VA Puget Sound Health Care System

About VA Puget Sound

The Puget Sound VA Hospital treats veterans with mesothelioma living in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, and other nearby areas of the Pacific Northwest.

This VA health care system is accredited by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) and has a total of 10 locations throughout Puget Sound and the Pacific Northwest, including two main hospitals in Tacoma and Seattle.

Around 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma every year, and one-third of those diagnosed are military veterans. For this reason, it’s critical that veterans all over the U.S. have access to doctors and surgeons experienced in treating mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cancers.

Veterans in Washington can find top mesothelioma doctors through the VA Puget Sound Health Care System.

“Our health care teams are deeply experienced and guided by the needs of Veterans, their families, and caregivers.”
– VA Puget Sound Health Care System

The Puget Sound VA also partners with the University of Washington School of Medicine to train future doctors on how to treat mesothelioma cancer.

Get our Free Mesothelioma Guide to learn more about the link between military service, asbestos exposure, and mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Treatments Available at VA Puget Sound

Mesothelioma care at VA Puget Sound Health Care System is personalized to each patient and may include the following treatment options.

Surgery

Mesothelioma surgery involves the removal of tumors or other cancerous tissues. It’s often combined with other treatments for best results.

Surgical procedures available at VA Puget Sound include:

• Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP)
• Pleurectomy with decortication (P/D)

Both of these surgeries have been proven to increase the life expectancy of patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma (cancer of the lung lining).

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is one of the most common treatments for mesothelioma and involves fighting cancer with powerful drugs that are administered either orally or through an IV (intravenously).

Mesothelioma chemotherapy can be used as a standalone treatment, but it’s often combined with surgery and immunotherapy to be more effective.

Common chemotherapy medications for mesothelioma include pemetrexed and cisplatin.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy strengthens the body’s natural defense system to better identify and attack cancer cells.

The two immunotherapy drugs Opdivo® and Yervoy® have been approved to treat patients with pleural mesothelioma.

Radiation

Radiation therapy is used in a similar way as chemotherapy since it’s often administered before surgery to shrink tumors or after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells.

Instead of pumping powerful cancer-fighting drugs throughout the body, radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation beams and typically has fewer side effects than chemotherapy as a result.

Clinical Trials

VA Puget Sound also has the fourth-largest VA research and development program in the country. Eligible veterans interested in accessing new treatments can participate in clinical trials conducted at the two main Puget Sound VA hospitals in Seattle and American Lake.

Mesothelioma Doctors and Patient Care Team

As one of the top VA treatment centers for mesothelioma, the VA Puget Sound Health Care System is home to several board-certified oncologists (cancer doctors) and surgeons.

Dr. Kathleen S. Berfield is the Chief of Thoracic Surgery and oversees the treatment of pleural mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other diseases of the chest.

Other Puget Sound VA mesothelioma specialists include radiation oncologist Dr. Tony Quang and thoracic oncologist Dr. Aaron M. Cheng.

The mesothelioma care team also includes:

• Case managers
• Mental health professionals
• Nurses
• Psychologists
• Social workers
• Spiritual advisors

The mesothelioma care team at VA Puget Sound Health Care System works hard to ensure all veterans and their families are comfortable and supported at every step of the treatment process.

Download our Free Questions to Ask Your Doctor Checklist to help you prepare for conversations with your medical team about treatment.

VA Puget Sound Health Care System Locations

There are two main VA hospital locations in Puget Sound:

American Lake VA Medical Center
9600 Veterans Drive Southwest
Tacoma, WA 98493
(800) 329-8387

Seattle VA Medical Center
1660 South Columbian Way
Seattle, WA 98108
(800) 329-8387

These facilities are also referred to as the American Lake Division and the Seattle Division, respectively.

VA Puget Sound Health Care Clinics

In addition to the two main Puget Sound VA hospital locations, there are several smaller VA clinics that offer primary care, physical therapy, medications, and other services.

Clinics can be found in the following Washington cities:

• Edmonds
• Everett
• Mount Vernon
• Olympia
• Port Angeles
• Puyallup
• Silverdale

Patient Care Philosophy

The mesothelioma care approach at VA Puget Sound Health Care System is designed to help patients at every step of their journey, from the initial diagnosis through treatment and recovery.

Individualized Treatment

Every mesothelioma patient is unique with their own individual story and care needs. With this in mind, mesothelioma patients at VA Puget Sound Health Care System are given individualized treatment plans.

Each person’s treatment plan is developed based on their age, overall health, the type and stage of their mesothelioma, their comfort level, and other key factors.

“VA Puget Sound has a reputation for excellence, innovation and extraordinary care for veterans — our nation’s heroes.”
– VA Puget Sound Health Care System

Compassionate Support

Mesothelioma care at VA Puget Sound is both integrative and supportive, no matter how far advanced a patient’s cancer is.

In addition to life-extending treatments, VA Puget Sound offers palliative care to help patients manage their symptoms and enjoy a better quality of life.

It also provides services like:

• Acupuncture for natural pain management
• Caregiver support
• Meditation and mindfulness training
• Yoga, tai chi, and qi gong classes

Get Mesothelioma Treatment at VA Puget Sound

Every veteran with mesothelioma deserves the best treatment and cancer care available. Regardless of the type of care you or your loved one may need, it may be available within the VA Puget Sound Health Care System.

VA Puget Sound works closely with Veteran Service Organization (VSO) partners and briefs VSO representatives on changes that affect veterans’ benefits and medical care.

Mesothelioma Hope can help connect you with mesothelioma specialists at this VA hospital and other top treatment centers in your area.

Give us a call now at (866) 608-8933 or fill out our contact form to get started.