Swedish Cancer Institute
1221 Madison St., Seattle, Washington 98104
Swedish Cancer Institute is a top mesothelioma cancer center in the Pacific Northwest. It’s part of the Swedish Health Services network and welcomes people with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Pleural Mesothelioma
Swedish Cancer Institute
1221 Madison St.
Seattle, Washington
Dr. Adam Bograd
Dr. Eric Vallieres
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More About Mesothelioma Treatment at Swedish Cancer Center
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that forms in the lining of the lungs, abdominal cavity or heart and can spread quickly to vital organs. Finding specialized treatment is important for patients.
Swedish Cancer Institute, located in Seattle, Washington, has a program for mesothelioma treatment. This is important for people in the northwest searching for medical care to possibly defeat this cancer. This cancer center is part of Swedish Health Services, which is at times referred to simply as “Swedish.”
The focus is malignant pleural mesothelioma, with two thoracic surgeons as specialists for this rare cancer. Dr. Adam Bograd is a leading thoracic surgeon and Dr. Eric Vallieres is head of thoracic surgical oncology at the Swedish Cancer Institute.
Both surgeons perform surgery for mesothelioma. They see around a dozen cases of mesothelioma each year. Approximately half are operable.
“My goal is to have a well-rounded program here. We’re not going to open 50 trials but I want a well-rounded program that has care for any type of patient,” Dr. Bograd said of the Swedish Cancer Institute, noting he wants to help both surgery and non-surgery cases, provide neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment, and ensure he and the team are considering all levels of care.
- Dr. Eric Vallieres, head of thoracic surgical oncology
- Dr. Adam Bograd, thoracic surgeon
- Dr. Sara Grethlein, medical oncologist
- Dr. Vivek Mehta, radiation oncologist
- Swedish Medical Services
- Pleurectomy/decortication surgery
- Extrapleural pneumonectomy surgery
- Immunotherapy
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy (IMRT)
- Tumor treating fields therapy
Get Connected to Swedish Cancer Institute
Patients can easily connect with the doctors at the Swedish Cancer Institute. This center is based in Seattle, Washington, which is located conveniently for anyone in the Pacific Northwest. Two specialists work at this hospital and can perform surgery.
Why Choose Swedish Cancer Institute?
- Two specialists on staff for surgery consultations
- Clinical trial with radiation after surgery
- Multiple therapy options for unresectable cases
Protocol for Performing Surgery
Dr. Bograd is becoming the leader of the Swedish Cancer Institute’s thoracic program. He’s experienced in pleurectomy/decortication surgery and extrapleural pneumonectomy surgery. Extrapleural pneumonectomy removes a lung while pleurectomy/decortication does not.
He prefers extended pleurectomy/decortication for pleural mesothelioma. This operation removes the pleural lining, plus the diaphragm and pericardium if needed. The diaphragm is frequently removed, at least in part, while the pericardium can be spared for some cases.
“I don’t remove something just to remove it,” Dr. Bograd said. “I don’t believe in that. You take out the disease that you see.”
Testing IMRT After Surgery
Adjuvant treatment may include chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Swedish Cancer Institute is hosting an innovative clinical trial using radiation therapy after P/D surgery. Dr. Bograd said the cancer center has one patient already enrolled in the trial and might get a second one.
“You can’t get a complete resection for mesothelioma,” Dr. Bograd said, commenting on how even surgery doesn’t cure the disease entirely. “You still have to find a way to sterilize the disease that’s remaining.”
This is where radiation therapy comes in. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) can irradiate any tumors not removed from pleurectomy/decortication. Dr. Bograd and the Swedish Cancer Institute team use IMRT on the same side of the chest as P/D is performed.
- Not listed in the U.S. News & World Report 2024-2025 Hospitals Honor Roll
- Ranked as a top center in Seattle
Belief in Immunotherapy
Dr. Bograd said immunotherapy is “where everything is going” for mesothelioma treatment — and care for other cancers.
“I think that’s what the data shows,” he said.
There are three cell types of mesothelioma: epithelioid; sarcomatoid; and biphasic. Epithelioid mesothelioma is the easiest to treat and sarcomatoid mesothelioma is the hardest to treat. Biphasic mesothelioma is a mixture of epithelioid cells and sarcomatoid cells.
The Swedish Cancer Institute team doesn’t operate on people with the sarcomatoid mesothelioma cell type but will consider biphasic cases depending on the pathology report. If the pathology report notes the cancer has mostly epithelioid cells, then resection is the best option.
For sarcomatoid mesothelioma cell type cases, immunotherapy seems like the best option. Dr. Bograd mentioned a recent study reporting a nearly double in survival average:
- 17 months with immunotherapy
- 9 months with chemotherapy
Importance of Finding a Specialist for Care
Dr. Bograd strongly believes in relying on a mesothelioma specialist for treatment. Many patients go to a local oncologist and don’t receive the surgical consultation they should get. These oncologists, who aren’t experienced with mesothelioma cases, aren’t qualified to make decisions about treatment.
“I think there are a lot of cases where the patient cannot have surgery, but there are also a lot where they could have surgery,” Dr. Bograd said. “I think these patients should be referred to a specialist. I don’t think they should have their treatment plan determined by someone who sees one case a year.”
We can help you find the specialist you need for treatment. Our registered nurse, Karen Ritter, is a patient advocate for people affected by mesothelioma. She works with patients, families and doctors to provide avenues to medical care from the top mesothelioma cancer cancers.
She can put you in contact with the team at the Swedish Cancer Institute. Email Karen at karen@mesotheliomaguide.com. You can also request her recommendations for cancer centers by clicking the link and filling out the form with your diagnosis information.
Sources & Author
- Adam J. Bograd, M.D. Swedish. Retrieved from: https://www.swedish.org/doctors/thoracic-surgery/wa/seattle/adam-bograd-1245406909. Accessed: 08/02/2023.
- Sara J. Grethlein, M.D., MBA, FACP. Swedish. Retrieved from: https://www.swedish.org/doctors/hematology-oncology/wa/seattle/sara-grethlein-1326083445. Accessed: 08/02/2023.
- Eric Vallieres, M.D. Swedish. Retrieved from: https://www.swedish.org/doctors/thoracic-surgical-oncology/wa/seattle/eric-vallieres-1881750743. Accessed: 08/02/2023.
- Swedish Medical Center-Cherry Hill. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved from: https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/wa/swedish-medical-center-cherry-hill-6910680. Accessed: 07/25/2024.
