Jason Lukas, MD, PhD
Located at
Caring for others has been my passion since grade school, when I would nurse animals like baby squirrels back to health. In graduate school, I researched the genetic roots of cancer, which helped point me toward the field of oncology, but my lightbulb moment happened as I watched my aunt go through lung cancer. Her medical care was really impersonal, and I believed that I could do better. I felt that I could bring a different element to cancer care, giving patients a warm, comforting experience no matter their diagnosis or expected outcome.
People often come in feeling perplexed about their illness and out of control. Many have abandoned all hope. I see myself as a navigator; it’s my job to chart the most state-of-the-art treatment course for you, and — given my experience and knowledge about the medications currently out there and in the pipeline — it’s also my job to give you back hope. From personal experience, I’ve learned a lot about how physicians should relate to patients and family members. Every consultation with you is a privilege; I strive to make cancer treatment the most healing process it can be for everyone involved.
Provider background
Specialty: Medical Oncology
I am the medical director of SCCA Issaquah and a board-certified medical oncologist with more than 17 years of experience in cancer care. Prior to joining SCCA, I served as the director of hematology-oncology research at The Everett Clinic and was on active duty in the U.S. Navy. In addition to caring for patients with a variety of cancers, I lead clinical trials to advance our understanding of how to best treat breast cancer and lung cancer. My expertise extends to immunotherapy, which uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer, and the development of cancer vaccines.
Our mission is to provide patients with the highest quality, personalized care closer to home. As part of the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, our community oncologists offer patients multidisciplinary tumor board opinions, clinical trials and expertise in treating a variety of cancers.
Stories
SCCA's main campus offers advanced, leading-edge cancer care, but patients and caregivers outside Seattle may find access to our community sites reduce the burden of travel. Our established community sites across the Puget Sound region offer SCCA's world-class care closer to where patients live. Providers and patients can expect seamless coordination with our South Lake Union campus when patients need more extensive treatment.
Research
Clinical trials
We make promising new treatments available to you through studies called clinical trials led by SCCA doctors. Many of these trials at SCCA 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 SCCA 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 SCCA provider has written.
Your care team
Insurance
SCCA 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.
