What Is the Prostate Cancer Multispecialty Clinic?
The Prostate Cancer Multispecialty Clinic (PCMC) gives you a “home” where you can see a urologic oncologist, medical oncologist and radiation oncologist all on the same day. Our physicians are UW Medicine physicians who specialize in prostate cancer. They work with you as a team to plan and provide the care you need.
The clinic is held once a week in the Fred Hutch Genitourinary Oncology Center in the Surgery Pavilion at UW Medical Center – Montlake.
As a new patient, you will get a thorough evaluation of your unique case. You will leave your appointment with a complete, personalized treatment plan and a clear set of next steps.
Along with your physicians, your PCMC team includes:
- A pathologist and radiologist, who help with diagnosis and treatment planning
- Nurses and nurse practitioners, who help provide your care
- Research coordinators, who can explain clinical trials that are testing leading-edge therapies
- A program coordinator, who ensures your care runs smoothly
At Fred Hutch, we offer a wide range of supportive care services, like nutrition and physical therapy, to help you thrive. We also have genetics specialists who can help you understand cancer risk in your family and help us find features of your cancer that may affect your treatment plan.
Who is the PCMC for?
If you have high-risk, localized prostate cancer, the PCMC is designed for you. We also see patients with newly diagnosed, metastatic prostate cancer who have not yet (or very recently) started hormone therapy and some patients who have a rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level after surgery and radiation therapy.
Why? These people are most likely to benefit from having two or more types of treatment: surgery, medicine-based options (like chemotherapy and immunotherapy) and/or radiation therapy.
What Will Happen at My First Appointment?
Your first appointment at the PCMC will usually take about four hours. You will spend about three hours with your physicians. We invite you to bring a friend or family member with you to help keep track of your questions and the information that your team gives you.
Here’s what you can expect to happen.
Hour 1 - Exam
You will meet with an attending physician, fellow or resident physician who will talk with you about your health history and do a physical exam.
Hour 2 - Team Meeting
Your team of physicians will meet to talk with each other about your cancer and the most effective ways to treat it. During this time, you will be free to visit the Patient Resource Center and other UW Medical Center – Montlake amenities.
Your attending physician, resident or fellow will present the details they learned from talking with you and examining you.
Your care team will review and explain the results of any biopsies, imaging scans and other tests you’ve had.
Your urologic oncologist, medical oncologist and radiation oncologist will apply their experience and knowledge about the best treatment approach for people in your situation.
Together, the team will design a treatment plan specifically for you.
Hours 3 and 4 - Recommendations
You will meet one-on-one with each physician from your team. You will stay in the same room and the physicians will come to you. We will explain the treatment we recommend for you and why. We’re here to answer your questions and talk through your options so you can make decisions you feel good about.
What Happens Next?
Before you leave, you will meet the PCMC program coordinator. We will schedule any appointments you need next. Your schedule will depend on your specific situation, but we’re here to handle the details and make the process as worry-free as possible for you.
Once treatment begins, our patients receive care at our South Lake Union clinic, UW Medical Center – Montlake or both.
Everyone on our team is used to partnering one-on-one with patients and their families to put in place the plans that are right for them. We want to help you understand as much as you wish to about your disease, your treatment and how care happens here — so you can focus on living your life.