Mesothelioma surgeon at University of Arizona hopes to add years to patients’ lives
In February, thoracic surgeon Jonathan C. Daniel, MD performed a highly complex surgery on a patient that may add years to his life. James Massie didn’t have much hope. He was in the advanced stages of mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure. Although his prognosis then looked fairly grim, today Mr. Massie is living a fairly active life.
The procedure involves removing tumors and infected areas—in this case Massie’s lung—and replacing the protective tissue around the heart and the diaphragm with Gore-Tex, a material used to insulate heavy winter clothing, like gloves and coats. The operation is followed by saturation with chemotherapy inside the chest cavity to kill off any remaining tumor cells. Although there is still no recognized cure for mesothelioma, Dr. Daniel hopes that the surgery can significantly extend his patients’ lives.
For the full story, go to Tucson Citizen.
