At Fred Hutch Cancer Center, we surround you with experts who focus completely on cancer care. Our liver cancer specialists care for people with this disease every day and understand the complex decisions involved in treating liver tumors.
A small group of providers makes up the core of your liver cancer care team. For most people, this includes a medical oncologist and a registered nurse who specialize in caring for people with liver cancer. At some visits, you may also meet with an advanced practice provider, such as a nurse practitioner or physician assistant. A patient care coordinator helps schedule your visits and supports you throughout your care.
Because liver cancer and liver disease can affect treatment options, we bring in additional specialists based on your specific needs. If surgery or a liver transplant is part of your care, you will work with hepatobiliary surgeons and transplant surgeons who have deep experience treating liver tumors. If other health issues could affect your treatment plan, we involve the right experts at the right time — such as gastroenterologists, cardiologists or other specialists who focus on caring for people with cancer.
You also have access to a full team of supportive care providers. Registered dietitians, physical therapists, psychologists, social workers and others work closely with your cancer team to help manage side effects, support your overall well‑being and improve quality of life. They coordinate their care with your physicians so your treatment addresses your whole health — not just the cancer.
Together, your care team collaborates with you to create and adjust a treatment plan that reflects your diagnosis, your liver health and what matters most to you.
What Each Team Member Does
Advanced Practice Provider (APP)
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.
Infusion Nurse
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.
Medical Oncologist
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.
Patient Care Coordinator
Your patient care coordinator works closely with you and your physician. They serve as your scheduler.
Radiation Oncologist
This physician treats cancer with radiation. They prescribe and manage this part of your care. 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 will 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.
- See 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 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.
Radiation Oncology Nurse
This specialist 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.
Radiation Therapist
This specialist positions you each time you come in for radiation treatment. This makes sure that your treatment goes to the right places on your body. They also operate the machines that deliver the radiation.
Registered Nurse (RN)
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.
Supportive Care Services
Many types of supportive care team members are here to help you and your family. They include registration dietitians, physical therapists, pain medicine specialists, psychologists, social workers, Spiritual Health clinicians, palliative care specialists, naturopaths and acupuncturists.
Learn more about supportive care services.
Surgeon
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.
Surgical Oncologist
A surgical oncologist is a physician who has specialized training in doing biopsies and other surgical procedures in cancer patients.