West Los Angeles VA Medical Center

West Los Angeles VA Medical Center treats U.S. military veterans with mesothelioma from across the country. This medical center’s mesothelioma program is run by Dr. Robert B. Cameron, a world-renowned cancer specialist who invented pleural mesothelioma surgery that does not require the removal of your lung.

About the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center

The West Los Angeles VA Medical Center is a top treatment center for military veterans with mesothelioma. U.S. veterans with health care from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can come here to get treated for pleural mesothelioma.

The West Los Angeles VA Medical Center is part of the VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System (VAGLAHS). As one of the VA’s largest medical facilities, VAGLAHS serves more than 1.4 million veterans in Los Angeles, Ventura, Kern, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties.

Here are some things to know about the West Los Angeles VA:

The mesothelioma program is run by Dr. Robert Cameron, creator of a crucial lung-sparing mesothelioma surgery called pleurectomy with decortication (P/D).
Mesothelioma patients typically receive multimodal treatment that includes long-term maintenance to minimize recurrence (when cancer returns).
Treatments include surgery, immunotherapy, cryotherapy (freeze therapy), chemotherapy, radiation, and more.

Eligibility to be treated at this VA hospital is open to any veteran with mesothelioma. You do not need to live in the Los Angeles area.

Request a Free Mesothelioma Guide for more information on veterans’ support, treatment options, locating top cancer treatment centers, and more.

U.S. Military Veterans and Mesothelioma

The VA has invested in developing one of the nation’s top mesothelioma treatment programs at the West Los Angeles VA. This is because one-third of mesothelioma patients are veterans.

A comprehensive and highly specialized mesothelioma treatment program within the VA health care system gives veterans with mesothelioma access to high-quality, affordable health care.

“I’m just happy every morning. It’s a great feeling to know that, hey, I’m still kicking around.”

— Phillip, 9+ year mesothelioma survivor treated at West Los Angeles VA

While not all veterans seek mesothelioma treatment through the VA, the option to do so is a major advantage for many.

Mesothelioma Specialists at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center

Patients treated at the West Los Angeles VA have the advantage of access to Dr. Robert B. Cameron — one of the top mesothelioma specialists treating military veterans at VA hospitals. He is the head of the Mesothelioma Program at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center.

Dr. Cameron has been treating pleural mesothelioma patients for over 20 years and developed the P/D surgery to treat patients without removing a lung. This allows patients to recover in less time than if a lung was removed and comes with a lower risk of complications. He’s performed this surgery hundreds of times on mesothelioma patients.

“In the past, surgeons removed the entire lung and some surgeons still do. But it’s a surgery that’s more difficult to recover from. We’ve learned 30 years ago that it wasn’t necessary.”

– Dr. Robert Cameron, mesothelioma specialist

In addition, Dr. Cameron has written or co-authored more than 35 peer-reviewed papers in oncology, thoracic surgery, and other related subjects, making him an authority in mesothelioma treatment and research.

Use our Free Doctor Match now for help finding the best mesothelioma specialist for you and your family.

Mesothelioma Treatment at West Los Angeles VA Medical Center

The West Los Angeles VA Medical Center can use a variety of mesothelioma treatments to help patients live longer.

Mesothelioma treatments used at the West Los Angeles VA include:

Pleurectomy with decortication (P/D): In this lung-sparing surgery, the lung’s lining is removed to eliminate tumors. This allows doctors to remove as much cancer as possible while keeping the patient’s lungs intact.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells by circulating them through the blood.
Cryoablation: In cryoablation, the cancer is frozen with a gas pumped through a tiny needle called a cryoprobe. This freezing process kills the cancer cells.
Immunotherapy: With immunotherapy, a patient is given specialized drugs to stimulate the body’s immune system so it can kill cancer cells. Immunotherapy shows the immune system how to recognize cancer cells and teaches the body how to fight them.
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT): In IMRT, a computer is used to control X-ray accelerators to give a high-level dosage of radiation directly to the tumor while minimizing the damage to surrounding tissues.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT): SBRT, also known as radiosurgery, happens over a relatively short period (less than two weeks instead of 6-8 weeks like many other radiotherapies). Using the Novalis Tx image-guided system, the patient is given a highly concentrated dose of radiation via image-guided localization to kill the tumor without severely damaging the healthy organs.
Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS): To determine which cell type a patient has (which can impact treatment options), a surgeon will remove a small part of the diseased lung through 3 small incisions.

West Los Angeles VA Medical Center can treat any mesothelioma cell type, including the typically hard-to-treat sarcomatoid mesothelioma.

In addition, as part of the patient’s long-term support, they will be seen for follow-up visits every 3-6 months. They will receive regular CT scans so their medical team can catch the cancer’s return as early as possible.

Veterans get the highest-quality care possible thanks to these treatment options and support.

Getting Mesothelioma Treatment at West Los Angeles VA Medical Center

Veterans seeking mesothelioma treatment at West Los Angeles VA Medical Center don’t need to worry if they live outside of California.

The mesothelioma program accepts veterans from across the country due to the specialized nature of the disease. However, veterans need to be enrolled in the VA health care system, which doesn’t always happen automatically.

To receive help through this process, contact our Patient Advocates. They can answer your questions and work with you to pursue VA benefits.