NYU Langone Health
550 1st. Avenue, New York, New York 10016
New York University Langone Health, often shortened to NYU Langone, features a mesothelioma expert along with many other patient-first oncologists and surgeons. The mesothelioma cancer center of excellence is located in New York City and offers the Perlmutter Cancer Center.
Pleural Mesothelioma and Peritoneal Mesothelioma
NYU Langone Health
550 1st. Avenue
New York, New York
Dr. Daniel Sterman
Dr. Amie Kent
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More About Mesothelioma Treatment at NYU Langone Health
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer diagnosed in approximately 2,500 people in the United States each year. Finding a cancer center with a mesothelioma program is important for patients and their families.
NYU Langone Health Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute-designated institution. The NYU Langone website lists 34 medical professionals as capable of treating mesothelioma. These doctors’ titles include:
- Thoracic surgeon
- Medical oncologist
- Radiation oncologist
- Pulmonary medicine specialist
Dr. Harvey Pass was First Director of Thoracic Surgery at the hospital. Now retired, he directed mesothelioma care for years and performed surgeries for malignant pleural mesothelioma, which is a thoracic cancer beginning in the thin lining of the lungs. Dr. Pass is co-author of the “100 Questions & Answers About Mesothelioma” book, a valuable resource for patients, families and medical professionals.
Doctors at NYU Langone also provide treatment for people with peritoneal mesothelioma, which forms in the lining of the abdominal cavity.
The primary mesothelioma doctors at NYU Langone now are Dr. Daniel Sterman, Dr. Amie Kent, Dr. Robert Certfolio, and Dr. Laurence Spier.
- Dr. Laurence Spier, thoracic surgeon
- Dr. Travis Geraci, thoracic surgeon
- Dr. Amie Kent, thoracic surgeon
- Dr. Sally Lau, medical oncologist
- Dr. Elaine Shum, medical oncologist
- Dr. Robert Certfolio, thoracic surgeon
- Dr. Daniel Sterman, pulmonary medicine specialist
- New York University Grossman School of Medicine
- Perlmutter Cancer Center
- Pleurectomy/decortication surgery
- Extrapleural pneumonectomy surgery
- HIPEC cytoreductive surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Fluid drainage palliative surgery
Get Connected to NYU Langone Health
NYU Langone has nearly three dozen medical professionals with experience in the mesothelioma care process. Cancer centers with a large team of mesothelioma doctors usually provide the greatest benefit to patients, whether it’s for hopes of eradicating all tumors or improving comfort through palliative care.
Why Choose NYU Langone?
- Affiliated with a top medical school and multidisciplinary cancer center
- Multiple surgeons on staff with mesothelioma experience
- Protocol in place for mesothelioma to help patients know what to expect
Surgery Protocol at NYU Langone Health
One of the surgeries offered at NYU Langone is pleurectomy/decortication for pleural mesothelioma. This surgery removes the lining, along with part or all of the diaphragm and lining of the heart.
NYU Langone says only 20-30% of pleural mesothelioma cases qualify for pleurectomy/decortication. The other option for people with pleural mesothelioma is extrapleural pneumonectomy, which goes a step further and takes out the affected lung. NYU Langone’s website says chemotherapy often is given before extrapleural pneumonectomy.
The last aggressive surgery is cytoreduction with HIPEC for peritoneal mesothelioma. This surgery can take up to 12 hours and involves heated chemotherapy delivered into the abdomen after all visible tumors are removed.
Each surgery requires rehabilitation in the hospital. NYU Langone offers patients the Rusk Rehabilitation center and program for full support during rehab, including a qualified staff to help with breathing and movement exercises.
If chemotherapy is recommended through an IV, it is given in what’s called cycles. These are 21-day increments between chemotherapy treatment. NYU Langone medical oncologists usually recommend 2-4 cycles for mesothelioma.
NYU Langone Health is ranked first in the U.S. News & World Report 2024-2025 Hospitals Honor Roll for lung surgery, which can be beneficial for people diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. This type of mesothelioma forms near the lungs and often involves surgery of or near the lungs.
- Listed in the U.S. News & World Report 2024-2025 Hospitals Honor Roll
- Ranked 1st in New York City
- Ranked 17th for cancer treatment
- Ranked 5th in gastrointestinal cancer surgery (peritoneal mesothelioma)
- Ranked 1st in lung cancer surgery (pleural mesothelioma)
Involvement in Mesothelioma Research
NYU Langone’s research efforts focus around mesothelioma biopsy practices. Diagnosing mesothelioma requires multiple tests, which usually happen after monitoring early symptoms.
The hospital’s Thoracic Oncology Research Program is a National Cancer Institute-designated Biomarker Discovery Laboratory. Biomarkers are the central focus of diagnosing and staging cancers like mesothelioma.
Doctors at NYU Langone are examining proteins in the blood to identify mesothelioma earlier among those exposed to asbestos. Most people aren’t diagnosed for at least 20 years after exposure. If this time can be shortened, it improves the chances of early treatment and prolonged survival.
How to Begin Treatment at NYU Langone
New York University Langone Health has a premier cancer center and staff to welcome mesothelioma patients and families. Before contacting the hospital’s main line, reach out to a patient advocate. They’ll help you with scheduling a consultation and offer guidance for treatment options.
Our lead patient advocate, Karen Ritter, is available to help you or a loved one. Email her at karen@mesotheliomaguide.com for direct communication, or ask for our cancer center recommendations by filling out a form.
Sources & Author
- Surgery for Malignant Mesothelioma. NYU Langone Health. Retrieved from: https://nyulangone.org/conditions/malignant-mesothelioma/treatments/surgery-for-malignant-mesothelioma. Accessed: 02/04/2022.
- NYU Langone Hospitals. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved from: https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/ny/nyu-langone-medical-center-6212925. Accessed: 07/21/2024.
- Doctors Who Treat Malignant Mesothelioma. NYU Langone Health. Retrieved from: https://nyulangone.org/conditions/malignant-mesothelioma/doctors. Accessed: 02/08/2022.
- Support for Malignant Mesothelioma. NYU Langone Health. Retrieved from: https://nyulangone.org/conditions/malignant-mesothelioma/support. Accessed: 02/08/2022.
- Diagnosing Malignant Mesothelioma. NYU Langone Health. Retrieved from: https://nyulangone.org/conditions/malignant-mesothelioma/diagnosis. Accessed: 02/08/2022.
- Chemotherapy for Malignant Mesothelioma. NYU Langone Health. Retrieved from: https://nyulangone.org/conditions/malignant-mesothelioma/treatments/chemotherapy-for-malignant-mesothelioma. Accessed: 02/08/2022.
