Each patient is different and each patient will receive a treatment program designed especially to treat their unique situations. These pages will give you an overview of your diagnosis and how your disease may be treated — you’ll learn more from your care team as they the best plan for your diagnosis.
Adult Treatments
Bone Marrow Transplant
Doctors at the Fred Hutch Bone Marrow Transplant Program at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) have performed more than 14,000 bone marrow transplants—more than any other institution in the world.
Genetic Sequencing
Precision Diagnostics: UW-OncoPlex at SCCA
A new diagnostic tool called UW-OncoPlex is making a positive difference in the treatments and outcomes of many Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) patients. Developed by researchers at UW Medicine, UW-OncoPlex tests a patient’s tumor tissue for the presence of characteristic genetic abnormalities called driver mutations. Each driver mutation causes tumors to behave differently on the molecular level and, thus, have different vulnerabilities.
The UW-OncoPlex panel tests for most of the driver mutations we’ve identified as having a highly effective treatment currently available for use. If your tumor tests positive for a particular mutation, your doctor will know which treatment will likely be most effective for you.
Getting the right treatment as soon as possible greatly increases the odds of beating cancer. It’s easier to get rid of tumors before they’ve grown, multiplied, or spread to other parts of the body.
It’s also a lot easier on you, the patient. The precision of UW-OncoPlex means that doctors can avoid prescribing treatments that are known not to work on cancers caused by specific mutations. This means saving patients from adverse side effects, as well as cycles of hope followed by disappointment.
Immunotherapy
Currently, the pace of innovation in the field of immunotherapy is impressive. In 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first cancer vaccine, sipuleucel-T (Provenge), for advanced prostate cancer. In 2011, the monoclonal antibody ipilimumab (Yervoy), called a checkpoint inhibitor, was generating the excitement and received FDA approval for treatment of melanoma. More recently, clinical trials with anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 therapies showed impressive results against a range of cancers, including the notoriously hard-to-treat lung cancer.
Medical Oncology
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) patients receive medical oncology treatment from leading physicians who specialize in particular cancers and are experts in their field. They design individualized treatment plans to target your tumor and minimize the effects on healthy tissue. Your team also works closely with you to manage any side effects and help you take the best possible care of yourself during treatment.
SCCA patients may receive treatment from a medical oncologist at either SCCA on Lake Union, SCCA at EvergreenHealth in Kirkland, or SCCA Medical Oncology at UWMC-Northwest. These facilities feature state-of-the-art equipment, comfortable facilities, and conscientious providers to make your treatment experience the best it can be.
Proton Therapy
Proton therapy is now available to cancer patients in the Pacific Northwest for the first time. Our doctors are excited to have proton therapy as part of their arsenal in making the most targeted and effective treatments available to patients. An advanced form of radiation treatment, proton therapy can be calibrated with great precision to selectively kill cancer cells.
The SCCA Proton Therapy Center, located on Seattle Cancer Care Alliance at University of Washington Medical Center – Northwest campus (view map and directions), benefits patients in our region who no longer need to travel to other parts of the country for a multi-week course of treatment. Because of the significant investment required in building and operating a proton therapy facility, this center is the only proton facility in a seven-state region.
The clinical benefits proton therapy offers over standard X-ray treatment for certain types of cancer are becoming increasingly well known. The accuracy of the delivery of proton radiation, for example, reduces damage to the healthy tissues and organs surrounding tumors. Other benefits include fewer side effects, including a decreased risk of developing secondary tumors (cancers that result from radiation treatment).
Radiation Oncology
Patients of Seattle Cancer Care Alliance receive radiation therapy from leading radiation oncologists who specialize in particular cancers and are experts in their field.
Our doctors design individualized treatment plans to target your tumor and minimize the effects on healthy tissue. We will work closely with you to manage any side effects and help you take the best possible care of yourself during treatment.
SCCA has several radiation oncology locations.
- SCCA Radiation Oncology at the SCCA clinic on Lake Union
- SCCA Radiation Oncology at UW Medicine’s Northwest Hospital & Medical Center
- SCCA Proton Therapy Center
- University of Washington Medical Center
- Gamma Knife Center at Harborview Medical Center
These facilities feature state-of-the-art equipment so your health care team can plan and deliver effective treatment for you. We offer several types of radiation therapy, including access to the latest and most innovative options through clinical studies.
Surgical Oncology
A surgical oncologist treats cancer by removing diseased tissue and often nearby lymph nodes, the parts of your immune system that act as filters, where cancer may spread.
Surgery is the oldest form of cancer treatment. It is often used in conjunction with medical oncology treatments—including chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy—and radiation oncology treatments.
Children & Teen Treatments
Bone Marrow Transplant
The Fred Hutch Bone Marrow Transplant Program at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) is one of the world’s largest and most experienced centers for pediatric stem cell transplantation.
With every patient, we push for a perfect transplant and follow-up care. And every day, because of our experienced doctors, advanced treatments, research, and commitment, we inch closer to our goal of a lifesaving cure and a long healthy life for every child who comes to us.