Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

About Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Clinic is based at the University of Miami. As the only university-based cancer center in South Florida, it receives thousands of patients from around the state. It’s also highly recognized around the country and internationally for its groundbreaking cancer treatment and compassionate care.

Sylvester’s message to patients is “No one is more prepared to fight your cancer.” Its team of over 300 cancer-focused physicians and researchers work to discover new and effective treatment options to deliver to patients.

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center focuses entirely on cancer patients. As a university hospital, Sylvester has the resources and equipment to conduct innovative research and offer leading clinical trials.

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Location and Overview

The following highlights make Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center a top choice for mesothelioma treatment:

Journal of the American Medical Association “Elite Cancer Centre”
More treatment options and clinical trials than most southeastern U.S. hospitals
State-of-the-art treatments like robotic video-assisted surgery
Patients are treated by physicians who specialize in mesothelioma
Targeted, multidisciplinary mesothelioma treatment tailored to each patient

The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center is located at:

1475 N.W. 12th Avenue
Miami, FL 33136
305-243-1000

Sylvester also has 6 satellite facilities located within 35 miles of the main center in nearby Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

Sylvester at Coral Gables, The Lennar Foundation Medical Center
5555 Ponce de Leon Boulevard
Coral Gables, FL 33146
305-689-5555
Sylvester at Kendall
8932 SW 97 Avenue
Miami, FL 33176
305-270-3400
Sylvester at Plantation
Crossroads Business Park
8100 SW 10th Street, Building 3
Plantation, FL 33324
954-210-1000
Sylvester at Deerfield Beach
1192 East Newport Center Drive
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
954-571-0111
Sylvester at Hollywood
Presidential Circle
3850 Hollywood Blvd, Suite 1B
Hollywood, FL 33021
954-874-9170
Sylvester at Coral Springs
8170 Royal Palm Blvd
1st Floor
Coral Springs, FL
954-755-1904

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Patient Experience

Sylvester aims to create a streamlined and compassionate treatment plan. Patients who visit Sylvester first meet a Cancer Care Coordinator who answers questions and explains the next steps. They then organize the treatment process and act as a continuous contact while the patient meets other healthcare professionals at Sylvester.

Each case is different, but patients may work with some of the following specialists:

Medical oncologists
Surgical oncologists
Radiologists
Nurse practitioners
Researchers
Support staff (nutritionists, pharmacists, and others)

The Courtelis Center for Psychosocial Oncology at Sylvester helps patients and their families cope with mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment. It offers several services, including support groups that meet regularly.

Patients traveling to Sylvester by car receive a discounted valet parking rate. Or they can park in a nearby parking garage and ride the free shuttle to the hospital. Different shuttles operate on other routes and are available to patients and their families for a reasonable cost.

Mesothelioma Program

Mesothelioma patients at Sylvester receive integrated care before, during, and after treatment from a variety of specialized physicians. At every step, Sylvester values the patient’s physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs.

Most physicians assigned to patients at Sylvester are site disease group-based. This means only those who specialize or have in-depth knowledge of mesothelioma are involved in treatment and care. Depending on the type of mesothelioma, patients will likely work with thoracic or GI specialists.

Mesothelioma Doctors

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Centers’ mesothelioma program currently includes the following doctors:

Dr. Barry Berman, M.D.
Dr. Roberto A. Cano, M.D.
Dr. Mauricio Ramiro Escobar, M.D.
Dr. Laura Michelle Freedman, M.D.
Dr. Chukwuemeka Venatius Ikpeazu, Sr., M.D., Ph.D., MBA, FACP
Dr. Mohammad Jahanzeb, M.D.
Dr. Alan S. Livingstone, M.D.
Dr. Gilberto Lopes, M.D.
Dr. Jorge Antunez de Mayolo, M.D.
Dr. Mecker Moller, M.D.
Dr. Raja Mudad, M.D.
Dr. Neil Nagovski, M.D.
Dr. Dao M. Nguyen, M.D.
Dr. Alan Dal Pra, M.D.
Dr. Steven E. Rodgers, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Frances Valdes, M.D.
Dr. Luis Villa, M.D.
Dr. Nestor R. Villamizar, M.D.
Dr. Steven Weiss, M.D.
Dr. Israel Wiznitzer, M.D.
Dr. Danny Yakoub, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Raphael Yechieli, M.D.

