In Central Florida, the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center is highly regarded for providing outstanding multidisciplinary work in fighting mesothelioma and other cancer. Located in Tampa, Moffitt has a specialized group of doctors within the Thoracic Oncology Department and is known as one of the top cancer care facilities in the country. Patients now diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer in Crystal River, Ocala, Hernando, Spring Hill, Leesburg and across Central Florida as a result of exposure to asbestos no longer have to travel out of state for the best treatment.
Dr. Scott Antonia, M.D., Ph.D., is the chairman of the Thoracic Oncology Department and leader of the Mesothelioma Program at Moffitt. Together with other department heads, Dr. Antonia provides the multidisciplinary team approach that is imperative in the successful treatment of mesothelioma. As a team, they meet on a regular basis to discuss each individual patient to provide a well coordinated treatment plan. “We function as a team. And that’s absolutely key in providing the best possible care. Under one roof, everyone is pulling in the same direction with the same goal,” Dr Antonia said.
The team at Moffitt includes surgeons, pathologists, pulmonologists, radiologists, nurses, social workers, nutritionists and other staff dedicated to providing the best possible care for mesothelioma patients. Moffitt provides a wide range of cutting edge treatment options including surgeries like extrapleural pneumonectomy and pleurectomy/decortication. The doctors at Moffitt also treat mesothelioma with radiation therapy, brachytherapy and tomotherapy as well as traditional chemotherapy.
Not only is Moffitt involved in treatment , Moffit is involved in clinical research trials as well. A Phase 1B study involving a CRS 207 vaccine and immunotherapy for mesothelioma patients started in October 2012. Another study directed at killing mesothelioma tumor cells is currently under way.