Cancer Care and Collaboration:
Together, We Are Here to Heal

Cancer Care and Collaboration: We treat one type of cancer—yours.
Creating an integrated, specialized approach to care that focuses on your needs is at the heart of what we do.

Doctor typing at computer workstation.

Top-notch treatment


We surround our patients with some of the brightest minds in medicine. Our doctors are educated and trained at top medical schools and universities. With such bright minds at work, it’s no wonder that the Thoracic Surgery Program at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center is the nation’s highest rated for lung cancer resection outcomes and patient care according to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. 1

A complete team to support you

A complete team to support you


A cancer diagnosis can be an overwhelming event for anyone. Having a dedicated team that specializes in your cancer type in your corner can make all the difference. Each new cancer case at Kaiser Permanente is reviewed by an integrated team, including surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, nurse navigators, and other specialists. Kaiser Permanente has specialized teams for Breast Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Gynecologic Cancer, Head and Neck Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Skin Cancer, Gastrointestinal Cancer, Hematologic Cancer, Thoracic Cancer, Brain Cancer, and Sarcoma (Bone) Cancer.

 

Together, these specialists review, assess, and develop treatment options based on your unique needs. This team-based approach also reduces the stress of unnecessary appointments and helps put you on the road to a speedy recovery. To learn more about our cancer services, visit kpnwcancercare.org.

Medical professional filling syringe in research laboratory.

Research and clinical trials


We have access to one of the largest databases of medical records in the world. This depth of information gives us the knowledge and power to develop more-effective cancer treatments.

 

Our cancer team is a leader in clinical trials, testing immunotherapy, and other innovative procedures, giving you more options for cutting-edge care. In fact, Kaiser Permanente is part of one of the largest cancer clinical research groups in the country. So, no matter what challenge you’re facing, our cancer team is prepared to provide you high-quality care using the latest, most effective methods.

Photograph of Shelly Gonzales, Kaiser Permanente member
"My care team has been wonderful. I can tell that they are focusing on me — not the clock or other patients. They make sure all my questions are answered … and I am excited and optimistic about my future."

Shelly Gonzales Kaiser Permanente Member and Patient

2 members of patient care team speaking in hospital hallway.

Early diagnosis


At Kaiser Permanente, we know that one of the best ways to beat cancer is by catching it early. That’s why we make cancer screenings widely available. Here’s how we compare with the national average for different types of cancer:1

 

Based on HEDIS® (Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set)2 criteria for screening populations:

  • Breast cancer: 78.8% of our members were screened compared with the national average of 69.9%.
  • Cervical cancer: 81.8% of our members were compared with the national average of 69.3%.
  • Colorectal cancer: 76.5% of our members were screened compared with the national average of 67.7%.
Nurse navigator smiling from behind computer workstation.

Nurse navigators


A cancer diagnosis can be a life-altering event, and often requires complex, lengthy treatments that involve several medical departments —sometimes in different locations. Our nurse navigators are with you at every step, communicating with your care team and managing appointments. This level of personalized support helps you move through treatments smoothly and efficiently so you can keep your focus on healing and recovery.

Physician sitting in patient treatment room.

Support services


At Kaiser Permanente, we care for the whole patient — mind, body, and spirit — with an approach backed by evidence-based medicine. Our total-body approach to wellness lets you access programs and clinics focused on emotional support, nutrition, and social services.

“The cancer care at Kaiser Permanente is really set apart by our spectrum of care. We have the ability to follow a patient from screening all the way through survivorship, where as most cancer care programs just take care of the cancer patient only while they’re getting their cancer treatment. That makes our approach to care much more comprehensive because we’re able to look at the patient as a wholistic person rather than just the treatment they’re getting during their cancer care.”

Dr. Christine Barnett Cancer Service Medical Director for Cancer Service Line and Chief of Hematology and Medical Oncology

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