Mesothelioma Treatment Options

Patients at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center receive treatment individualized to their specific case. In many cases, the treatment plan involves a multimodal approach using more than one treatment.

Mesothelioma patients at Sylvester may receive one or more of the following treatments:

Surgery: Pleural mesothelioma surgeries including extrapleural pneumonectomy and the lung-saving pleurectomy with decortication. Robotic video-assistance is often used to decrease blood loss and speed recovery.
Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC): For the treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma using heated chemotherapy applied to the abdominal cavity, often paired with cytoreduction surgery to remove tumors and cancerous tissue. Sylvester pioneered HIPEC in South Florida.
Radiation: Oncologists use targeted radiation to deliver precision treatment in less time. Sylvester is one of only 5 hospitals in the US to use ViewRay MRI-guided radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy: For patients with early-stage mesothelioma, chemotherapy is often used in conjunction with surgery to reduce recurrence. For later-stage mesothelioma, chemotherapy is used to ease symptoms and enhance quality of life.
Supportive Care: Sylvester’s comprehensive treatment plans offer a wide range of supplementary care and support services, including nutrition, exercise, mental well being, pet therapy, and services for family members.

Treatment Update

Optune Lua™ treatment now offered at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

Clinical Trials and Research

Specialists at Sylvester are currently conducting over 200 clinical cancer trials and research initiatives. These projects aim to advance care in cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life. Some clinical trials are open to patients as an alternative treatment option.

An important mesothelioma clinical trial is currently underway at Sylvester. The trial is testing whether adding a protein drug to chemotherapy helps to slow down or even kill cancer cells. The trial is open to pleural mesothelioma patients who are not eligible to receive surgery.

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Insurance Information

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center accepts all major traditional insurance providers. It works with Medicare, Medicaid, CHAMPUS, and Workers Compensation, as well as several health organizations. To confirm insurance acceptance, check with your provider or call Sylvester at 305-243-1000.

Some insurance plans accepted at Sylvester include:

Aetna
Amerigroup
Argus Vision
AvMed
AXIS
BCBS
Beacon Health
Beech Street
Broward Health Medical Center
CarePlus
Catholic Hospice
Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office
Cigna
Clear Health Alliance
CompCare
Concordia Behavioral Health
CorVel
Coventry
DIKLA
Dimension
EHN PPO
EQUIAN
Europ Assistance/Global Corporate Solutions
FCCI WC
Florida Healthcare Plan
Florida PACE (FPC)
Freedom Health Medicaid HMO
Gallagher Bassett WC (MDCPS & FCSRMC)
Global Excel Mgt PPO
Global Health Claims Services
Great West (Cigna) HMO/POS
Guardian Life PPO
HAA Preferred Partners
Health First Health
Health Net Veterans Choice HMO
Heritage Summit Healthcare WC
Humana
iCare Health Solutions
Interlink Health Services
International Kids Fund
League Medical Concepts Federal Inmates
LifeTrac
Magellan
MDAbroad
Medica Medicare
Medical Development In’t (MDI)-Federal Inmates
Medicus
Metlife
MHNet
Molina
Morgan White International
MultiPlan
Naphcare
National Healthcare Solutions Inc.
Neighborhood Health Plan
North Broward Hospital District
Olympus Managed Healthcare
Optum
Positive Healthcare
Prestige Health Choice
Prime Health Services
Quality Health Management
Religious Order of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Rockport Healthcare Group
Royal Caribbean Cruises
Sanus Health Corporation
Simply Healthcare Medicaid
Start Healthcare Network
Sunshine
Tricare South Prime
UnitedHealthcare
University of Miami Athletic Dept
VUMI
Wellcare/Staywell
Wexford Health State Inmates
Worldwide Managed Care

Sylvester provides financial assistance to patients who meet eligibility and documentation requirements. Patients can read the hospital’s financial assistance policy for more information. For foreign patients, UHealth International provides financial and planning assistance for receiving care at Sylvester. It also lists the steps required before traveling for treatment.

Seeking Treatment at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

If you or a loved one are interested in seeking treatment at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, contact our Patient Advocates today for further information.

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