Heather H. Cheng, MD, PhD
Located at
I didn’t set out to be a prostate cancer specialist, but this disease came very close to home when three members of my immediate family were affected by — and two ultimately died of — prostate cancer during my training. My father-in-law had metastatic prostate cancer for 16 years and maintained a high quality of life for most of that time. My grandfather also had metastatic prostate cancer and lived to the age of 96. There was a point when he had the option to participate in clinical trials, and he made the choice to forgo more treatment. His decision informs how I think about not just my excitement for new clinical trials as a physician and researcher, but also about the value of meeting each patient where they are, understanding their priorities and giving them access to the best treatment that makes sense for them.
I strive to offer information, guidance and support with the hope of making the path forward less frightening. Thanks to new scientific developments, clinical trials and treatments, oncology is always evolving, making it possible to instill hope into every day. Your quality of life is a high priority for me. I enjoy the teamwork involved in supporting you and your loved ones through treatment and survivorship.
Provider background
Specialty: Medical Oncology
Genitourinary cancers, high risk prevention
I am the director of Fred Hutch’s Prostate Cancer Genetics Clinic, which helps bring leading-edge genetic and genomic discoveries to patients. Among the first of its kind in the country, the clinic provides genetic counseling and testing, matches patients with precision oncology clinical trials and provides opportunities for cancer prevention and early detection.
My research interests include studying the inherited genetics of prostate cancer risk, the relationship to cancer-specific mutations and the genomics of prostate cancer (how sets of genes within a tumor behave). A better understanding of the molecular genetics and genomics of an individual's prostate cancer may serve as precision biomarkers to help guide treatment decisions and clinical trial options, potentially avoiding unhelpful treatments. In some cases, this knowledge could be used to inform relatives about cancer risk and what can be done to reduce that risk.
Diseases treated
Stories
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) is recruiting patients with prostate cancer to participate in a new registry called PROMISE — Prostate Cancer Registry of Outcomes and Germline Mutations for Improved Survival and Treatment Effectiveness. The PROMISE registry will help researchers learn more about how germline mutations affect prostate cancer outcomes.
As a lifelong educator, James DeLong believes in the power of research. So when he turned 50, he decided to sign up for a prostate cancer research study enrolling healthy men. The study involved an initial rectal exam plus an annual blood draw and questionnaire.
Research
Clinical trials
We make promising new treatments available to you through studies called clinical trials led by Fred Hutch doctors. Many of these trials at Fred Hutch have led to FDA-approved treatments and have improved standards of care globally. Together, you and your doctor can decide if a study is right for you.
Publications
Many of our Fred Hutch doctors conduct ongoing research to improve standards of patient care. Their work is evaluated by other doctors 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 provider has written.
Press
Our providers are often asked to give their medical expertise for press and news publications. Read articles by or about this Fred Hutch provider.
Your care team
Insurance
Fred Hutch accepts most national private health insurance plans as well as Medicare. We also accept Medicaid for people from Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. We are working to ensure that everyone, no matter what their financial situation, has access to the care they need.
