Fred Hutch - Proton Therapy

10/09/2025

Our patient Gayle had survived two bouts with cancer when she had an especially large liver tumor recurrence. The former nurse at Northwest Hospital and the facility had had multiple treatments for over 14 years. This time, her physician recommended proton therapy, which she found a lot easier to tolerate than her past treatments. Find out how Gayle coped and her advice for others: https://bit.ly/46vnTIg

10/08/2025

Some claim the new multi-cancer detection tests will “revolutionize” cancer screening. Others fear that people who are already worried about possibly becoming sick will succumb to sophisticated marketing for tests that may add more confusion than clarity. The ensuing requests scans following a positive tumor DNA result could overwhelm our healthcare system.

Is our health care system ready for this new cancer screening technology? Not even close.

How do we get ready? That was the question Fred Hutch physician, health economist and co-principal investigator Scott Ramsey, MD, PhD, and others posed at the Cancer Screening Intelligence for the Future symposium recently.

Find out what participants thought of a :

Is our health system ready for multi-cancer detection tests? That was the question Fred Hutch's Dr. Scott Ramsey and others posed at a full-day Cancer Screening Intelligence for the Future symposium held Friday, September 12.

10/07/2025

October is . affects 1 in 8 women in the U.S., but when caught early, the survival rate is 99%. Treatment varies depending on the type of breast cancer, but is a great option for patients whose cancer is located in the left breast. It's a precise form of radiation treatment that targets your tumor without delivering harmful excess radiation to the surrounding tissue. This allows physicians to treat the while helping protect the heart and lungs, because protecting these vital organs is just as important as treating your tumor. Find out more: https://bit.ly/468O5VV

Proton therapy is a precise form of radiation treatment that targets your breast cancer without delivering harmful excess radiation to the surrounding tissue.

10/03/2025

Dr. Smith Apisarnthanarax is a Fred Hutch who specializes in the treatment of . He recommends as the optimal treatment choice for certain patients such as those with a large tumor mass or who've had radiation to the area in the past. Read all about "Dr. A," as he's affectionately referred to by patients and staff. https://bit.ly/4bl5myy

10/02/2025

The Beam newsletter is out today. We bring you the story of former nurse and survivor, Gayle, who beat both her liver cancer prognosis and a prior one! We also talk to our experts about liver, GI and breast cancers and when and why proton therapy can be good option in treating these cancers. https://bit.ly/3VOPVbB

09/30/2025

Up to 10% of cancers may be caused by inherited genetic variants, which makes genetic testing a valuable tool to help patients lower their risk of developing cancer or find it early. But not all want to know. Learn more about genetic risk and the perspectives of some of Fred Hutch's patients, including grad, Angela Broderick: https://bit.ly/471hSDf

Research shows germline genetic testing — testing for a cancer risk gene you may have inherited — can save lives. Not just a patient’s, but their family members, as well. Hereditary Cancer Awareness Week, Sept 29 - Oct 5, is a good time to reflect on family health history and on all the ways w...

09/29/2025

At Fred Hutch , we offer and support groups to help our patients navigate cancer. Fred Hutch also offers other groups through Supportive Care Services that are open to all patients and caregivers. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3vnpMHh
is a wonderful local resource which offers a wide variety of other , for all kinds of cancer types. All are free of charge. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3S6m8Iz

09/26/2025

Dr. Ralph Ermoian is one of Fred Hutch's expert, treating with radiation including . Dr. Ermoian specializes in and protons are a valuable tool for treating the disease and minimizing side effects. Learn more about Dr. Ermoian here: https://bit.ly/3YTqEgZ

09/25/2025

Check out this handy decade-by-decade guide for recommended screenings and other preventive actions for . Early detection and prevention are key, but what are the guidelines? Learn about them here: https://bit.ly/48KQfwY

09/24/2025

Join us today at 5:30 PM for on strategies to address urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction with Dr. Marah Hehemann of UW Medicine. Then connect with other patients during a dedicated, moderated support time. Register and join here: https://bit.ly/4mtAUHW

09/23/2025

Did you know that proton therapy is the standard of care for many childhood cancers? For we bring you the story of Ava, who was just two years old when she was diagnosed with posterior fossa , a rare brain cancer that affects children her age. Suddenly wobbly and very tired, Ava's doctors at found and then removed the tumor. The next treatment steps included radiation.
"was the right choice for Ava,” said Fred Hutch specialist, Dr. Ralph Ermoian. “It allowed her to be treated just as effectively as with traditional radiation, but with much less radiation going beyond the tumor to areas that are important for hearing, hormone development and learning.”
Now Ava is back to being the toddler her family once knew — loud and sassy. Learn more about how Ava is doing now: https://bit.ly/44ygCWZ

09/22/2025

Do you need mental health and emotional support resources during cancer treatment? As a Fred Hutch patient, you can schedule time to meet with our social worker, Elizabeth Darlington. The patient navigator team at the front desk can help you make an appointment.