Types of Mesothelioma Doctors

Several types of physicians typically work with those diagnosed with mesothelioma:

• Primary-care physicians.
• Pathologists.
• Medical oncologists.
• Surgeons.
• Radiation oncologists.
• Palliative-care physicians.

Primary-care physicians: A primary care physician is a doctor who can help with a variety of medical conditions. Primary care physicians provide annual physicals, exams, diagnostic care and immunizations. They can also refer patients to specialists if needed.

These physicians also teach disease prevention. They become familiar with their patients and can suggest long-term health care plans. Primary care physicians often work nearby and know the entire family.

Pathologists: Pathologists are doctors who examine the body's tissues for damage or disease. Pathologists are often involved with laboratory testing and can interpret the results of these tests, which can be critical in your diagnosis and treatment. These doctors will receive biopsies and prepare samples for examination. By examining the cells, the pathologist makes the final diagnosis. They will create a report about the examined fluids or tissues, the cells' condition and whether mesothelioma is present. They will send this document to your oncologist, surgeon and primary care physician.

Medical oncologists: A medical oncologist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The medical oncologist is the doctor with whom you will begin to make treatment decisions. He or she will refer you to surgeons or other health care providers, order scans and other tests, arrange for meetings of the entire team, and generally supervise your care. All of the other members of the team will report their results, findings and treatment plans to your medical oncologist. This is the doctor with whom you will talk most often, and who will coordinate non-medical services, such as social services, nutrition consults and psychological care, as needed.

A medical oncologist must provide detailed information, explain complex treatment choices clearly, offer hope and support, and establish a deep trust with each patient. Not only is your life in his or her hands, but the quality of your life also depends on the decisions made by your medical oncologist. When choosing a medical oncologist, medical reputation is important, but your feelings of trust, ability to communicate well with the doctor, and overall connection with the doctor are nearly as important.

Surgeons: Thoracic surgeons treat chest wall tumors, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, emphysema, gastroesophageal reflux and swallowing difficulties. They also handle lung transplants. General surgeons may also perform necessary surgeries. You should discuss who should perform your surgeries with your oncologist.

Depending on the form of mesothelioma, a surgeon may need to extract a large amount of diseased tissue. If mesothelioma has affected your chest, a thoracic surgeon may be used.

Radiation oncologists: Radiation oncologists direct the use of ionizing radiation to treat cancer. In addition to calculating the doses, these oncologists also supervise the medical physicist and radiation technicians. Radiation oncologists oversee internal radiation therapy and external radiation therapy. External radiation is supplied by a large machine, while internal radiation places small amounts of radioactive material near the cancer during surgery.

Radiation oncologists must also organize pre-treatment planning. Because radiation can kill healthy cells, the oncologist must ensure the cancer cells are being damaged without harming a significant amount of the healthy cells. They will also study the patient's past exposure in case future radiation treatment is needed.

Palliative-care physicians: Palliative care physicians specialize in improving the quality of life for those facing terminal illness. They can provide both pain relief and mental support.

A palliative-care physician oversees the team providing care to those with life-threatening illnesses. Though this care is given towards the end of a life, it is designed to make patients feel comfortable, even during treatments aiming to cure the disease. Palliative care offers support to reduce pain and suffering, regardless of whether the illness is terminal. 

If you are suffering extreme emotional stress, uncontrollable pain, trouble breathing or other severe mesothelioma symptoms and are not getting relief from your doctors, consider speaking with a palliative care physician.