Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin

More About Mesothelioma Treatment at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin

Mesothelioma is diagnosed in approximately 2,500 people in the United States each year. This type of cancer forms in the lining of specific cavities, such as the lungs and abdominal cavity.

Approximately 400 people in the United States are diagnosed each year with peritoneal mesothelioma, which is the type of mesothelioma that forms in the lining of the abdominal lining. This narrow lining encompasses the abdominal cavity and all the interior organs, such as the spleen and intestines.

Pleural mesothelioma, which is the other main type of mesothelioma, forms in the lining of the lungs. Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin Clinical Care Cancer Center has a thoracic surgeon, Dr. David Johnstone.

Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin has hosted more than 3,100 research studies and clinical trials. Recently, the institute had invested $225.3 million dollars in research and teaching.

Overview of Treatment at Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin

People can receive mesothelioma treatment at the Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin Clinical Care Cancer Center at Froedtert Hospital.

The cancer hospital is the home of the Froedtert world-renowned HIPEC surgery program for peritoneal malignancies. Dr. Callisia Clarke, a surgical oncologist, is one of the trained surgeons capable of performing HIPEC. Another is Dr. T. Clark Gamblin.

The main surgery used for pleural mesothelioma is extrapleural pneumonectomy, as the Froedtert website lists pneumonectomy as the primary surgery for this type of mesothelioma. This surgery removes the affected lung, along with the lining between the lungs and chest wall.

Experienced Mesothelioma Specialists

• Dr. David Johnstone, thoracic surgeon
• Dr. Callisia Clarke, surgical oncologist
• T. Clark Gamblin, surgical oncologist
• Dr. Ugwuji N. Maduekwe, Director of Regional Therapies Program
• Dr. Jonathan Thompson, medical oncologist
• Dr. Candice Johnstone, radiation oncologist
• Dr. Monica Shukla, radiation oncologist
• Meg Shannon-Stone, nurse practitioner
• Timothy Sie, nurse practitioner
• Trisha Wilcox, nurse practitioner

Affiliations

• Medical College of Wisconsin
• Froedtert Hospital

Treatment Specialties

• Cytoreductive surgery/HIPEC
• Extrapleural pneumonectomy surgery
• Systemic chemotherapy
• Early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC)
• Radiation therapy
• Palliative treatment
• Pleurodesis surgery to drain fluid

Connect to Medical College of Wisconsin

Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin is home to mesothelioma surgeons and other specialists for both pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma. The hospital is known for its peritoneal mesothelioma treatment, specifically use of HIPEC with cytoreductive surgery.

Why Choose Froedtert Hospital?

• HIPEC specialists on staff
• Buddy System for HIPEC patients
• One of highest-volume HIPEC centers in midwest

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Development of a HIPEC Program

Dr. Harveshp Mogal, a surgical oncologist, previously led the HIPEC program at Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin. He reported more than 250 HIPEC and cytoreductive surgeries from 2010-2017. The number has likely grown to above 300 in the years since.

HIPEC is an aggressive method of treatment for mesothelioma. The acronym stands for hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Doctors use this method of chemotherapy during cytoreductive surgery. Surgeons remove as much visible cancerous tissue as possible during surgery and bathe the abdominal cavity in heated chemotherapy liquid solution, usually a combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin.

The chemotherapy solution is heated to 106 degrees Fahrenheit and infused in the abdominal cavity for 90 minutes. This is a necessary part of peritoneal mesothelioma surgery.

Dr. Mogal is now at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, but his legacy lives on in the current HIPEC program at Froedtert.

Hospital Ranking

• Not listed in the U.S. News & World Report 2024-2025 Hospitals Honor Roll
• Ranked 3rd in Wisconsin
• Listed as high performing for cancer treatment
• Ranked 45th for gastrointestinal cancer surgery (peritoneal Mesothelioma)
• Listed as high performing for lung cancer surgery (pleural mesothelioma)

HIPEC ‘Buddy System’ to Help Patients Navigate Treatment

The cancer center developed a “Buddy System” to connect prospective HIPEC patients with someone who received the treatment previously. The purpose is to ease anxieties about what the therapy entails and provide reassurance that patients who qualify for HIPEC are receiving the best possible chance to extend their survival – and possibly beat this cancer permanently.

Mesothelioma Guide has an advocacy program for patients. Our patient guides can help you look for top cancer centers with experienced mesothelioma specialists. Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin is an excellent choice for any patients in the midwest – and elsewhere. We can help you find another cancer center meeting your requirements, if Froedtert is not the best fit.

Reach out to our patient advocates through the Mesothelioma Guide website or email Karen Ritter, our registered nurse, directly at karen@mesotheliomaguide.com. Taking this first step is the best path to receive the best treatment for mesothelioma from the top cancer hospitals in the world.

Sources & Author

1. Doctors Treating Lung Cancer. Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin. Retrieved from: https://www.froedtert.com/lung-cancer/doctors. Accessed: 05/18/2023.
2. HIPEC: Treatment for Abdominal Cancers. Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin. Retrieved from: https://www.froedtert.com/stories/hipec-treatment-abdominal-cancers. Accessed: 03/17/2022.
3. David W. Johnstone, MD. Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin. Retrieved from: https://froedtertdev002.digitalcoms.froedtert.com/doctors/david-johnstone-1366470627. Accessed: 03/17/2022.
4. Callisia N. Clarke, MD, MS, FACS, FSSO. Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin. Retrieved from: https://www.froedtert.com/doctors/callisia-clarke-1275752578. Accessed: 03/26/2022.
5. Ugwuji N. Maduekwe, MD, MMSc, MPH, FACS, FSSO. Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin. Retrieved from: https://www.froedtert.com/doctors/ugwuji-maduekwe-1184750853. Accessed: 03/17/2022.
6. Clark Gamblin, MD, MS, MBA. Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin. Retrieved from: https://www.froedtert.com/doctors/t-clark-gamblin-1033182175. Accessed: 03/26/2022.
7. Jonathan Thompson, MD, MS. Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin. Retrieved from: https://www.froedtert.com/doctors/jonathan-thompson-1093030215. Accessed: 03/17/2022.
8. Froedtert Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved from: https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/wi/froedtert-hospital-and-the-medical-college-of-wisconsin-6452115. Accessed: 07/21/2024.
9. Surgical Treatment for Lung Cancer. Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin. Retrieved from: https://www.froedtert.com/lung-cancer/treatment/surgery. Accessed: 03/26/2022.
10. Lung Cancer Treatment. Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin. Retrieved from: https://www.froedtert.com/lung-cancer. Accessed: 03/26/2022.

About the Writer, Karen Ritter, RN BSN

Karen Ritter, a registered nurse, is the lead patient advocate for Mesothelioma Guide. She has a deep passion for patient care, which includes helping patients and their families search for treatment options at the top mesothelioma cancer centers. She finds the balance between encouraging patients to receive the best treatment possible while enjoying their time with loved ones and friends. Karen is a valuable asset for patients due to her knowledge of mesothelioma, compassion for the victims of this disease and dedication to guiding patients through their treatment journey.