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4500 San Pablo Road South
Jacksonville, FL 32224 - Director of Thoracic Surgery Dr. Mathew Thomas
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Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
A mesothelioma diagnosis requires expert, specialized care. At Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, patients have access to nationally recognized specialists, advanced treatment options, and cutting-edge research. Connect with Mayo Clinic Jacksonville today to explore the best care available for mesothelioma in Florida.
About the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, provides comprehensive cancer care for mesothelioma at a facility focused on innovation and collaboration.
The Jacksonville location is connected to the Mayo Clinic’s network, which includes the Mesothelioma Specialty Group. The Florida campus is also home to a Comprehensive Cancer Center designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
“One of the reasons I love Mayo is the culture. We work together as a team. It’s not about one person. It’s about the team taking care of the patients and the needs of the patients, which comes first.”
– Dr. Mathew Thomas, mesothelioma specialist at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
Key Facts About Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
- One of only a few NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the Southeast
- Treats both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma with personalized, multidisciplinary care
- Offers access to mesothelioma clinical trials that are testing new treatments
- Provides in-home treatment for patients through its Cancer Care Beyond Walls program
Because Mayo Clinic Jacksonville offers a wide range of treatments and has many experienced doctors on staff, it’s an excellent choice for mesothelioma patients needing care in and around Florida.
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville Mesothelioma Doctors
Mayo Clinic’s Mesothelioma Specialty Group includes specialists in pulmonary medicine, thoracic surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, and supportive care. At the Jacksonville campus, several physicians specialize in mesothelioma and other thoracic (chest-related) cancers.
Notable Mayo Clinic Jacksonville mesothelioma doctors include:
- Dr. Sanjay P. Bagaria: Surgical oncologist
- Dr. Shenduo Li: Medical oncologist
- Dr. Yanyan Lou: Medical oncologist
- Dr. Rami Manochakian: Medical oncologist
- Dr. Mathew Thomas: Thoracic surgeon
These specialists meet regularly to review each case and develop a personalized mesothelioma treatment plan for every patient.
Use our Free Doctor Match to connect with mesothelioma specialists at the Jacksonville Mayo Clinic and other top cancer centers.
Mesothelioma Treatment Options at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
At Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, mesothelioma patients have access to a wide range of treatment options. Multimodal treatments are designed to both extend life expectancy and improve quality of life for mesothelioma patients.
Mesothelioma Surgery
Surgery is a key therapy for selected patients, typically those whose disease hasn’t spread and who are in good overall health. At Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, surgeons specialize in several procedures that can help remove as much cancer as possible while maintaining quality of life.
The most common surgeries for mesothelioma are:
- Pleurectomy with decortication (P/D): Removes the pleural lining of the lungs and any visible tumor growth while preserving the lung itself
- Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP): Removes the affected lung, pleura, parts of the diaphragm, and often a portion of the pericardium (heart lining)
- Cytoreductive surgery with heated chemotherapy (HIPEC): Taking out abdominal cancer tumors and then applying hot chemotherapy to kill leftover cells.
At Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, the mesothelioma team also looks at newer surgical options being used throughout the Mayo network. One example is the SMART protocol, where radiation is given before surgery to help shrink the tumor.
After surgery, many patients also receive radiation or chemotherapy to target any remaining cancer cells and lower the chance of the disease coming back.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy remains a foundational therapy for mesothelioma and can be used at various stages of the treatment process.
Chemotherapy uses powerful anti-cancer drugs to destroy rapidly dividing cells throughout the body. It helps shrink tumors, slow disease progression, and relieve symptoms in mesothelioma patients.
Because mesothelioma is often resistant to treatment, chemotherapy is sometimes combined with other options, such as immunotherapy and radiation, to increase its effectiveness.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation is used both for curative and symptom-relief purposes. In the curative setting, radiation can help destroy tumor cells after surgery while minimizing damage to healthy lung tissue.
Radiation may also be used to shrink tumors before surgery or as palliative care to reduce pain or control symptoms.
