Neuroendocrine Tumors Care Team

Advanced practiced providers are trained similarly to physicians and may see patients independently. At Fred Hutch, these health care professionals work closely with your medical oncologist in the clinic. There are two types: physician assistants (PAs) and advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs). They help provide and coordinate your treatment and also help manage the effects of your disease and treatment. 

You receive any infusions in a dedicated area of the clinic. Cancer nurses who specialize in infusions give these treatments. They also check you during each infusion. They respond to any medical issues that come up and help keep you comfortable. 

This physician oversees your medicine-based treatments. People with NETs may receive chemotherapy, targeted therapy or medicines to control excess hormones. 

Your medical oncologist:

• Sees you during your first visit. They evaluate you and order any tests you need to diagnose or stage your disease.
• Explains what your diagnosis and stage mean, and answers your questions.
• Recommends evidence-based treatments to match your specific case. They select your medicines, doses, schedule and sequence. They also talk with you about the benefits and risks.
• Sees you on a regular schedule to check how your cancer responds to treatment and how you are overall.
• Offers you ways to prevent, relieve and cope with side effects of treatment — like medicine to help with nausea.
• Coordinates with the rest of your care team if you need other types of treatment.

This physician uses small amounts of radioactive drugs (radiopharmaceuticals) to diagnose and treat diseases. 

Your nuclear medicine specialist:

• Sees you if we expect nuclear medicine to be part of your treatment.
• Explains, along with other team members, what your diagnosis and stage mean.
• Recommends nuclear medicine therapy, such as peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), to match your specific case. They decide the type, dose and schedule. They also talk with you about the benefits and risks.
• Works behind the scenes with other radiation and imaging experts. These experts make sure you receive the right dose and operate the machines that do your scans.
• Answers your questions about nuclear medicine therapy, like why you need it and what to expect.
• Sees you on a regular schedule during therapy to check how your cancer responds and how you are doing overall.
• Offers you ways to prevent, relieve and cope with side effects of treatment.
• Coordinates with the rest of your care team if you need other types of treatment.

Your patient care coordinator works closely with you and your physician. They will schedule your appointments.

This physician treats cancer with radiation. They prescribe and manage this part of your care if you need it. Working with a radiation oncology team, they plan and deliver your treatments.

Your radiation oncologist will:

• See you if your medical exam shows that radiation therapy is likely to help. If you did not need radiation at the start of care, but your situation changes, we will arrange for you to see a radiation oncologist then.
• Recommend radiation therapy to match your case. They decide the type, dose and schedule. They also talk with you about the benefits and risks.
• Work behind the scenes with other radiation experts. These experts make sure you get the right dose in the right places (dosimetrist). They also maintain the equipment that is used (medical physicist).
• Answer your questions about radiation therapy, like why you need it and what to expect.
• Sees you on a regular schedule during radiation therapy to check how your cancer responds and how you are doing overall.
• Offer you ways to prevent, relieve and deal with possible side effects of treatment, like medicine to help with nausea.
• Work with the rest of your care team if you need other types of treatment.

This person sees you when you come in for radiation treatment. They explain your treatment, check your health, answer your questions and help you with side effects.

This person positions you each time you come in for radiation treatment. This ensures your treatment is precise. They also operate the machines that deliver the radiation. 

This physician reads and interprets your imaging tests. They also do some types of biopsies.  

Your radiologist: 

• Looks for abnormal areas on images from tests like an ultrasound or CT (computed tomography) scan. 
• “Decodes” the meaning of your images and recommends whether to have further imaging, a biopsy or other care. 
• Does a fine-needle biopsy or core biopsy, often guided by an X-ray or ultrasound. 
• Works closely with your surgeon to tell exactly where your tumor is and how this affects the type and extent of surgery you need. 
• Answers your questions about imaging, like why you need it and what to expect. 
• Coordinates with the rest of your care team about tests and treatments you need.

Your nurse manages your care alongside your physician. They also assist with procedures and treatments. Nurses are resources for you and your caregiver. They answer questions and help with a wide range of topics, like how to cope with side effects or get other services you need at Fred Hutch.

Many types of supportive care team members are here to help you and your family. They include registered dietitians, physical therapists, pain medicine specialists, psychologists, social workers, spiritual health staff, palliative care specialists, naturopaths and acupuncturists.

Learn more about Supportive Care Services

This physician does surgery to remove as much of your cancer as possible, along with a margin of healthy tissue around the cancer. They might also remove lymph nodes to check for cancer spread. 

Your surgeon: 

• Sees you at the start of treatment, if surgery will be the first step (or one of the early steps) in your care.  
• Explains, along with other team members, what your diagnosis and stage mean. 
• Recommends surgery to match your specific case. They explain any surgical options you have. They also talk with you about the benefits and risks. 
• Answers your questions about surgery, like why you need it and what to expect. 
• Performs your surgery, along with a team, including an anesthesiologist and nurses. 
• Sees you after surgery to check your healing. 
• Offers you ways to prevent, relieve and cope with side effects of surgery. 
• Coordinates with the rest of your care team if you need other types of treatment.