The Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center

Affiliated Mesothelioma Doctors

forum Contact Information
1515 River Road
Jefferson, LA 70121
(866) 624-7637

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History of The Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center

The Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center is part of Ochsner Health’s long-standing commitment to patient care, education and research. This work began with the founding of the Ochsner Clinic and grew over decades into a leading hub for cancer treatment and clinical research in the Gulf South.

Key milestones include:

1941: Ochsner Clinic opened as a group medical practice modeled after the Mayo and Cleveland Clinics. It was named after one of its founders, Dr. Alton Ochsner.
1944: The Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation (AOMF) was established as a non-profit organization focused on research and education.
1947 – 1954: Ochsner Foundation Hospital first opened its doors to the public in 1947. The hospital moved to its current flagship campus in 1954.
1982: Ochsner Cancer Institute (OCI) was established to organize growing oncology research and formalize clinical trials.
1983: OCI joined the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Community Clinical Oncology Program. It remains the largest clinical trials network in Louisiana.
2001: Ochsner Clinic and AOMF merged to form a single organization, Ochsner Health System (OHS). Over time, Ochsner Clinic and Ochsner Foundation Hospital came to be known collectively as Ochsner Medical Center.
2010: Following a $5 million philanthropic gift, OCI was renamed The Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center and opened a state-of-the-art treatment facility.
2023: MD Anderson and Ochsner Health announced a partnership to create Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center in southeastern Louisiana.

Today, Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center at The Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center delivers an enhanced level of comprehensive care for patients. Ochsner Health and MD Anderson Cancer Center are clinically integrated to advance cancer treatment in Louisiana, united by a shared mission of ending cancer.

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Mesothelioma Care at The Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center

The Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center treats a variety of cancers. They have a specific Multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Clinic that combines their Thoracic Medical, Thoracic Surgery, Pulmonary Medicine and Radiation Oncology departments to treat lung disorders. This includes lung cancer, mesothelioma, thoracic malignancies and pleural effusions. The Multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Clinic is located at The Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center at Ochsner Medical Center.

The Cancer Center medical team prides itself on using lung-sparing surgeries in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma, along with the latest in cancer imaging, robotic surgeries, image-guided radiation therapy and targeted chemotherapy. Clinical trials may also allow eligible patients to pursue experimental treatments.

For mesothelioma patients that are interested in pursuing treatment at The Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center, there are nurse coordinators available to set up appointments and answer any questions that patients or family members might have.