Moores Cancer Center San Diego | Top Mesothelioma Center

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About Moores Cancer Center

Moores Cancer Center opened in 1978 as the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Cancer Center. The center got its current name in the early 2000s. Moores Cancer Center is a leading facility in the treatment of mesothelioma.

In 2001, it was granted the elite status of Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). This is the federal government’s highest rating for cancer care centers in the country.

Patients treated at NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers often have better survival and recovery rates.

In 2005, it opened a new facility to consolidate cancer research and patient care. This enabled researchers to work alongside medical experts who are focused on patient care.

Due to its relationships with local pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, MCC strongly emphasizes drug development. Another core focus is translational oncology, which transforms scientific discoveries into breakthrough cancer treatment options.

MCC is known for its excellent lung cancer program. It is also internationally recognized for using cytoreductive surgery with heated chemotherapy (HIPEC) to treat peritoneal mesothelioma and other illnesses. For these reasons and more, MCC is a top cancer treatment center for mesothelioma patients.

For more information, request a copy of our FREE Mesothelioma Guide now. Our updated guide has over 90 pages and is shipped overnight to your door.

Moores Cancer Center Location and Overview

Moores Cancer Center is located in Jacobs Medical Center at UC San Diego Health.

Here are some fast facts about Moores Cancer Center:

360 physicians and scientists from 22 departments within UC San Diego
The only NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in San Diego County
Repeatedly ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the nation’s best in cancer care and pulmonology
Conducts hundreds of trials across all types of cancers and all phases of drug development
Internationally recognized experts in performing HIPEC to treat peritoneal mesothelioma

Moores Cancer Center Patient Experience

One of the benefits of being treated at an NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center is that patients receive multidisciplinary care. This treatment approach utilizes the knowledge and expertise of multiple specialists working together.

Since 2005, the cancer specialists at MCC have all worked out of the same building, making it easier for them to compare notes, discuss patient treatment options and review patient progress.

In addition to more traditional specialties like medical oncology, surgery, radiation oncology, diagnostic imaging, and radiology, patients are also treated by psychology, nutrition, nursing, and social work specialists.

MCC’s Patient and Family Support Services program includes:

Chaplain services and spiritual care
Counseling and therapy
Diet and nutrition
Financial counseling
Groups and classes
Interpreter services
New patient guide to cancer services
Patient and Family Advisory Council
Social workers

Moores Cancer Center understands the importance of family connections for patients undergoing mesothelioma treatment. This high level of emotional support helps make MCC a top mesothelioma treatment center for many families.

Mesothelioma Program at Moores Cancer Center

At Moores Cancer Center, medical staff members are able to treat both pleural mesothelioma (which forms in the lung lining) and peritoneal mesothelioma (which forms in the abdomen lining).

The mesothelioma team at MCC includes:

Interventional radiologists
Medical oncologists
Pathologists
Pulmonologists
Radiation oncologists
Surgeons

MCC is internationally recognized for its expertise in HIPEC. This form of chemotherapy is used with surgery to treat peritoneal mesothelioma.

Moores Cancer Center performs more HIPEC procedures than any medical center in the western United States, with high patient success rates.

Because of its outstanding reputation with HIPEC, MCC is a top choice for many peritoneal mesothelioma patients.

Mesothelioma Doctors at Moores Cancer Center

The mesothelioma specialists at MCC are committed to delivering the most advanced mesothelioma treatments through customized care.

This personalized treatment approach comes from listening to patients and understanding what is most important to them.

The following doctors treat mesothelioma patients at MCC:

Dr. Joel Baumgartner
Dr. Lyudmila A. Bazhenova
Dr. Andrew Lowy
Dr. William Mitchell
Dr. Sandip Patel
Dr. Anthony Perricone
Dr. Jula Veerapong
Dr. Patricia Thistlewait

For help finding a mesothelioma doctor who is a good fit for you, try our FREE Doctor Match.

Mesothelioma Treatment Options at Moores Cancer Center

Moores Cancer Center is equipped to treat both pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma.

