James R. Cunningham, MD

What do you enjoy about practicing medicine?

I was one of those kids in high school who liked to look at blood under the microscope, and from there I followed a straight line into the health sciences. When I was first entering oncology, there was a lot about cancer that was still a mystery, and being able to witness the developments in the field firsthand has been a great reward of my career. Another reward has been the chance to guide patients through difficult health challenges while supporting their autonomy. The word “doctor” comes from the Latin word “docere,” which means to teach,  and if there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s helping people understand the circumstances of their illness. The more patients know — when they’re ready to hear it — the more empowered they are to make decisions on their behalf. However, education is not unidirectional: I look to each patient to teach me about their life, their family and their perspective on their situation. My vision of the ideal patient-physician relationship is an equal partnership, where each of us learns from the other.

Tell us about an interaction with a patient that had a significant impact on you.

Early in my career, I encountered a patient whose cancer was progressing. Her doctor was trying to hurry through the visit that day, and he told her, “There’s nothing more we can do for you. Go home.” I’ll never forget those words — or the look of abandonment on the patient’s face. That moment has informed my approach to care ever since. I believe in supporting patients and families no matter what. Regardless of what the next scan or test reveals, whether treatment is going well or whether treatment stops, I make a commitment to be part of your care team.

Provider Background

Solid tumors, other cancers
I am a board-certified medical oncologist with 40 years of experience treating patients with cancer. The focus of much of my career has been providing care for people with solid tumors, such as cancers of the lung, breast and gastrointestinal system. Currently, I provide oncology care at various Fred Hutch community sites across the region. I am also a diplomat in medical oncology with the American Board of Internal Medicine and a fellow of the American College of Physicians.

In addition to working with patients, I study cancer ecology — the conditions within the body that enable cancer to take root. Applying the tools and concepts of ecology and evolutionary biology to the study of cancer can help us better understand the way a tumor relates to the surrounding tissue, blood vessels and cells. This knowledge presents opportunities for improving existing treatments and developing novel therapies.

Community Oncology
Our mission is to provide patients with the highest quality, personalized care closer to home. As part of Fred Hutch, our community oncologists offer patients multidisciplinary tumor board opinions, clinical trials and expertise in treating a variety of cancers.