A Program of Hope
The IMP’s multidisciplinary team combines top-notch care with a caring and supportive environment to improve quality of life for patients and families.
AT BRIGHAM & WOMEN’S HOSPITAL • BOSTON, MA HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL TEACHING AFFILIATE
IMP’s Philosophy of Personalized Mesothelioma Treatment
The specialists at the International Mesothelioma Program bring more than 20 years of clinical and research experience into focus to achieve one goal – providing quality life extension leading to a cure. Our team includes surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, anesthesiologists, pathologists, intensivists, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, social workers, chaplains, nutritionists, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, psychologists, and other clinicians. We work together to offer world-class care, personalized to address the unique needs of every patient, in a supportive and compassionate environment.
The Thoracic Surgery Ambulatory Center
The front desk staff will greet you and ask for identification, insurance cards, and any other information you have brought with you.
Next, your vital signs will be taken by one of our medical assistants. You will be asked to take a six-minute walk, then a series of pulmonary function tests and blood work, if needed.
You will be interviewed by a physician assistant, who will review your medical record with you .
Then, your surgeon will discuss your condition with you.
If you are having surgery, you will meet with a surgical coordinator to schedule your surgery and pre-operative testing.
Common Questions About Mesothelioma Treatment
Who will my doctors be?
Clinicians, researchers, and supportive staff all work together, led by IMP Director Raphael Bueno, MD, a world-renowned mesothelioma specialist.
What kinds of treatment are available?
Options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and combined approaches that use several types of therapy (called multimodality therapy).
Besides clinical care, what other services are offered?
Our supportive staff includes a social worker, chaplains, and a program coordinator who provide emotional, spiritual, and practical help for patients and families.
How do I become a patient?
The first step is to call the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Division of Thoracic Surgery (1-617-732-5922) and ask to speak with a New Patient Coordinator.
IMP’s Latest Research
Epidemiology
by William G. Richards, PhD
The most identifiable cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos, primarily through occupational contact. The majority of epidemiologic surveys have revealed a prior exposure to asbestos in approximately 70 to 80 percent of all cases of mesothelioma. Increased mesothelioma risk has been documented among workers in asbestos mines, insulation manufacture and installation, construction, shipbuilding, railroad […]
The Role of Asbestos
by Assunta DeRienzo, PhD
In the late 19th century, asbestos fibers became more popular among manufacturers and builders because their chemical, electrical and heat resistant properties make them very useful as building and insulation material. However, asbestos fiber inhalation can lead to neoplastic diseases such as malignant mesothelioma. In the mid 1980s, most uses of asbestos have been banned […]
Clinical Trials
by William G. Richards, PhD
Clinical trials are formalized research studies for determining the safety and effectiveness of new treatments. Generally they are prospective, meaning that rules for who can participate, how the research is conducted, what data are collected and how the results are to be interpreted are specified in advance. The rules are designed to minimize predictable sources […]
IMP Stories of Survival
Dorothea Consolini
New Hartford, Connecticut
Diagnosed 2001
“I went to the hospital with no real thought of what might happen.I just knew I’d be coming back home. I was determined to move ahead and get through it.”
Sissy Hoffman
Whitemarsh Island, Georgia
Diagnosed 1996
“The IMP team has saved my life, and I hope I am able to pay it forward.”
Josephine Formica
Florida
Husband diagnosed 2009
“The IMP team is like family when you are far from home, and they even make you feel a little bit like you are at home, in a way. They seem to miraculously appear just when you need them.”
Finnbogi Olafsson
Iceland
Diagnosed 2011
“The best thing about this journey is to know how many good friends and family we have – people who were willing to do everything they could to help out.”
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