Provider Types

These health care professionals work closely with your hematologist-oncologist or medical oncologist in the clinic. There are two types: physician assistants (PAs) and advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs). They help provide and coordinate your treatment and can see you independently from your physician. They also help manage the effects of your disease and treatment.

Your APPs:

• Ask about your health history.
• Do physical exams.
• Order and interpret diagnostic tests. 
• Do procedures such as bone marrow biopsies and lumbar punctures.
• Diagnose conditions.
• Treat and manage health issues, including side effects of treatment.
• Check how you are doing during and after treatment.
• Prescribe medicines and other therapies.
• Work closely with the rest of your care team.

This physician manages your medicine-based treatments if you have a blood- or lymph-based disease, like leukemia or lymphoma.

Your hematologist-oncologist:

• Sees you during your first visit. They give you an exam and order any tests you need to diagnose, stage or classify your disease.
• Explains what your diagnosis, stage and classification mean and answers your questions.
• Recommends medicines, doses, schedule and sequence to match your exact needs. They also talk with you about the benefits and risks.
• Sees you on a regular schedule to check how your cancer responds to treatment and how you are overall.
• Offers you ways to prevent, relieve and cope with side effects of treatment, like medicine to help with nausea.
• Works with the rest of your care team if you need other types of treatment.

You receive any infusions in a dedicated area of the clinic. Cancer nurses who specialize in infusions give these treatments. They also check you during each infusion. They respond to any medical issues that come up and help keep you comfortable.

This physician oversees your medicine-based treatments (unless your cancer blood- or lymph-based, in which case you will have a hematologist-oncologist instead).

Your medical oncologist:

• Sees you during your first visit. They evaluate you and order any tests you need to diagnose or stage your disease.
• Explains what your diagnosis and stage mean and answers your questions.
• Recommends medicine-based treatments to match your specific case. They select the medicines, doses, schedule and sequence. They also talk with you about the benefits and risks.
• Sees you on a regular schedule to check how your cancer responds to treatment and how you are overall.
• Offers you ways to prevent, relieve and cope with side effects of treatment, like medicine to help with nausea.
• Works with the rest of your care team if you need other types of treatment.

Your patient care coordinator works closely with you and your physician. They serve as your scheduler.

This physician treats cancer with radiation. They prescribe and oversee this part of your care. Working with a radiation oncology team, they plan and deliver your treatments.

Your radiation oncologist:

• Sees you if your evaluation shows that radiation therapy is likely to help. If you didn’t need radiation at the start of care but this changes, we arrange for you to see a radiation oncologist then.
• Recommends radiation therapy to match your specific case. They decide the type, dose and schedule. They also talk with you about the benefits and risks.
• Works behind the scenes with other radiation experts. These experts make sure you receive the right dose in the right places (dosimetrist). They also maintain the equipment used (medical physicist).
• Answers your questions about radiation therapy, like why you need it and what to expect.
• Sees you on a regular schedule during radiation therapy to check how your cancer responds and how you are doing overall.
• Offers you ways to prevent, relieve and cope with side effects of treatment. 
• Works with the rest of your care team if you need other types of treatment.

This person sees you when you come in for radiation treatment. They explain your treatment, check your health, answer your questions and help you with side effects.

This person positions you each time you come in for radiation treatment. This ensures your treatment is precise. They also operate the machines that deliver the radiation. 

Your nurse manages your care alongside your physician. They also assist with procedures and treatments. Nurses are resources for you and your caregiver. They answer questions and help with a wide range of topics, like how to cope with side effects or get other services you need at Fred Hutch.

Many types of supportive care team members are here to help you and your family. They include registered dietitians, physical therapists, pain medicine specialists, psychologists, social workers, spiritual health staff, palliative care specialists, a naturopath and an acupuncturist.

Learn more about our Supportive Care Services

Your surgeon:

• Recommends surgery to match your specific case. They explain any surgical options you have. They also talk with you about the benefits and risks.
• Answers your questions about surgery, like why you need it and what to expect.
• Performs your surgery, along with a team, including an anesthesiologist and nurses.
• Sees you after surgery to check your healing.
• Offers you ways to prevent, relieve and cope with side effects of surgery.
• Works with the rest of your care team if you need other types of treatment.

For some types of cancer, like head and neck cancer or breast cancer, you may want or need reconstructive surgery. A specially trained surgeon, with expertise in your specific type of reconstruction, will talk with you about your options and provide your care.

If you need a blood or marrow transplant, you will have a specialized team from the Fred Hutch Blood and Marrow Transplant Program. Your team includes a transplant oncologist, advanced practice provider, transplant nurse, pharmacist, registered dietitian, team coordinator and social worker. This team will:

• Give you an exam (and your donor, if you need one).
• Decide on a transplant approach to match your case.
• Prepare you and your caregiver.
• Do your transplant.
• Provide care as you recover.

Learn more about Blood and Marrow Transplant Team