Breast Cancer

If you have breast cancer, you are in good hands at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. Our experts care for people with all types and stages of the disease. More than that, we are leaders in preventing and screening for breast cancer, evaluating patients who have signs or symptoms, researching new therapies and keeping survivors healthy. 

We have many specialized clinics and programs to meet your breast cancer needs. When you come to Fred Hutch, we match you with the health care services and providers that are right for you. Your care here is always personalized. We customize your first appointment — and all your visits with us — to your unique situation. 

About Breast Cancer

Every person with breast cancer is different, and every tumor is different. The more we can learn about your specific tumor, the better we can customize your treatment plan to you. 

At Fred Hutch, we do extensive testing to diagnose and stage your disease precisely and accurately. Identifying features of your disease is important. It helps your physicians choose the treatments that will work best. 

Facts & Resources

Breast Cancer Treatment

Fred Hutch physicians with knowledge and experience in all types and stages of breast cancer will design your personalized treatment plan and provide your care. 

For most people, surgery is the first step. But there are many other treatment options, including radiation therapy, chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. We offer all of these treatments, and we choose and combine them to fit your unique case. For people who want it, we also offer breast reconstruction using implants or natural tissue.

As you go through treatment, your needs may change. Your care team at Fred Hutch is with you each step of the way.

Treatment

Breast Care Team

At Fred Hutch, we surround you with experts who focus completely on cancer care. A handful of people make up the core of your care team, based on the types of treatment you need. For many people, the core team includes a nurse navigator, breast surgeon, medical oncologist and radiation oncologist who all specialize in breast cancer. At some visits, you might see an advanced practice provider. Most patients get part of their treatment from infusion nurses. A patient care coordinator will schedule your visits. 

Others join your team depending on your personal needs. 

Care Team

Our Approach to Treatment

The safest, most effective and most widely accepted therapies for cancer become the “standard of care.” For many patients, these therapies will be a large part of their treatment. At Fred Hutch, we provide all standard therapies for breast cancer. We know how to choose the right ones for you and how to deliver them to give you the best chance at a full recovery.

Our physicians and researchers are always asking how we can make breast cancer treatments better and reduce side effects as much as possible. This is why we conduct clinical trials (also called clinical studies). Through these studies, we are able to offer you therapies that aren’t offered everywhere. A therapy that is going through trials today may become the new standard of care tomorrow.

Along with treating your cancer, a group of world-class professionals is here to support you. This team includes nurses, registered dietitians, physical therapists, social workers and psychologists. We also bring in supportive care services for your physical, mental and emotional well-being. 

Medical oncologist Jennifer M. Specht, MD, discusses treatment improvements for breast cancer.

Metastatic Breast Cancer

People living with metastatic breast cancer have more treatment options today than ever before. At Fred Hutch, we provide the latest in evidence-based care, including a wide range of supportive care services, to help you thrive while living with this form of breast cancer.

Many of our physicians also conduct research and offer the option to take part in clinical trials, which can give you access to promising therapies not available any other way. New treatments at Fred Hutch may put your cancer into remission and give you a good quality of life for years.

caregiver with family member

Role of the Caregiver

When someone close to you needs treatment for breast cancer, you might step into the role of caregiver. Being a caregiver can mean many things, from lending a hand with daily living tasks to helping with medical decisions. It can also mean dealing with your own emotions and stress. 

At Fred Hutch, caregivers are valuable members of a patient’s care team. We see every day that your presence and your support make a difference. We know that what your friend or family member is going through affects you, too.

Part of our mission is to help you take care of yourself. Caring for yourself is good for your physical, mental and emotional health. It also helps you give your best to your loved one. Our social workers, Spiritual Health team and Patient and Family Resource Center staff are here to help support you.

Dr. Jennifer Specht

“At Fred Hutch, everyone who’s involved in a breast cancer patient’s care is laser-focused on offering state-of-the-art breast cancer care.”

— Jennifer M. Specht, MD, medical oncologist

Clinical Trials

Many breast cancer patients at Fred Hutch get promising therapies by taking part in clinical trials. These research studies are done by physicians and scientists from Fred Hutch and UW Medicine. They test new treatments and discover new ways to use current treatments. 

Through this work, we are looking for answers to three main questions: How can we do even better at detecting breast cancer early? How can we make treatments work better? How can we make treatments less toxic and easier on patients?

We have clinical trials for all stages of breast cancer, from early to metastatic. Our studies test dozens of treatment options, including:

  • Chemotherapy regimens 
  • Endocrine therapy
  • Targeted therapies
  • Immunotherapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and cellular immunotherapies
  • Radiation therapy
  • Surgery
  • Vaccine therapy

Fred Hutch is a national leader in advancing these and other options, bringing new hope to patients.

When your care team makes your treatment plan, they will give you the choice to join clinical trials that match your situation. Your care team will talk with you about if you might want to join a study and why. This can help you can make the decision that is best for you.

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Volunteer patient advocate can’t help helping others For this podcaster, breast cancer patient and self-described “clinical trials fanatic,” advocacy starts with community building September 16, 2024
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