Carrie A. Graham, ARNP

What makes working in oncology meaningful for you?

So many things about the field of oncology give me a sense of fulfillment; one of the biggest is the constant opportunity to both teach and learn from others. I’ve always enjoyed talking with patients about the trajectory of their disease and their treatment options so that they can participate fully in their care. Now, I also serve as a resource for my colleagues, sharing my knowledge about performing cancer-related procedures. On the other side of that, I’ve met so many amazing families who teach me lessons about life, gratitude, grace and love. I step away from those moments thinking, wow, I learned more from them than they learned from me.

How do you help patients?

One of the reasons I went into cancer care was so that I could take care of patients throughout the continuum of their illness — and I had the privilege of doing that for many years. Now, as a procedurist, my role is a little different; I don’t necessarily follow patients for a long period of time, but deeply connecting one-on-one with people is still an important part of what I do. Once you’re in the room with me, you always have my undivided attention. I will make you as comfortable as possible while performing procedures safely and thoroughly. I’ll spend as much time as you need answering questions and helping you to understand what’s being done and why.

Provider Background

Cancer-related procedures

I am an advanced registered nurse practitioner with more than 15 years of experience in cancer care. My background includes earning an advanced certificate in oncology and working in the field of neuro-oncology at both Fred Hutch and UW Medicine. In my current role, I perform cancer-related procedures, such as bone marrow biopsies and lumbar punctures, for patients with a variety of diseases. I also evaluate patients who have been referred to Fred Hutch for a suspected malignancy. In addition to providing patient care, I am an avid teacher who mentors newer health care providers and other staff on how to perform oncologic procedures.