Proton therapy

Care team

Your team at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center – Proton Therapy is here not only to treat your disease, but to listen to you and take care of you and your family. They are experts in proton radiation therapy who focus on treating patients just like you, every day. They understand your questions, needs and concerns.

Your team includes a group of world-class professionals, including a radiation oncologist, radiation therapist and nurse, who are all here to support you. Behind the scenes, there are engineers, dosimetrists and physicists who work together to plan and provide your therapy. We also have supportive care providers to help with your well-being in every sense. They include social workers, child life specialists, registered dietitians and integrative medicine specialists.

We are committed to your ongoing care. Your proton therapy team will stay in touch with you and your referring doctor, as needed, after your proton therapy sessions are done.

Integrative medicine Combines conventional (standard) medical treatment with complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies that have been shown to be safe and to work. CAM therapies treat the mind, body and spirit. Oncologist A physician who has special training in diagnosing and treating cancer. Some oncologists specialize in a particular type of cancer treatment, such as treating cancer with radiation. A physician who has special training in diagnosing and treating cancer. Some oncologists specialize in a particular type of cancer treatment. For example, a radiation oncologist specializes in treating cancer with radiation. Radiation therapy The use of high-energy radiation from X-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy). Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body.

Find provider profiles

Meet the caring, dedicated people who take care of you and your family at Fred Hutch.

What each team member does

Child life specialist

Child life specialists give children emotional support during treatment. They are skilled and caring pediatric health care professionals who help your child understand proton therapy using words and pictures your child can understand. They also teach ways to help young patients relax, express their feelings and make sense of health care procedures.

Clinical nurse

Your nurse will provide day-to-day care and help arrange any other medical services you might need during your proton treatment. For example, they may help schedule blood tests, scans or appointments. Your nurse is experienced in radiation therapy.

Radiation therapy The use of high-energy radiation from X-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy). Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body.

Engineer

Engineers help make sure proton therapy is exact by checking the equipment and systems.

Medical dosimetrist

Your medical dosimetrist works with your doctor to prepare a treatment plan that is right for you. They calculate the angles and doses of protons needed to treat your tumor while making sure your healthy tissue gets as little radiation as possible.

Dosimetrist Dosimetrists ensure radiation therapy is specifically directed to the disease within the patient's body. Treatment plan A detailed plan with information about a patient’s disease, the goal of treatment, the treatment options for the disease and the possible side effects and expected length of treatment. A detailed plan with information about a patient’s disease, the goal of treatment, the treatment options for the disease and the possible side effects and expected length of treatment. A treatment plan may also include information about how much the treatment is likely to cost and about regular follow-up care after treatment ends.

Medical physicist

A medical physicist checks on the equipment and procedures that are used in therapy. They check your personal treatment plan to make sure you get the right dose of protons targeted exactly to your tumor. This is an important part of making sure your therapy is safe and effective.

Medical physicist A medical physicist manages and maintains scanning equipment. Treatment plan A detailed plan with information about a patient’s disease, the goal of treatment, the treatment options for the disease and the possible side effects and expected length of treatment. A detailed plan with information about a patient’s disease, the goal of treatment, the treatment options for the disease and the possible side effects and expected length of treatment. A treatment plan may also include information about how much the treatment is likely to cost and about regular follow-up care after treatment ends.

Patient care coordinator

Patient care coordinators manage the exchange of your medical records. They also collect details about your case up front so we can decide if proton therapy might be an option for you. They schedule your initial consultation. They also help you understand your insurance, Medicare or Medicaid coverage and help with details about costs and payments.

Patient navigator/concierge

The patient navigator/concierge greets you and your loved ones when you arrive. They can help with nonmedical needs. If you are traveling to Seattle for treatment, your patient navigator/concierge can help with transportation, lodging and other local services you may need. They can also give you information about educational and social programs to make your stay more enjoyable, like visits to museums and arts organizations.

Patient navigator A person who helps guide a patient through the health care system. This includes help going through the screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of a medical condition, such as cancer. A person who helps guide a patient through the health care system. This includes help going through the screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of a medical condition, such as cancer. A patient navigator helps patients communicate with their health care providers so they get the information they need to make decisions about their care. Patient navigators may help patients set up appointments for physician visits and medical tests and get financial, legal and social support. They may also work with insurance companies, employers, case managers, lawyers and others who may have an effect on a patient’s health care needs. Also called a patient advocate.

Radiation oncologist

Your radiation oncologist is the doctor who makes your treatment plan and oversees your proton therapy treatment. They will meet with you once a week to check your progress and talk about any questions or concerns you may have. The radiation oncologists who do proton therapy at Fred Hutch are all members of the University of Washington (UW) Physician Group and hold faculty positions within the UW School of Medicine.

Oncologist A physician who has special training in diagnosing and treating cancer. Some oncologists specialize in a particular type of cancer treatment, such as treating cancer with radiation. A physician who has special training in diagnosing and treating cancer. Some oncologists specialize in a particular type of cancer treatment. For example, a radiation oncologist specializes in treating cancer with radiation. Radiation oncologist A physician who has special training in using radiation to treat cancer. Treatment plan A detailed plan with information about a patient’s disease, the goal of treatment, the treatment options for the disease and the possible side effects and expected length of treatment. A detailed plan with information about a patient’s disease, the goal of treatment, the treatment options for the disease and the possible side effects and expected length of treatment. A treatment plan may also include information about how much the treatment is likely to cost and about regular follow-up care after treatment ends.

Radiation therapist

Your radiation therapist will make sure your body is in the right position for each therapy session so you get the exact treatment your doctor planned for you. They will give you your daily treatment.

Team coordinators

Team coordinators help with setting up your computed tomography (CT) simulation scan, proton therapy schedule and weekly visits with your radiation oncologist.

Computed tomography A procedure that uses a computer linked to an X-ray machine to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. The pictures are used to create three-dimensional (3-D) views of tissues and organs. A procedure that uses a computer linked to an X-ray machine to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. The pictures are taken from different angles and are used to create three-dimensional (3-D) views of tissues and organs. A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the tissues and organs show up more clearly. This scan may be used to help diagnose disease, plan treatment or find out how well treatment is working. Oncologist A physician who has special training in diagnosing and treating cancer. Some oncologists specialize in a particular type of cancer treatment, such as treating cancer with radiation. A physician who has special training in diagnosing and treating cancer. Some oncologists specialize in a particular type of cancer treatment. For example, a radiation oncologist specializes in treating cancer with radiation.

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