Doctors are also looking at newer, more targeted forms of radiation that can focus on the tumor without affecting as much healthy tissue. These approaches may help improve how well treatment works and make symptoms easier to manage.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is playing an increasingly important role in mesothelioma treatment, particularly for patients who cannot undergo surgery. In immunotherapy, targeted therapy medications are used to help the immune system recognize and attack tumor cells.
At Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, mesothelioma treatment plans may use immunotherapy either as maintenance therapy after initial treatment or as salvage therapy if the cancer comes back.
Palliative Care and Other Treatments
Because mesothelioma can cause pain, shortness of breath, pleural effusions, and other painful symptoms, palliative care is a key component of treatment at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville.
From the time of a mesothelioma diagnosis, supportive services aim to manage symptoms and maximize comfort.
At Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, palliative care may include:
- Nutritional support: Dietitian-guided meal plans to maintain strength, weight, and overall well-being during treatment
- Pain management: Includes nerve blocks, medications, and other types of pain control
- Physical rehabilitation: Gentle exercises to restore endurance and quality of life
- Pleurodesis or thoracentesis: Procedures to remove or prevent excess fluid buildup in the chest, making breathing easier
- Respiratory therapy: Breathing exercises and pulmonary rehabilitation to improve lung function and oxygen intake
Jacksonville Mayo Clinic’s Mesothelioma Specialty Group tailors each of these supportive therapies to fit the patient’s needs. Patients can receive palliative care at any point during mesothelioma treatment to help them feel more comfortable.
Download our Free Doctor Questions Checklist to feel more confident and informed as you plan your mesothelioma treatment.
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville Mesothelioma Patient Care
At Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, care teams focus on meeting each mesothelioma patient’s individual needs. From the first referral, the clinic works to coordinate diagnostic testing, specialist consultations, treatment planning, and supportive services so patients receive timely, comprehensive care.
In addition to treatment, patients have access to a broad range of supportive care services to help manage the physical, emotional, and practical challenges of a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Supportive care services offered at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, include:
- Diet and nutrition counseling
- Patient and family education
- Physical therapy
- Psychosocial support
- Spiritual care
- Survivorship planning
The Jacksonville Mayo Clinic also supports patient travel, lodging, and scheduling when patients come from out of town for mesothelioma treatment.
Mesothelioma Clinical Trials & Research at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
Patients at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville have access to advanced clinical trials that test new therapies and treatment combinations.
Current studies to treat mesothelioma explore:
- Immunotherapy Before Surgery: Doctors are testing whether giving the immunotherapy drugs nivolumab (Opdivo®) and ipilimumab (Yervoy®) before surgery improves survival in patients with the sarcomatoid mesothelioma cell type.
- MRTX1719 for Tumors With MTAP Deletion: This trial is testing a new experimental drug to see if it can help shrink tumors in mesothelioma patients with a specific genetic mutation known as MTAP deletion.
- Targeted Therapy With SGN-MesoC2: This study is testing a new targeted therapy to find a safe dose and see whether it can shrink or slow advanced mesothelioma.
These studies are helping doctors develop more effective therapies and improve patient outcomes nationwide.
If you’re interested in exploring treatment options or joining a clinical trial, our Free Doctor Match service can connect you with top mesothelioma specialists who fit your specific needs.
Get Connected With Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, provides specialized cancer care. Their experts work together to create personalized treatment plans that support your health and quality of life.
At Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, you can access:
- Advanced diagnosis and treatment options
- Comprehensive symptom management and support services
- Experienced mesothelioma cancer specialists
- Opportunities to explore emerging therapies when appropriate
Mesothelioma Hope can help you connect with Mayo Clinic Jacksonville and other top cancer centers.
Call (866) 608-8933 or use our Free Doctor Match to get started.
Mesothelioma Hope has no affiliation with and is not endorsed or sponsored by Mayo Clinic Jacksonville. Any contact information listed is for informational purposes only. You have the right to contact Mayo Clinic Jacksonville directly.
Written by:Jenna Tozzi, RNJenna Tozzi, RN, is the Chief Patient Care Advisor for Mesothelioma Hope. With more than 15 years of experience as an adult and pediatric oncology nurse navigator, Jenna provides exceptional guidance and support to cancer patients and their loved ones. Jenna has been featured in Oncology Nursing News and is a member of the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators & the American Nurses Association.
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