Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) medical oncologists provide chemotherapy services at the Halvorson Cancer Center, bringing their cancer-fighting expertise to patients on the Eastside.
They also help guide the treatment planning process at the weekly Cancer Conference.
The SCCA Medical Oncology Clinic at EvergreenHealth has 13 private exam rooms and a minor procedure room.
Depending on the type of cancer and where it is found, chemotherapy may be given in a number of different ways, including:
When chemotherapy is given over a longer period of time, a thin catheter can be placed into a large vein near the heart. This is called a central line.
The catheter is placed during a minor surgery.
There are many types of catheters including central venous catheter, central venous catheter with a port, and percutaneously inserted central catheter (PICC).
Chemotherapy is most often given in cycles, which may last one day, several days or a few weeks or more.
There will usually be a rest period when no chemotherapy is given between each cycle. A rest period may last for days, weeks or months.
This allows the body and blood counts to recover before the next dose.
Chemotherapy is usually administered at a special clinic or at the hospital.
Some people are able to receive chemotherapy in their home, with home health nurses will helping with the medicines and IVs.
The Infusion Center at EvergreenHealth has 23 treatment suites that offer a combination of private rooms, individual treatment bays with garden views, a community room with multiple infusion stations and five fast-track stations.
