- Address 2220 Pierce Ave Nashville, TN 37232-6860
- Thoracic Surgeon Dr. Eric S. Lambright
Speak with our nurse for help contacting this cancer center
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville offers comprehensive care for mesothelioma cancer patients. Notably, doctors at Vanderbilt can treat both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma, the two most common forms of this cancer. We can help you connect with top mesothelioma doctors at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center right now.
About Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
Nashville’s Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center is a hospital treating malignant mesothelioma and a wide range of other cancers.
Founded in 1993, Vanderbilt oncologists work tirelessly to help mesothelioma patients live longer and have a higher quality of life.
Vanderbilt is a top-rated mesothelioma cancer center, ranking as the best hospital in Tennessee by U.S. News & World Report in 2024.
Key Facts on Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
- Doctors on staff can treat pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma, which account for over 90% of all cases.
- It is the only National Cancer Institute (NCI) Comprehensive Cancer Center in Tennessee that treats adults and children.
- Mesothelioma treatments offered include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and more.
- Vanderbilt supports over 350 clinical trials and employs more than 300 researchers.
If you or a loved one in Tennessee has mesothelioma, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center is a strong choice. Doctors on staff deeply care about their cancer patients and will do all they can to assist you.
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Mesothelioma Doctors
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center has a dedicated team of mesothelioma doctors providing high-quality cancer care for patients.
Dr. Deepa Magge is the Director of the Peritoneal Surface Malignancy/HIPEC Program at Vanderbilt. She and her team can perform a treatment called cytoreduction with HIPEC, which helps peritoneal mesothelioma patients live for over 4 years on average.
Dr. Eric S. Lambright is the Chair of the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Vanderbilt. His team treats pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer using surgeries. Some pleural mesothelioma patients can achieve long-term survival if they undergo surgery.
Other top Vanderbilt mesothelioma doctors and their specialties include:
- Dr. Corbin R. Johnson: Radiation oncologist
- Dr. Christine M. Lovly: Medical oncologist
- Dr. Robert F. Miller: Pulmonary and critical care specialist
- Dr. Evan C. Osmundson: Radiation oncologist
- Dr. Travis J. Osterman: Hematology/oncology specialist
- Dr. Sally J. York, MD: Hematology/oncology specialist
These specialists will work together to create the best treatment plan for mesothelioma patients.
Use our Free Doctor Match to connect with top specialists at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and around the country.
Mesothelioma Treatments at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center provides a comprehensive approach to treating mesothelioma using surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and other options.
View top mesothelioma treatment options offered at Vanderbilt below.
Mesothelioma Surgeries
Different surgeries allow doctors to remove mesothelioma tumors from the body. Surgeries are typically performed if the cancer has not spread to other areas.
Mesothelioma surgeries offered at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center include:
- Cytoreduction with heated chemotherapy (HIPEC): Used to treat peritoneal mesothelioma, this surgery involves doctors removing tumors from the abdomen through cytoreductive surgery and then bathing the site in heated chemotherapy. The average life expectancy after this treatment is 53 months.
- Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP): Surgery for pleural mesothelioma that allows doctors to remove all visible tumors, the lung closest to the cancer, and the lung lining (pleura). Patients live for 26.8 months on average when an EPP, chemotherapy, and radiation are used.
- Pleurectomy with decortication (P/D): This surgery for pleural mesothelioma is an alternative to the EPP. Doctors remove the lung lining and cancer tumors but spare the lungs. The average life expectancy after a P/D is 34 months.
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center specialists can determine if you qualify for surgery based on your type of mesothelioma, cancer stage, overall health, and other factors.
“My approach for any peritoneal surface malignancy is to be honest — but also offer hope. I have an optimistic presentation, but I am also very realistic. I want patients to prepare and do things that they want to do in their life and make sure that they get to meet their goals.”
Chemotherapy
Systemic chemotherapy can be used to shrink mesothelioma tumors. Vanderbilt-Ingram has multiple chemotherapy infusion centers for convenient access.
Immunotherapy
Mesothelioma immunotherapy helps boost the body’s immune response to cancer. Vanderbilt doctors can use immunotherapy to treat pleural mesothelioma and some cases of peritoneal mesothelioma.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams such as X-rays to target and destroy cancer cells. Vanderbilt-Ingram’s radiation oncologists use advanced imaging technology to ensure precise delivery, allowing for higher dosages while sparing healthy tissue.
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center doctors will collaborate with each other and work with the patient to come up with the most effective treatment plan possible.
Use our Free Checklist of 14 Questions to Ask Your Mesothelioma Doctor to get the answers you need about different treatments.
Support for Mesothelioma Patients at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center is dedicated to providing comprehensive mesothelioma patient care plans.
To that end, the facility offers other supportive services to patients and families facing this rare cancer.
These include:
- Financial counseling
- Lodging coordination, such as finding discounts on hotels
- Medical nutrition therapists
- Patient navigators who can help coordinate appointments
- Support groups
These different services ensure that mesothelioma patients receive the resources they need at every stage of their cancer journey.
Mesothelioma Clinical Trials & Research at Vanderbilt-Ingram
Vanderbilt-Ingram is at the forefront of cancer research. The facility offers access to mesothelioma clinical trials investigating ways to improve treatment. It also conducts studies that help doctors better understand cancer.
A 2024 study co-authored by Dr. Deepa Magge investigated if prophylactic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal surgery) was safe for patients with peritoneal mesothelioma and other cancers who also received cytoreduction with HIPEC. Dr. Magge and her colleagues found that the procedure did not pose a major threat to patients.
Also, a 2019 study from Vanderbilt researchers investigated mortality (death) rates of mesothelioma patients exposed to asbestos and low doses of radiation at their jobs. Asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma. This study ruled out the possibility of radiation increasing the risk of mesothelioma.
Interested in joining a clinical trial? Use our Free Doctor Match to connect with specialists who can help you find trials that you may qualify for.
Connect With Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center for Mesothelioma Treatment
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center is one of the few facilities in the country that offers expert care for both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma.
Doctors at Vanderbilt are ready to help you and your loved ones:
- Confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis
- Get the best cancer treatments for your case
- Receive support to navigate life with mesothelioma
Everyone on the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center staff is well-prepared to assist you and genuinely care about your well-being.
“I’ve tried to instill in my kids that if you have a position where every day you show up and try to help your fellow human being out, that’s a pretty good responsibility and a noble effort. And that’s fundamentally what we do. We show up, and we try to help people.“
Mesothelioma Hope is proud to help patients access care from top medical facilities like Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
Call (866) 608-8933 or use our Free Doctor Match now for help connecting with Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center specialists and other mesothelioma doctors near you.
Mesothelioma Hope has no affiliation with and is not endorsed or sponsored by Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Any contact information listed is for informational purposes only. You have the right to contact Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center 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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