Better Cancer Care, Close to Home


A cancer diagnosis is frightening for anyone. Among the questions that patients and their families wrestle with is how to find the best care and whether that care is accessible to them. For many residents of South King County, traveling to Seattle for cancer care is simply not an option—especially for frequent appointments or for infusion treatments that can last several hours per session. Even those who can afford the time and transportation costs are better served when they can get treatment closer to home, at an institution they know and trust, with family and friends by their side.

“The journey before and after diagnosis is something our providers and staff feel very passionate about. Our team has worked hard to create a cancer treatment program built on trust and partnership with our patients and their families—one that encourages shared decision making and provides support from an exceptional and diverse team of specialists.” 
Dr. Navanshu Arora, Medical Director for Cancer Services, Valley Medical Center
 

Valley has built a strong cancer care program that has long since outgrown its allotted space and is scattered throughout the Valley campus. Care coordination has become increasingly difficult, with providers located in different areas of the hospital and in separate clinics; patients have to experience the added stress of going to multiple locations on campus for their testing, care, and treatment. The lack of a single state-of-the-art facility has also hampered efforts to expand the research program and to fully realize the potential benefits of the UW Medicine partnership in the area of cancer care.

The Cancer Center will be located on two dedicated floors of a new building on the Valley campus, which will have an adjacent seven-story parking complex. When the center is complete, it will offer cutting-edge cancer care in one central location, with only the rarest and most complex cases being referred to specialists at UW Medical Center and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

  • Integration of all cancer care departments, including hematology and oncology, radiation oncology, the Breast Center, screening and genetics, rehabilitation services, and support services

  • Care conference suites for meetings between patients and their multidisciplinary team of providers

  • An infusion and immunotherapy center with patient and family orientation areas, a fast-track room for quick procedures, and spacious treatment rooms with recliners, TVs and DVD players, free WiFi, a reading library, heated blankets, snacks and beverages, room service, free interpreter services, and space for friends and family

  • State-of-the-art radiation technology that delivers precision high-dose treatments while minimizing radiation exposure, reducing complications, and ensuring faster recovery times

  • A comprehensive Breast Center that offers 3-D mammography and is staffed by dedicated breast radiologists and expert support staff in a soothing environment that includes warm robes, designer gowns, and original artwork

  • Plastic and reconstructive services that can provide patients with physically and emotionally transformative results

  • A rehabilitation center that offers physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and other services to help patients manage symptoms related to their cancer and treatment

  • Research facilities that accommodate an expanded array of clinical trials related to cancer prevention and screening, treatment, symptom management, and post-treatment surveillance

  • An onsite spa where oncology-certified aestheticians provide facials, manicures, makeup consultations, and other services to help patients feel better and reduce stress

  • A survivorship program that helps guide cancer survivors in their transition from active treatment to life after treatment

  • A palliative care clinic that supports quality-of-life decisions and pain management for patients with progressive, serious illness

  • Free programs including workshops on nutrition, hair loss, and skin care; a wig, hat, and turban bank; yoga and movement classes; pet therapy teams; and a 24-hour resource hotline

Valley’s team approach to cancer care will be greatly enhanced in the new Center:
  • An oncology RN navigator will be assigned to each patient to coordinate treatment and serve as the main point of contact for questions or concerns.

  • Multidisciplinary conferences will bring together a patient’s entire care team—including the patient’s primary care provider, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, surgeons, and social workers—to discuss treatment plans and ensure close collaboration. A process that could otherwise take weeks will be completed in a single day.

  • Patient meetings will include consultations between the patient and the entire care team as well as one-on-one appointments with individual care providers.

  • A financial coordinator will be available to help address financial concerns.

  • A registered dietitian will offer nutrition assessments and help the patient develop a therapeutic diet.

  • Quick referrals will be made to UW Medical Center and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance for rare and complex diagnoses and for appropriate clinical trials.


Join the Campaign for Valley’s New Cancer Center

Our campaign for the new Cancer Center builds on Valley’s financial strength, legacy of trust within the community, and reputation for delivering compassionate care. Our community takes tremendous pride in having an excellent hospital close to home that provides exceptional services to address any medical need. Consolidating cancer services into a unified space and providing expanded services will ensure that everyone in South King County has access to first-rate cancer care without the commute to Seattle. Excitement about the project is building among local and regional institutions, foundations, and private philanthropists, and we have launched a $10 million private fundraising effort to support this $60 million project. We invite you to join in and invest in a healthier future for an entire community—a community that increasingly reflects the vibrancy and diversity of our country, as well as the challenges of population growth and economic disparities. Donors who share our vision of an innovative cancer center for South King County residents are stepping forward to make this a reality.