MCC offers the latest treatment options, like:

Surgery: Moores has thoracic oncology surgeons with expertise in removing cancers. One form of surgery that is useful for treating pleural mesothelioma is video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). In VATS, the surgeon uses a video camera to see inside the lung, so the incisions are much smaller. This improves patient recovery time. Another type of surgery is cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC, which removes all visible tumors from the peritoneum or abdomen before the surgery site is soaked in warm chemotherapy.
Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy is the standard therapy for patients with an early stage of lung cancer who cannot have surgery. It can also be used to shrink tumors before surgery and prevent tumors from returning after a patient has had surgery. Some types of radiation therapy are intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), and proton beam therapy.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy (chemo) uses drugs to kill cancer cells. One specialized form of chemotherapy that is often used to treat peritoneal mesothelioma is HIPEC. This involves circulating a warmed chemotherapy mixture in the abdominal cavity for 90 minutes before it is drained out. HIPEC is often more effective than intravenous chemotherapy and has fewer side effects.
Targeted Therapy: In targeted therapy, also known as molecularly guided therapy, specialists look at the genetic makeup of the tumors to determine if there is a genetic mutation. These mutations are then treated with specific drugs (often pills) so the patients can take them home.
Immunotherapy: This innovative treatment aims to stimulate and re-educate the body’s immune system so it attacks and destroys cancer cells. These therapies come in different forms. They could be oral medications, infusions of therapeutic antibodies, or re-infusion of cells modified to target your specific tumor.

Clinical Trials and Research at Moores Cancer Center

Research at Moores Cancer Center focuses on discovering and testing new agents for cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

There are six research programs at Moores Cancer Center:

Cancer Biology
Cancer Genes and Genome
Cancer Prevention and Control
Hematologic Malignancies (cancers that start in blood cells)
Reducing Cancer Disparities
Tumor Growth, Invasion, and Metastasis

In these programs, researchers are:

Creating new diagnostic methods
Learning new ways of preventing cancer
Re-programming the immune systems of cancer patients
Studying the genetic makeup of tumors to identify other mutations that can be treated with specific drugs

As an academic facility, hundreds of clinical trials and research studies occur at MCC. Patients interested in participating in a mesothelioma clinical trial are encouraged to speak with their oncology care providers.

Download our helpful list of questions to make sure you get the information you need.

Moores Cancer Center Insurance Information

Moores Cancer Center accepts most insurance plans and actively works with insurance providers to improve coverage on an ongoing basis.

MCC accepts plans from these health insurance carriers:

Aetna
Anthem
AXA Assistance USA PPO
BCE Emergis (through MultiPlan)
Beech Street Capp Care PPO (through MultiPlan)
Benefits Panel Service PPO
Blue Shield of California
Cigna
CMN Global (Europe Assistance – Global Corporate Solutions) PPO
Covered California
Global Excel PPO
Health Net
Health Smart Preferred PPO (Interplan)
MGM PPO
Medicare
Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal and Medicare (Dual-Eligible)
Molina Healthcare
MultiPlan PPO (PHCS)
National Health Solutions PPO
National Provider Network
Olympus Managed Healthcare PPO
Pacific Foundation for Medical Care (SD Foundation) PPO
PHCS PPO (Multiplan)
Prime Health Tennessee PPO
Quality Health Management PPO
TRICARE
TriWest
UC San Diego Student Health Insurance Plan (through Anthem)
UC Care PPO (through Anthem)
UC Core PPO (through Anthem)
UnitedHealthcare

If you do not see your insurance plan listed above, you can ask your primary care doctor for authorization. For the most accurate information on coverage, contact your health insurance provider before seeking treatment at MCC.

Seeking Treatment at Moores Cancer Center

Moores Cancer Center is one of the country’s top mesothelioma cancer treatment facilities. It is unique as patients with both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma can come to MCC and get treated.

If you would like to seek treatment at MCC, you can request an appointment online or call MCC at (800) 926-8273.

For dedicated assistance on any needs related to a mesothelioma diagnosis, connect with Mesothelioma Hope now.

Our Patient Advocates have over 45 years of combined experience helping mesothelioma patients and their loved ones. Patient Advocates are standing by 24/7 to offer personal and compassionate assistance.

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Moores Cancer Center