Mesothelioma Treatment in Connecticut — Cancer Centers, Specialists & Your Legal Rights
Introduction
A mesothelioma diagnosis is life-changing — and the decisions you make in the weeks following diagnosis can significantly affect both your medical outcomes and your legal rights. Connecticut is home to nationally recognized cancer centers with dedicated mesothelioma specialists, including one of only 54 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the country.
This page provides an overview of mesothelioma treatment options available to Connecticut patients and explains how pursuing medical treatment and a legal claim can proceed simultaneously — and why acting quickly on both matters.
Connecticut's Leading Mesothelioma Treatment Centers
Yale Cancer Center / Smilow Cancer Hospital — New Haven
Yale Cancer Center is southern New England's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center — one of only 54 in the United States. Operating in collaboration with Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven Health, it is Connecticut's most advanced institution for mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment.
Yale's capabilities for mesothelioma patients include:
- •Thoracic Oncology Program — dedicated to lung cancer and mesothelioma, offering surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy
- •Thoracic Pathology Service — specializing in difficult diagnoses in the chest cavity, including mesothelioma
- •Cardio-oncology program — managing heart-related chemotherapy side effects
- •Cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC — for peritoneal mesothelioma patients
- •Clinical Trials Office — access to experimental therapies including immunotherapy combinations
- •Survivorship Program — long-term support for patients after treatment
Key Yale mesothelioma specialists include Dr. Frank Detterbeck (Chief of Thoracic Surgery, internationally recognized for mesothelioma expertise), Dr. Roy Herbst (Director of Medical Oncology, known for targeted therapies and immunotherapy), and Dr. Lynn Tanoue (pulmonologist specializing in thoracic malignancies).
Yale Cancer Center, New Haven: (203) 785-4095
Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute — Hartford
Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute is affiliated with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York — one of the world's leading cancer centers — giving Connecticut patients in the Hartford area access to world-class expertise without travelling to New York. It is one of the largest cancer treatment centers in the Northeast, treating more than 50,000 patients each year.
Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute offers:
- •Multidisciplinary care for thoracic cancers including mesothelioma
- •Access to clinical trials through partnerships with national organizations
- •Research in cancer prevention and early detection
- •Survivorship programs providing long-term support for patients
- •Community outreach and cancer awareness initiatives
For Connecticut patients in the Hartford County area — including those who worked at Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford — Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute provides specialist mesothelioma care close to home.
Mesothelioma Treatment Options
Mesothelioma treatment depends on the type of mesothelioma (pleural, peritoneal, or pericardial), the stage at diagnosis, and the patient's overall health. Treatment typically involves one or more of the following:
Surgery
Surgical options for mesothelioma include extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) — removal of the affected lung, pleura, part of the diaphragm, and pericardium — and pleurectomy/decortication (P/D), which preserves the lung while removing the pleura. Surgery is most effective when mesothelioma is diagnosed at an early stage. Yale's thoracic surgery program, led by Dr. Frank Detterbeck, is one of the most experienced in the region for these procedures.
Chemotherapy
The standard first-line chemotherapy regimen for mesothelioma combines pemetrexed and cisplatin. This combination has been shown to extend survival and improve quality of life. Clinical trials at Yale and Hartford HealthCare are exploring new drug combinations and targeted therapies that may improve on standard regimens.
Radiation Therapy
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is used to shrink tumors and relieve symptoms in mesothelioma patients. Radiation is often combined with surgery or chemotherapy as part of a multimodal treatment approach.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy — including checkpoint inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies — has become an increasingly important part of mesothelioma treatment. Yale Cancer Center is at the forefront of immunotherapy research, with Dr. Roy Herbst leading work on targeted therapies. Clinical trials investigating combinations of immunotherapy agents are actively recruiting patients at Yale in New Haven and Hartford.
Clinical Trials
Connecticut patients have access to several active mesothelioma clinical trials. A phase I study investigating VMD-928 — a new medication for advanced mesothelioma — is actively recruiting at Hartford. Yale Cancer Center's Clinical Trials Office provides patients with access to experimental therapies that may not be available elsewhere. Ask your oncologist about clinical trial eligibility at your first appointment.
