Baylor Lung Institute

The Baylor College of Medicine Lung Institute is home to one of the world’s top mesothelioma cancer centers. Baylor’s Mesothelioma Treatment Center receives global recognition for its leading-edge approach to mesothelioma. This is thanks to leadership by the late Dr. David Sugarbaker, an internationally renowned thoracic surgeon and pioneer in treating malignant pleural mesothelioma.

About Baylor College of Medicine Lung Institute

The Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) Lung Institute at Baylor–St. Luke’s Medical Center is a comprehensive diagnostic and treatment center for conditions affecting the lungs and breathing.

Baylor Lung Institute specializes in diagnosing and treating mesothelioma cancer through its Mesothelioma Treatment Center, and can treat other lung-related health issues too.

Baylor Lung Institute is led by a diverse team of world-class specialized physicians, uniquely positions it as Texas’s top pulmonary oncological institution.

Baylor Lung Institute offers:

Echocardiography
Laboratory services
Nuclear medicine services
Pulmonary function testing
Radiology services

Mesothelioma treatment programming was developed by the late Dr. David Sugarbaker — a world-renowned thoracic surgical oncologist specializing in mesothelioma. During his remarkable career, Dr. Sugarbaker invented a life-extending surgery for pleural mesothelioma.

Use our Free Doctor Match to find mesothelioma specialists near you and get help scheduling an appointment.

Baylor Lung Institute Mesothelioma Treatment Center

Offering specialized diagnostic and treatment services to patients with pleural mesothelioma, Baylor’s Mesothelioma Treatment Center is recognized as one of the world’s top facilities for this rare disease.

Founded by Dr. David Sugarbaker, the Mesothelioma Treatment Center at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center is committed to providing the best possible treatment to pleural mesothelioma patients.

“If you’ve been told you have a difficult case, this is where you come.”

– Dr. David Sugarbaker, former director, Mesothelioma Treatment Center

Baylor’s mesothelioma care approach involves:

A multidisciplinary team of health care professionals, each offering their unique talents and skill sets to give patients a well-rounded and integrated treatment experience.
Specialists who are dedicated to developing tailored and personalized treatment strategies for each patient.
Mesothelioma doctors who are committed to advancing mesothelioma treatment technology through their clinical research program.

Ongoing research and investment into mesothelioma treatments is the only way for the medical community to find a cure.

The Mesothelioma Treatment Center moves us closer to this goal through its comprehensive clinical trials program that actively tests and develops new, cutting-edge mesothelioma therapies.

Patient Experience at Baylor Lung Institute

Having worked with many mesothelioma patients and families, the Mesothelioma Treatment Center team understands the heavy burden that often goes hand-in-hand with a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Patients at the Mesothelioma Treatment Center play an active role in their treatment. They also receive holistic support resources to improve each patient’s response to treatment.

Baylor Lung Institute’s comprehensive patient care teams include:

Case managers
Medical staff
Nutritionists
Physical therapists
Respiratory therapists
Social workers
Spiritual guides

The patient care team at Baylor Lung Institute works to ensure patients and their families are comfortable and involved in care every step of the way.

Baylor Lung Institute Mesothelioma Doctors

The multidisciplinary team at Baylor’s Mesothelioma Treatment Center includes national and international lung disease experts, thoracic surgeons, and pathologists.

Mesothelioma doctors at Baylor Lung Institute include:

Dr. Eugene Choi
Dr. Lorraine Cornwell
Dr. Shawn Groth
Dr. Meera Patel
Dr. Taylor Ripley
Dr. Pavan Mukesh Jhaveri
Dr. George Van Buren II

These health care professionals have diverse backgrounds, offering unique skills and experiences. By bringing such wide-ranging talent together, the team can collaboratively develop a customized treatment plan for each patient.

Treatments Offered at Baylor Lung Institute

The cutting-edge clinical and biomedical research programs at Baylor College of Medicine Lung Institute allow the facility to offer the most up-to-date and innovative mesothelioma treatment options.

“When patients first see us, importantly, we do a thorough assessment of the patient as well as the spread of the disease to see what they can tolerate and what is most appropriate for them.”

– Dr. R. Taylor Ripley, director, Mesothelioma Treatment Center

To offer such personalized treatment plans, tissues from each patient’s tumor and blood must be analyzed. This allows the mesothelioma team to evaluate the specific genes and immune markers to determine which treatments work best.

Multimodal Mesothelioma Treatment

Treatment plans at Baylor’s Mesothelioma Treatment Center usually involve multimodal therapy, combining several therapies.

Mesothelioma treatment options at Baylor Lung Institute include:

Mesothelioma surgery: Advanced surgical techniques are used to remove any visible tumors. Surgery for pleural mesothelioma will likely be either an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) or a pleurectomy with decortication (P/D).
Chemotherapy: Medicine that stops the growth of or kills cancer cells. It is usually injected into the bloodstream intravenously through the arm.
Radiation therapy: Radiotherapy uses ionizing radiation to destroy cells in a targeted area by damaging their genetic material.
Immunotherapy: A breakthrough mesothelioma treatment, using medications to help boost the body’s immune system to improve how it fights cancer.

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Mesothelioma Clinical Trials and Research at Baylor Lung Institute

Baylor College of Medicine is actively involved in clinical trials, conducting hundreds of studies allowing patients access to the most up-to-date diagnostic and treatment options.

Since it focuses on mesothelioma research and treatment, Baylor Lung Institute has a robust mesothelioma clinical trial program testing new and promising therapies.

While these clinical trials cannot guarantee a cure, many therapies can give late-stage mesothelioma patients the best hope at life-extending treatments.

Baylor currently has several mesothelioma clinical trials and is actively recruiting participants. Since clinical trials involve specific participation criteria and strict or rolling deadlines, talk with your doctor to get the most accurate information.

Getting Mesothelioma Treatment at Baylor Lung Institute

Patients treated at Baylor Lung Institute are guaranteed world-class mesothelioma treatment.

By working with a multidisciplinary team of specialists, undergoing a personalized treatment plan, and receiving support through the institute’s holistic care philosophy, patients are offered the best chance at undergoing life-extending treatment.

If you want mesothelioma treatment at the Baylor Lung Institute, call or chat with our Patient Advocates now. They are available 24/7 to review your diagnosis, answer your questions, and help match you with mesothelioma cancer treatment centers that best meet your health care goals.