The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has hospitals and treatment centers across the country that help veterans with mesothelioma, including in Georgia. Through the VA Atlanta Healthcare System, veterans can receive treatments from top mesothelioma doctors at little to no cost.
Learn more about the VA Atlanta Healthcare System and how we can help veterans with mesothelioma access medical care.
Address
Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center
1670 Clairmont Road
Decatur, GA 30033-4004
Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Jeffrey Javidfar
About the VA Atlanta Healthcare System
The VA Atlanta Healthcare System is a network of military hospitals located in Georgia.
Its main facility is the Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center. Doctors at this medical center can treat veterans with mesothelioma.
Several of the doctors within the Atlanta VA network are thoracic surgeons, meaning they’re trained to perform surgery on cancers affecting the lungs and chest. Surgery is one of the most common treatments for pleural mesothelioma (which develops in the lung lining).
Doctors at the Atlanta VA can also use other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, to assist patients with mesothelioma.
The Mesothelioma Veterans Center can help veterans apply for military benefits so they can get treated at VA facilities. Our Patient Advocates can also connect veterans to top doctors and hospitals faster.
Find a doctor at this location who specializes in your diagnosis using our Doctor Match.
Quick Facts on the VA Atlanta Healthcare System
- Eligibility: Military service members, veterans, and family members
- Number of beds for patients: 405
- Types of treatment for mesothelioma: Surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, palliative (pain-relieving) care, clinical trials, and more
- Types of facilities: Hospitals, outpatient, and specialty care facilities
Notable VA Atlanta Medical Partnerships
Care for veterans with mesothelioma through the Atlanta VA is done in partnership with Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute.
The Winship Cancer Institute is the only hospital in Georgia that received a comprehensive cancer center designation by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
This indicates that Winship provides the highest-quality treatments possible to those facing cancer — and that veterans with mesothelioma can get the same level of care from the VA Atlanta Healthcare System.
Atlanta VA Healthcare System Mesothelioma Treatments
Doctors at Atlanta VA medical centers often use a combination of mesothelioma treatment options like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, to help patients live longer.
Learn about the different VA treatments offered for mesothelioma below.
Surgery for Mesothelioma
Patients with early-stage pleural mesothelioma may qualify for surgery, which allows thoracic surgeons at the Atlanta VA to extract all visible cancer tumors from the body. This, in turn, can help mesothelioma patients live longer.
Types of thoracic surgery used for mesothelioma include:
- Pleurectomy with decortication (P/D): Removing all cancerous tumors, the lung lining (pleura), and the lung closest to the cancer.
- Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP): Taking out the cancer and the lung lining but leaving both lungs intact.
Doctors within the VA Atlanta Healthcare System can assess your case to determine which surgery (if any) will be most effective for you.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to kill cancer cells. Standard mesothelioma chemotherapy drugs include cisplatin and pemetrexed.
Chemotherapy is often used in combination with other treatments for mesothelioma, like surgery.
Radiation
Radiation therapy can come in different forms but typically involves the use of high-intensity beams directed through the skin at a tumor and cancer cells.
Mesothelioma radiation is often used to shrink tumors before other types of treatment are used.
Our team can help you find the best mesothelioma treatments for your case. Call (877) 450-8973 now to get started.
Other Treatments
Doctors at the VA Atlanta Healthcare System offer several other treatments and health services to veterans facing mesothelioma after asbestos exposure.
These treatments include:
- Immunotherapy: These medications stimulate the immune system so it can better fight cancer. Immunotherapy is currently in use at the Atlanta VA’s partner Winship Cancer Institute.
- Palliative care: Pain-relieving treatments can be used alongside life-extending ones or as a main therapy for patients at the end of life.
- Clinical trials: These study new and possibly more effective mesothelioma treatments. It may be possible to join a clinical trial depending on availability and your diagnosis.
Patients at an Atlanta VA medical center can talk to their doctors to see if any of the treatments above could help them.
Atlanta VA Mesothelioma Specialists
Many doctors who treat mesothelioma are within the VA Atlanta Healthcare System.
Currently, Dr. Jeffrey Javidfar serves as the chief of cardiothoracic surgery for the Atlanta VA.
Additional doctors in the VA Atlanta Healthcare System include:
- Dr. Bree Eaton, radiation oncologist
- Dr. Felix G. Fernandez, thoracic surgeon
- Dr. Ticiana Leal, medical oncologist
- Dr. Tony Y. Eng, radiation oncologist
Every doctor within the Atlanta VA’s network is highly qualified, meaning you can rest assured that you’re getting the best care possible.
Many of these doctors also have the skills and experience to treat other asbestos-related diseases such as lung cancer.
Benefits of Mesothelioma Care at VA Atlanta Healthcare System
Through the Atlanta Healthcare System, veterans and their families have access to some of the best mesothelioma care options in the United States. Learn about some of the benefits of getting treated at this cancer center below.
Individualized Mesothelioma Treatment Plans
Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer, and each case is highly unique, so treatment plans for mesothelioma should be individualized for each patient.
At the Atlanta Healthcare System, veterans can work with doctors to develop a treatment plan that is specific to their needs and will best suit their wishes.
Oncology Care Specialists
Mesothelioma veterans getting treated at the Atlanta Healthcare System have access to a team of highly qualified and experienced oncologists who can help treat pleural mesothelioma.
These specialists include:
- Medical oncologists
- Radiation oncologists
- Thoracic surgeons
All of these doctors will work together to help treat a patient’s cancer based on its stage, severity, and other factors.
Low-Cost or Free Medical Care
Veterans with mesothelioma can get care at a reduced cost or for free from the VA Atlanta Healthcare System.
In many cases, veterans will find that their mesothelioma care can be mostly, if not completely, covered by VA health care.
Veterans with mesothelioma typically receive a 100% VA disability rating, meaning they pay the lowest premiums and copays for care. They also get monthly disability compensation that can help cover remaining expenses.
Further, veterans who travel to the VA Atlanta Healthcare System from far away for treatment may have their travel expenses covered or reimbursed by the VA.
Our VA-accredited attorneys can help you apply for veterans benefits so you can get the care you deserve. Get started with your VA claim now.
Help for Mesothelioma at the VA Atlanta Healthcare System
A mesothelioma diagnosis can be devastating for veterans as well as their loved ones. By getting care from doctors at the VA Atlanta Healthcare System, veterans may be able to live longer.
VA hospitals in Atlanta offer:
- Free or low-cost care to veterans with VA health care
- Many mesothelioma treatments, most notably surgery
- Mesothelioma doctors who will create custom care plans for each patient
Our on-staff patient advocates can help veterans with mesothelioma connect with top doctors, hospitals, and treatments faster.
Our team can also assist veterans in applying for VA benefits, including health care plans, so they can get care from the VA. Get a Free Veterans Packet now to see all the ways we can assist you and your family.
