Free Webinar: Mesothelioma Chemotherapy vs. Immunotherapy
Treatment & Doctors
Written by Sean Marchese, MS, RN | Edited By Amy Edel
On Wednesday, April 10, at 8 p.m., join medical oncologist Dr. J. Marie Suga in a discussion about critical differences between chemotherapy for mesothelioma and immunotherapy. Our free online webinar will include a live Q&A to ask Dr. Suga your questions about benefits and risks of these cancer therapies.
As a leading mesothelioma specialist, Dr. Suga has dedicated years to educating mesothelioma patients and families on what to expect with each type of mesothelioma treatment. She’ll cover topics such as patient eligibility, treatment schedules and how to manage side effects.
If you can’t attend the live session, the webinar will also be available as a recording.
What You’ll Learn During Our Webinar
The Mesothelioma Center and Registered Nurse Sean Marchese look forward to hosting our webinar with Dr. Suga as she presents key information for patients on mesothelioma chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
- Chemotherapy vs. immunotherapy as a first-line mesothelioma treatment
- Current chemotherapy options for treating mesothelioma
- Immunotherapy for mesothelioma
- Factors to consider when evaluating treatment
- Top mesothelioma treatments and side effects
The live Q&A will take place at the end of Dr. Suga’s presentation. Viewers will have the opportunity to submit their questions throughout the webinar.
Who Should Attend Our Chemotherapy vs. Immunotherapy Mesothelioma Webinar?
Our webinar focuses on chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatment for mesothelioma patients, with information for families and caregivers. In addition to comparing these treatments, Dr. Suga will cover how doctors integrate these medications into a multimodal treatment plan.
- A mesothelioma patient
- Family or a caregiver of a mesothelioma patient
- People considering chemotherapy or immunotherapy
- Those interested in new pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma clinical trials
The presentation will cover patient expectations and the reality of receiving cancer therapy at a mesothelioma treatment center. There will also be an overview of new developments in chemotherapy and immunotherapy for mesothelioma that are available through clinical trials.
Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Considerations
Both chemotherapy and immunotherapy treat mesothelioma cancer, but they differ significantly in how mesothelioma doctors use them and how they can affect patients.
When beginning chemotherapy or immunotherapy, many factors must be considered. Dr. Suga has years of expertise in helping mesothelioma patients through treatment, and in our live informational session, she’ll help participants understand everything they need to know.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is classification of anti-cancer drugs that control tumor growth to treat mesothelioma and its symptoms. Doctors use chemotherapy in a variety of different ways and combine it with other therapies, depending on a patient’s cancer stage, overall health and previous treatments.
Chemotherapy drugs are systemic medications that travel through the bloodstream. They can affect healthy tissue until they arrive at the cancer site.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy relies on a patient’s immune system to target cancer. It’s a more localized therapy and doesn’t affect healthy tissue as much as chemotherapy.
Some types of immunotherapies activate a patient’s immune system, and others directly alter the patient’s immune cells. However, patients may only be eligible for specific immunotherapies based on prior treatment or their DNA.
About Our Experts
J. Marie Suga, M.D.
Medical Oncologist & Mesothelioma Specialist
Dr. Suga is a leading medical oncologist at Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center in California. She specializes in malignant pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer. She utilizes the latest treatments and innovative clinical trials for her patients.
Dr. Suga serves as the medical director for Kaiser’s clinical trials program and works closely with an expert team of specialists to offer a multidisciplinary approach. As part of the National Cancer Institute’s Community Oncology Research Program, she has experience identifying unique tumor characteristics. This allows her to personalize treatment for each patient.
Sean Marchese, MS, RN
Oncology Writer & Registered Nurse
Sean Marchese is a registered nurse for The Mesothelioma Center and has more than 20 years of clinical experience. He graduated with a Master of Science in medical sciences from the University of South Florida in 2012.
As an oncology research coordinator, Marchese led clinical trials involving immunotherapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and Tumor-Treating Fields. At The Mesothelioma Center, Marchese helps provide patients with the guidance and knowledge they need to navigate a mesothelioma diagnosis.
