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MESOTHELIOMA SPECIALIST SPOTLIGHT: DR. ABRAHAM LEBENTHAL

dr. abraham lebenthal mesotheliomaDr. Abraham Lebenthal is a thoracic surgeon who specializes in caring for veterans who have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma. He has a mesothelioma practice at both the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Boston VA Hospital. He is an active member of the International Mesothelioma Program (IMP). He splits his time evenly between these 2 leading Harvard teaching institutions. Dr. Lebenthal is currently interim chief of thoracic surgery and is the director of the Mesothelioma Program at the Boston VA Hospital.

Dr. Lebenthal went to medical school in Israel where he received his medical degree at Hadassah Medical School in 1993. He then served as a medical officer in the Israeli Army (light infantry and special forces). He completed his residency at Hadessah Elin Karem Hebrew University Hospital, in 2003. Avi completed a four-year fellowship of cardiothoracic surgery and minimally invasive thoracic surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Upon completion of fellowship, he spent 2-1/2 years at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. There he built a mesothelioma center. In 2010, Dr. Lebenthal was recruited back to Boston by his mentor Dr. David J. Sugarbaker, a giant in the field of mesothelioma, in order to establish a national mesothelioma program within the VA network.

Dr. Lebenthal prefers to be addressed by his nickname ‘Avi’ because he wants to break down barriers. He is one of only a few surgeons will offer radical cytoreductive surgery for mesothelioma within the VA network. One of his many passions has been taking care of the Mesothelioma patients who are veterans. Dr. Lebenthal prior military service helps him identify with other veterans who have also served their country and now seek his care. He believes that since military veterans make up 30% of the Mesothelioma population it would be inconceivable if great care for this ‘service connected disease’ was not offered within the VA network.Thus he built a program at the Boston VA which is unique within the VA system. Utilizing the network, veterans from all over the country travel and receive expert care not available elsewhere. Frequently travel and housing is covered by the VA. Patients initially undergo ‘phone triage’. He personally screens veterans with mesothelioma by phone and then reviews imaging and pathology slides, prior to bringing them to Boston for surgical evaluation. He is committed to his patients and their families. He has been known to spend endless amounts of time with patients whether it be face to face or giving his cell phone number so his patients can reach him any time of day. His commitment and dedication to veterans with mesothelioma has enabled him to build a national program within the VA network. At the VA, he has treated patients from the majority of the 50 states including Alaska, Hawaii and even Europe. Dr. Lebenthal is currently in the process of opening a number of clinical trials that will give veterans better access to cutting edge medical therapy.

Mesothelioma care is a team support, not a one man show. The Brigham and Women’s Hospital as well as the Boston VA have a proven track record, tackling this challenge.

Dr. Lebenthal is humble and realizes he is one portion of the medical team and realizes what a Mesothelioma center has to offer.

Dr. Lebenthal’s resume and experience are very impressive, but the attribute that patients and families and other members of the team associate with him is his passion. He is passionate about his patients and taking the best possible care of them. The mesothelioma community is fortunate that an experienced surgeon is leading the charge in taking care of our veterans.
 

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Did You Know?

  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The highest award of compensatory damages ever upheld on appeal in a mesothelioma case is $30.3 million.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The largest punitive damages verdict ever upheld on appeal in a mesothelioma case is $18 million.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds to compensate victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are more than 50 bankruptcy trusts accepting claims to compensate victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are many “asbestos dockets” that permit living mesothelioma patients to obtain a jury verdict in less than 1 year.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    In 2015, more than 2000 mesothelioma cases were filed in the United States.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    In some mesothelioma cases, settlements can be obtained in less than 1 year.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Thousands of different companies have been defendants in mesothelioma cases over the past 40 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 77 peritoneal mesothelioma cases, the average life expectancy (median survival period) was 75.7 months, or over 6 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 77 peritoneal mesothelioma patients, 73.8% were living after 3 years, and 65.3% were living after 5 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 77 peritoneal mesothelioma patients, 64% were treated with HIPEC and cytoreductive surgery.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 303 pleural mesothelioma patients, the average life expectancy (median survival period) was 18.4 months.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of pleural mesothelioma patients, 73.1% were still living after 1 year, and 22.9% were still living after 3 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    In 2015, the largest number of mesothelioma cases were filed in the following 10 courts: (1) Madison County, IL; (2) Cook County, IL; (3) St. Louis, MO; (4) Los Angeles, CA; (5) New York, NY; (6) Philadelphia, PA; (7) New Castle County, DE; (8) Middlesex County, MA; (9)Middlesex County, NJ; (10) Kanawha County, WV.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The states with the largest number of diagnosed mesothelioma cases are: New York, New Jersey, California, Washington, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are about 3000 mesothelioma cases diagnosed in the United States each year.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    About 1 in 100,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with mesothelioma each year in the United States.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    More than 80% of all mesothelioma cases occur in the pleura (pleural mesothelioma).
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Less than 20% of all mesothelioma cases occur in the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma).
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    About 22% of all mesothelioma cases occur in women.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    A history of asbestos exposure can be found in more than 80% of mesothelioma cases.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    More than 30% of all mesothelioma patients in the United States were exposed to asbestos in the military.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma can be caused by laundering, or other household contact with, work clothing contaminated with asbestos.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma can be caused by work with (direct exposure) or around (bystander exposure) asbestos-containing products.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The average time between a person’s first exposure to asbestos and the development of mesothelioma (latency period) is more than 40 years.
 

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