Your First Visit

Every prostate cancer patient at SCCA has a personal team that includes a urologist who is also a trained surgeon, a registered nurse practitioner, and often a radiation oncologist or medical oncologist, if needed.

Before your first visit, your doctor will have reviewed your pathology slides (tissue samples from any biopsies) and any scans or tests you have already had.

On your first visit to the SCCA Prostate Center or to the prostate clinic at the main SCCA clinic, you will first meet with your nurse practitioner, who will ask you questions about your medical history and your current problem. This will be followed by a complete physical exam by your doctor, including a digital rectal exam.

Then you and your doctor will discuss any further tests you may need, such as a biopsy, and discuss treatment options.

This visit usually lasts one and a half to two hours. You may bring a friend or family member with you to your appointment.

Surgery for SCCA patients is performed at University of Washington Medical Center, part of UW Medicine, an SCCA parent organization. Radiation therapy is also done at UW Medical Center and also at the SCCA clinic on south Lake Union. Outpatient chemotherapy can be done either at UW Medical Center or at the SCCA clinic, depending your preference and who your treating physician is. Some members of our team are based at the Prostate Center at UW Medical Center, some at the SCCA clinic, and some go between the two facilities.

May 2007