"Fred Hutch Cancer Center" "Cures Start Here"

Natasha B. Hunter, MD

Provider

Natasha B. Hunter, MD

Physician, Fred Hutch
Assistant Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine

Specialty:

Medical Oncology

South Lake Union Clinic

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“A cancer diagnosis changes people. It's rewarding to be present with them while they make that adjustment.”

— Dr. Hunter

Why did you change careers from journalism to medicine?

Medicine is similar to journalism in many ways: You read, you talk to experts, you observe, you listen to people's experiences and then you draw conclusions and write a summary. But, as a journalist, your goal is simply to tell the truth. This goal can place you at odds with your sources, and it can sometimes feel a bit abstract. In medicine, I love that I still get to do almost everything I enjoyed as a journalist, but now it’s always in pursuit of tangible goals around caring for people — goals that are shared among patients and providers.

Why do you choose to work with patients who have breast cancer?

In my first year of fellowship, I met an elderly woman with metastatic breast cancer. She was in terrible shape, and I didn’t expect her to live very long, but she became my patient and lived for more than two years longer. Working with her made me understand the impact I can have on patients, especially those with breast cancer. We have more and more tools each day to treat this disease. I was inspired by her strength and felt very honored to care for her; that’s one of the reasons I chose this disease type.

Provider Background

Area of Clinical Practice
Breast cancer

I am a board-certified medical oncologist who specializes in the treatment of breast cancer. Prior to joining Fred Hutch, I completed a fellowship in oncology at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine. My research interests include studying breast cancer biomarkers, which may improve our ability to gauge response to treatment and monitor for recurrence and remission. I’m also interested in exploring new therapies for metastatic disease and how to improve access to studies and new treatments for patients who live in remote areas.

Diseases Treated

Languages

English

Education, Experience and Certifications

Undergraduate Degree
University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Medical Degree
Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University

Residency
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Fellowship
Johns Hopkins Hospital

Board Certification
Internal Medicine, 2015; Medical Oncology, 2018, American Board of Internal Medicine

Stories

All news

Surviving and thriving with metastatic breast cancer

Surviving and thriving with metastatic breast cancer From financial toxicity to sexual health, experts break down survival strategies for patients and caregivers dealing with ‘mets’ November 13, 2024

From overlooked to understood, a Black woman’s case gets the attention it deserves

From overlooked to understood, a Black woman’s case gets the attention it deserves Partnership is key to making patients of color feel respected October 24, 2024

What’s new in breast cancer research? SABCS 2022 delivers plenty

What’s new in breast cancer research? SABCS 2022 delivers plenty Studies highlight research on treatment toxicity, disparities in insurance, gaps in metastatic care, new therapies and more December 14, 2022

We make promising new treatments available to you through studies called clinical trials led by Fred Hutch physicians. Many of these trials at Fred Hutch have led to FDA-approved treatments and have improved standards of care globally. Together, you and your physician can decide if a study is right for you.

Find a Clinical Trial Led by Dr. Hunter

Many of our Fred Hutch physicians conduct ongoing research to improve standards of patient care. Their work is evaluated by other physicians and selected for publication to the United States National Library of Medicine, the largest medical library in the world. See scientific papers this Fred Hutch physician has written.

View Dr. Hunter's Publications

Your Care Team

At Fred Hutch, you receive care from a team of providers with extensive experience in your disease. Your team includes physicians, a patient care coordinator, a registered nurse, an advanced practice provider and others, based on your needs. You also have access to experts like registered dietitians, social workers, acupuncturists, psychiatrists and more who specialize in supporting people with cancer or blood disorders.

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