The Importance of Early Diagnosis
Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years — meaning workers exposed to asbestos in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s are still receiving diagnoses today. Early-stage diagnosis significantly improves treatment options and outcomes. Connecticut workers who were employed at high-risk facilities — including Electric Boat in Groton, Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford, Sikorsky in Stratford, and GE in Bridgeport — should discuss asbestos exposure history with their physician even if they are not experiencing symptoms.
Connecticut recorded 3,865 deaths from asbestos-related diseases between 1999 and 2017. New diagnoses continue to emerge from the state's industrial workforce. If you worked at a Connecticut asbestos exposure site, speak with your doctor about monitoring for mesothelioma. (Source: Environmental Working Group)
Pursuing Legal Compensation Alongside Medical Treatment
Many mesothelioma patients are concerned that pursuing a legal claim will be too stressful or time-consuming while they are undergoing treatment. In practice, the legal process can proceed largely in the background while you focus on your health — your attorney handles the investigation, evidence gathering, and claim filing, and most of the steps do not require your active participation.
Connecticut's statute of limitations for mesothelioma is three years from the date of diagnosis. This means you have time to begin treatment before pursuing a legal claim — but waiting too long can jeopardize your rights. The evidence needed to support a mesothelioma claim — employment records, asbestos trust fund eligibility, product identification — is best gathered early. See our how to file a mesothelioma claim page for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I seek treatment before contacting a lawyer?+−
You should do both simultaneously. Getting to a mesothelioma specialist quickly is the medical priority — and contacting a lawyer early preserves your legal rights. The legal process does not compete with your medical care; a good attorney works around your treatment schedule. Connecticut's three-year statute of limitations gives you time, but early action on both fronts produces the best outcomes.
Do I need to travel outside Connecticut for mesothelioma treatment?+−
Not necessarily. Yale Cancer Center in New Haven is one of the most advanced mesothelioma treatment centers in the Northeast, and Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute's affiliation with Memorial Sloan Kettering gives Hartford-area patients access to world-class expertise locally. Some patients may choose to travel to national centers like MD Anderson or Memorial Sloan Kettering for specific procedures, but high-quality care is available in Connecticut.
What are clinical trials and should I consider one?+−
Clinical trials test new treatments that may be more effective than standard therapy. Yale Cancer Center and Hartford HealthCare both run mesothelioma clinical trials. Participation is voluntary and you can withdraw at any time. Discuss clinical trial eligibility with your oncologist at your first appointment — some trials have eligibility windows tied to the stage of your disease at enrollment.
Will my mesothelioma diagnosis affect my legal claim?+−
Your diagnosis is the foundation of your legal claim. The type of mesothelioma (pleural, peritoneal), the stage, and your treatment costs all directly affect the value of your claim. Full medical documentation — including your diagnosis, treatment plan, and prognosis — is essential evidence in a mesothelioma lawsuit or trust fund claim.
Why Jazlowiecki & Jazlowiecki LLC?
Jazlowiecki & Jazlowiecki LLC has been handling Connecticut mesothelioma and asbestos litigation for over 22 years. Founding partner Edward Jazlowiecki holds a degree in Chemical Engineering — giving the firm a scientific understanding of asbestos products, exposure pathways, and the specific materials used at Connecticut's major industrial facilities. We handle mesothelioma cases on a contingency basis — no fee unless we win.
View our full case results:
- •$72 million recovered for victims of the Lac-Mégantic train disaster (global multi-party settlement)
- •$4.3 million — Propecia global settlement
The $72M recovery involved multiple parties and law firms.
Contact Jazlowiecki & Jazlowiecki LLC — Free Case Evaluation
If you or a family member have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or an asbestos-related disease, contact Jazlowiecki & Jazlowiecki LLC today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. Visit our mesothelioma lawyers page to learn more, or submit a free case evaluation online.
Call: (860) 589-8000 — available 24/7
Email: Info@Jazlowiecki.com
No fee unless we win. Connecticut statute of limitations: 3 years from date of diagnosis.