Rectal Cancer Care Team

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 can see you independently from your physician. They 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.

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 medicine-based treatments to match your specific case. They select the 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.

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 oversee this part of your care. Working with a radiation oncology team, they plan and deliver your treatments.

Your radiation oncologist:

• Sees you if your evaluation shows that radiation therapy is likely to help. If you didn’t need radiation at the start of care but this changes, we arrange for you to see a radiation oncologist then.
• Recommends radiation therapy 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 experts. These experts make sure you receive the right dose in the right places (dosimetrist). They also maintain the equipment used (medical physicist).
• Answers 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.
• 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.

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. 

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.

Your surgeon:

• 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.