Mesothelioma Cancer Centers

The Swedish Cancer Institute has a history of being on the cutting edge of cancer treatments, right from its very beginnings. In 1928, shortly after the discovery of the X-ray, it was discovered that the rays could be used to target cancer cells. Dr. Nils Johanson was fascinated by this realization and convinced the trustees of Swedish Hospital to purchase a supervoltage X-ray machine – one of just eight in existence in the United States. The hospital also spent tens of thousands of dollars on radium, another material found to promise as a cancer therapy. With these materials, the hospital established the Swedish Tumor Institute in 1932, the first high-energy radiation therapy center in the western United States.

Several patented innovations have kept the Swedish Cancer Institute at the forefront of cancer research in the past decade, such as the CyberKnife® and Gamma Knife® -- not actually knives at all, but noninvasive radiosurgery instruments that are used to treat brain tumors and other cancers.

At the Swedish Cancer Institute, physicians understand and stress the importance of diagnosing mesothelioma accurately, pinpointing type and cell type before figuring out a treatment plan. This cancer center specializes particularly in the treatment of pleural mesothelioma, both in early stages and advanced stages.

The Swedish Cancer Institute uses a multidisciplinary treatment approach, pulling in a team of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pulmonologists and surgeons to develop a personalized treatment plan for each patient. They pay special attention to what the individual wants as well, tailoring their approach to meet patient wants and needs.

Multimodal therapy is the main treatment plan for mesothelioma patients, consisting of a combination of chemotherapy, surgery and/or radiation therapy. One focus in particular at the Swedish Cancer Institute is SMART Therapy, which means surgery for mesothelioma after radiation therapy. The cancer center also continues to research angiogenesis to learn more about how mesothelioma tumors can be prevented and removed, while also conducting mesothelioma clinical trials.

There are a variety of support resources that patients can utilize at this cancer center, including Patient Navigators, who help with coping, treatment, medication, home-health care and transportation. Patients can also try art therapy, cancer education classes, the cancer education center, cancer rehabilitation, counseling and support services, genetic counseling and testing, a knitting program, massage therapy, music therapy, meditation, naturopathic medicine and nutrition counseling.

Specializations:

• Angiogenesis research
• Early and advanced stage mesothelioma
• Malignant pleural mesothelioma
• Mesothelioma clinical trials
• SMART therapy

Accreditations:

• Commission on Cancer accredited
• Named Seattle Area’s Best Hospital

Mesothelioma Clinical Trials at Swedish Cancer Institute at Swedish Medical Center

The following clinical trials are in progress or actively recruiting participants at Swedish Cancer Institute at Swedish Medical Center:

• Nivolumab and Ipilimumab in Treating Patients With Rare Tumors

  Conditions:	Acinar Cell Carcinoma; Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma; Adrenal Cortex Carcinoma; Adrenal Gland Pheochromocytoma; Anal Canal Neuroendocrine Carcinoma; Anal Canal Undifferentiated Carcinoma; Angiosarcoma; Apocrine Neoplasm; Appendix Mucinous Adenocarcinoma; Bartholin Gland Transitional Cell Carcinoma; Basal Cell Carcinoma; Bladder Adenocarcinoma; Cervical Adenocarcinoma; Cervical Clear Cell Adenocarcinoma; Cholangiocarcinoma; Chordoma; Colorectal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Desmoid-Type Fibromatosis; Endometrial Transitional Cell Carcinoma; Endometrioid Adenocarcinoma; Esophageal Neuroendocrine Carcinoma; Esophageal Undifferentiated Carcinoma; Extrahepatic Bile Duct Carcinoma; Extramammary Paget Disease; Fallopian Tube Adenocarcinoma; Fallopian Tube Transitional Cell Carcinoma; Fibromyxoid Tumor; Gallbladder Carcinoma; Gastric Neuroendocrine Carcinoma; Gastric Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Gastric Undifferentiated Carcinoma; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor; Gestational Trophoblastic Tumor; Giant Cell Carcinoma; Intestinal Neuroendocrine Carcinoma; Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma; Lung Carcinoid Tumor; Lung Sarcomatoid Carcinoma; Major Salivary Gland Carcinoma; Malignant Odontogenic Neoplasm; Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor; Malignant Testicular Sex Cord-Stromal Tumor; Metaplastic Breast Carcinoma; Metastatic Malignant Neoplasm of Unknown Primary; Minimally Invasive Lung Adenocarcinoma; Mixed Mesodermal (Mullerian) Tumor; Mucinous Adenocarcinoma; Mucinous Cystadenocarcinoma; Nasal Cavity Adenocarcinoma; Nasal Cavity Carcinoma; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Nasopharyngeal Papillary Adenocarcinoma; Nasopharyngeal Undifferentiated Carcinoma; Oral Cavity Carcinoma; Oropharyngeal Undifferentiated Carcinoma; Ovarian Adenocarcinoma; Ovarian Clear Cell Adenocarcinoma; Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor; Ovarian Mucinous Adenocarcinoma; Ovarian Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Ovarian Transitional Cell Carcinoma; Pancreatic Acinar Cell Carcinoma; Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Carcinoma; Paraganglioma; Paranasal Sinus Adenocarcinoma; Paranasal Sinus Carcinoma; Parathyroid Gland Carcinoma; PEComa; Peritoneal Mesothelioma; Pituitary Gland Carcinoma; Placental Choriocarcinoma; Primary Peritoneal High Grade Serous Adenocarcinoma; Pseudomyxoma Peritonei; Rare Disorder; Scrotal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Seminal Vesicle Adenocarcinoma; Seminoma; Serous Cystadenocarcinoma; Small Intestinal Adenocarcinoma; Small Intestinal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Solid Neoplasm; Spindle Cell Neoplasm; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Penis; Teratoma With Somatic-Type Malignancy; Testicular Non-Seminomatous Germ Cell Tumor; Thyroid Gland Carcinoma; Tracheal Carcinoma; Transitional Cell Carcinoma; Ureter Adenocarcinoma; Ureter Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Urethral Adenocarcinoma; Urethral Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Vaginal Adenocarcinoma; Vaginal Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Not Otherwise Specified; Vulvar Carcinoma
  Last Updated:	July 18, 2019
  Status:	Recruiting

• Pemetrexed Disodium and Cisplatin With or Without Cediranib Maleate in Treating Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

  Conditions:	Epithelioid Mesothelioma; Pleural Malignant Mesothelioma; Recurrent Malignant Mesothelioma; Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
  Last Updated:	January 16, 2019
  Status:	Active, not recruiting

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