- Specialty Pleural Mesothelioma
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West Los Angeles VA Medical Center
Address:11301 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90073
Telephone: (310) 267-9099 - Procedure Pleurectomy With Decortication (P/D)
Dr. Robert Cameron
Thoracic Surgeon
Dr. Robert B. Cameron is one of the world’s most renowned pleural mesothelioma specialists. He is currently practicing at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center in California. His most notable achievement is developing pleurectomy with decortication (P/D) surgery for mesothelioma. Learn more about Dr. Cameron and get our help connecting with him today.
or call (866) 608-8933
Overview
Meet Dr. Robert Cameron
Robert Cameron, M.D., has treated hundreds of pleural mesothelioma patients at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, where he has served as chief of thoracic surgery since 1998. He also founded UCLA Medical Center’s mesothelioma program and remains its director today.
He pioneered the pleurectomy with decortication (P/D) surgery, which is now widely used to treat pleural mesothelioma (cancer of the lung lining).
“The most important recommendation is that you should be seen at a mesothelioma center of excellence. That is a center that generally sees a lot of these patients on an annual basis.”
He is also a co-founder and former director of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, the first nonprofit medical organization committed to diagnosing and treating mesothelioma.
Key Facts About Dr. Robert Cameron, Mesothelioma Specialist
- Developed the pleurectomy with decortication (P/D) surgery, a less invasive alternative to the extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) that spares the lung closest to the cancer
- Has served as Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center since 1998
- Has worked as a professor of cardiothoracic surgery and surgical oncology at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine for 25+ years
- Recognized by Super Doctors® Southern California from 2011-2025
Get in touch with Dr. Robert Cameron and other top mesothelioma specialists using our Free Doctor Match service.
Dr. Robert Cameron’s Medical Background
Dr. Robert Cameron earned his bachelor’s degree in biology and medieval studies at Stanford University in 1980. From 1980 to 1984, he attended medical school at the University of Michigan and then the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).
After graduating in the top 4% of his class, Dr. Cameron completed a one-year internship in surgery at the UCLA School of Medicine and stayed on for a five-year residency in general surgery. He fulfilled this fellowship at the National Cancer Institute, an experience that ignited his passion for finding cures for rare types of cancer.
Following his UCLA residency, Dr. Cameron moved to New York to begin a two-year fellowship in thoracic surgery at Cornell University Medical Center.
In September 1994, he became Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Helen Diller Cancer Center. He then took the same role at UCLA in 1997.
Dr. Robert Cameron’s UCLA education and training helped lay the foundation for a meaningful medical career. Today, he consistently strives to extend mesothelioma survival outcomes while strongly emphasizing quality of life.
Dr. Robert B. Cameron’s Medical Specializations
Dr. Cameron is a thoracic surgeon who specializes in cancers of the lungs, lung lining (pleura), and chest wall. In addition to his experience treating mesothelioma, he also treats lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and other conditions.
Dr. Cameron is credited with inventing pleurectomy with decortication, a lung-sparing surgery for pleural mesothelioma.
Pleurectomy With Decortication
The pleurectomy with decortication (P/D) procedure was revolutionary, as it was far less invasive than previous surgeries.
P/D surgery is a two-step process that includes:
- Pleurectomy: During the pleurectomy, the surgeon opens the chest or thoracic cavity to remove the pleura.
- Decortication: The surgeon then scrapes the pleura to remove as much cancer as possible, leaving the lung fully intact.
While not all mesothelioma patients qualify for surgery, the P/D allows for sparing the lung while removing the cancer. This is a direct alternative to the previous surgical standard known as an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), which removes the entire lung.
“In the past, surgeons removed the entire lung, and some surgeons still do. But [EPP] is a surgery that’s more difficult to recover from. We’ve learned 30 years ago that it wasn’t necessary. After surgery, the patients can breathe well. They can’t tell the difference.”
The median life expectancy of patients treated with P/D is 34 months. Compare this to the median survival of untreated patients, which is about 4-12 months. In a study of 100 patients, P/D successfully eased chest pain, coughing, and shortness of breath while treating mesothelioma tumors.
