has been treating patients at the West Los Angeles VA since 1998.

Dr. Cameron developed a breakthrough surgery called the pleurectomy with decortication (P/D) to treat pleural mesothelioma without removing a patient's lung. Prior to the creation of this surgery, patients had to have the lung closest to the cancer tumors surgically removed to live longer.

To date, Dr. Cameron has performed the P/D procedure on hundreds of pleural mesothelioma patients.

“I've been seeing Dr. Cameron for the last six or seven years now and he gives me a clean bill of health every time. I'm just happy every morning. I get out of bed and it’s an adventure. It’s a great feeling to know that, hey, I'm still kicking around."

— Phillip P., veteran with pleural mesothelioma 

The West Los Angeles VA Medical Center also offers other treatments — including chemotherapy, cryoablation (freezing therapy), and radiation — to help pleural mesothelioma patients live as long as possible.

Veterans with mesothelioma can ask their health care providers to submit a referral so they can get treated at the West Los Angeles VA.

Visit the UCLA Health website to learn more about Dr. Robert Cameron.

VA Boston Healthcare System

Boston, Massachusetts

SpecialistDr. Daniel Wiener

ProceduresPleural mesothelioma surgery

The VA Boston Healthcare System runs several facilities in the greater Boston area and has a team of thoracic (chest and lung) surgeons on staff to treat veterans with pleural mesothelioma.

Dr. Daniel Wiener serves as the Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at the Boston VA. He works closely alongside other VA mesothelioma doctors to make sure patients get the best care possible.

Mesothelioma patients can access a wide range of treatment options at the Boston VA, including lung-sparing surgery and palliative care to manage symptoms.

Further, several of the staff members at the Boston VA work closely with Brigham and Women's Hospital, which is one of the top civilian mesothelioma treatment centers.

The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center provides comprehensive medical care to veterans with mesothelioma in Texas under the direction of Dr. Lorraine Cornwell.

Dr. Cornwell and her team specialize in treating pleural mesothelioma using minimally invasive surgeries, including video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy can also be used to kill cancer cells not removed by surgery.

The mesothelioma treatment team at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center is closely tied to Houston's Baylor College of Medicine, which is a top private cancer center.

The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center also offers treatments to veterans with peritoneal mesothelioma (which forms in the abdominal lining). This type of cancer requires significantly different treatments when compared to pleural mesothelioma.

Other VA Hospitals Treating Mesothelioma

Besides the three hospitals noted above, there are several other VA facilities treating mesothelioma.

These include: 

• Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center: This facility is part of the greater Miami VA Healthcare System. It is closely affiliated with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, where mesothelioma specialists like Dr. Dao Ngyuen help patients.
• C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center: Veterans with pleural mesothelioma living near Tampa, Florida can get treatment through this center. As of 2022, 92% of veterans getting primary care and 84% of veterans getting specialty care at this facility say they can typically get an appointment when needed.
• Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center: This facility offers pleural mesothelioma treatments to veterans living in the greater Atlanta, Georgia area. It's part of the Atlanta VA Healthcare System.

What Services Do VA Hospitals Offer?

At VA hospitals, veterans can access mesothelioma treatments to help them live longer, as well as care options designed to relieve pain.

VA hospitals provide a wide array of services, including:

• Acute care
• Chemotherapy
• Emergency services
• Exams
• Immunizations
• Mental health services
• Oncology
• Radiation
• Screenings
• Surgery

Qualifying veterans with mesothelioma can also join clinical trials to receive treatments not available otherwise. Clinical trials for mesothelioma are available through a partnership between the VA and the National Cancer Institute.

Some VA hospitals also serve as research centers and teaching facilities. This allows veterans to receive the latest mesothelioma treatments from experienced specialists.

Private Hospitals Treating Mesothelioma

Some U.S. veterans who have mesothelioma may not want to get treated at one of the VA health care facilities listed above. Fortunately, it may be possible to get treated at a private hospital.

There are dozens of private mesothelioma cancer centers that can help patients. All of them offer medical care that's just as good as the care provided by the VA. Further, some private hospitals work closely with the VA's mesothelioma treatment teams and may even share staff.

Notable mesothelioma hospitals include:

• Baylor College of Medicine (Texas)
• Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Massachusetts)
• H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center (Florida)
• Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (California)
• UPMC Hillman Cancer Center (Pennsylvania)

Find a hospital near you that treats mesothelioma right now.

Get Mesothelioma Treatment From a VA Hospital

To receive mesothelioma treatment at VA hospitals, veterans must be enrolled in the VA health care system. File for VA health care benefits and more right now with help from our team.

Our VA-accredited agents, veterans, and patient advocates can help you file a claim quickly so that you can start treatment as soon as possible.

Veterans who are enrolled can seek treatment at any VA hospital and visit any of the mesothelioma specialists in the system. Don't wait — mesothelioma is highly aggressive. Learn if you can get treatment at a VA hospital right now.