In addition to surgery, Dr. Cameron recommends treatments including chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy, which boosts the patient’s immune system to identify and attack cancer cells.
Meeting with a mesothelioma specialist soon? Download our Free Checklist of Questions to Ask Your Doctor to prepare for your appointment.
Management of Pleural Mesothelioma
Dr. Robert Cameron’s philosophy of care is that once mesothelioma has been resected (surgically removed), it can be managed as a chronic disease, much like diabetes.
Although there isn’t a cure for pleural mesothelioma yet, he believes the disease can be controlled with surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiation.
“Until [we find a cure], you want to have the cancer successfully treated, and it’s not any different than diabetes. It’s a lifelong illness. You’re not cured from it — but you can be treated very successfully, and you can live a long life. The same kind of expectation should be applied to mesothelioma.”
Dr. Cameron believes ongoing maintenance therapy is the best way to keep pleural mesothelioma at bay after surgery. His research has shown that maintenance therapy can help patients live comfortably for many years in some cases.
Treatment for Veterans With Mesothelioma
Dr. Cameron has worked with the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center for over 25 years. This medical facility is the largest center in the VA health care system and is affiliated with the UCLA School of Medicine.
Under Dr. Robert Cameron’s leadership, this VA facility rivals many of the nation’s top private cancer centers for specialized treatment of mesothelioma.
If you or a loved one is a veteran with mesothelioma, you may be eligible to receive free or discounted treatment services at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center and other nearby VA hospitals.
Career Highlights for Robert Cameron, M.D.
Dr. Robert B. Cameron has held numerous positions over his 30+ year career.
These include:
- Chief of Thoracic Surgery at UCSF
- Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center
- Co-founder of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation
- Founder of UCLA’s Comprehensive Mesothelioma Program
He’s also been recognized with many awards and honors for his contributions to the field.
Awards & Honors
- ACS Fellow
- America’s Top Doctors, 2007-2022
- Checkbook Top Doc
- Super Doctors® Southern California 2011-2024
- Top Doctors, Los Angeles Magazine, 2024
Research and Publications
Dr. Robert Cameron has led or contributed to over 100 studies and journal articles in the field of oncology over the course of his career. He is also the editor of Practical Oncology, a clinical manual for cancer specialists.
His particular interest in minimally invasive and robotic thoracic surgery has led to meaningful developments in the field.
Below are some of his recent publications:
- Cameron, Robert et al. (2025). MCT1 Inhibition Enhances the Cytotoxic Effect of Pemetrexed in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer. The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Volume 392, Issue 3, 100555
- Cameron, Robert et al. (2025). High Glucose Contribution to the TCA Cycle Is a Feature of Aggressive Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer in Patients. Cancer Discovery.
- Cameron, Robert et al. (2024). Pathophysiology and Management of Chest Wall Pain after Surgical and Non-Surgical Local Therapies for Lung Cancer. JTO Clinical and Research Reports.
- Cameron, Robert et al. (2024). Commentary on “Evaluation of Major Pathologic Response and Pathologic Complete Response as Surrogate End Points for Survival in Randomized Controlled Trials of Neoadjuvant Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Resectable in NSCLC”. Journal of Thoracic Oncology.
- Cameron, Robert et al. (2023). Systematic review and meta-analysis of immune checkpoint inhibitors as single agent or in combination with chemotherapy in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer: Impact of clinicopathological factors and indirect comparison between treatment strategies. European Journal of Cancer.
Get Help Connecting With Dr. Robert Cameron
Dr. Robert Cameron is considered one of the best mesothelioma doctors in the country. Through his research and treatment methods, he has helped improve the lives of both his own patients and many others.
If you or a loved one are facing pleural mesothelioma, our team can help you:
- Find the right doctor for your diagnosis
- Understand which treatment options are available
- Help you find support groups, peer mentors, and respite care
- Pursue financial compensation to pay for treatment
Call us at (866) 608-8933 now or use our Free Doctor Match to get started.
Mesothelioma Hope has no affiliation with and is not endorsed or sponsored by Dr. Robert Cameron. Any contact information listed is for informational purposes only. You have the right to contact Dr. Robert Cameron 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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