Mukta K Krane, MD, FACS

What made you choose oncology?

My first exposure to cancer was watching a friend battle leukemia at the age of five. I was amazed by the grace and strength with which she faced it. As I went through my surgical training, I often thought of her, realizing I wanted to help patients navigate all stages of their cancer treatment — from diagnosis to survivorship. I feel that the trust patients bestow on their care team, and in particular their surgeon, is an honor. I became a doctor because I was drawn to the opportunity to use my abilities to help patients and their loved ones overcome medical challenges.

What is your vision for cancer prevention, care and treatment?

I believe cancer care should be personalized, combining your goals and beliefs with the latest evidence-based medicine, always with a focus on your quality of life. Prevention and early detection, particularly when it comes to colon cancer, are really important. I would like to see increased awareness of this disease — because it’s often quite advanced before people even realize they have it — and greater access to colonoscopies, a procedure that screens for it. As a surgeon, I also hope that we, as a field, will continue to improve the surgical treatment of colon and anal cancers through the use of minimally invasive techniques.

Provider Background

Specialty: Surgery

Area of clinical practice

Colorectal cancers

Colon, rectal and anal cancers

I am a board-certified surgeon who specializes in the treatment of colon, rectal and anal cancers as well as inflammatory bowel disease. My clinical expertise includes using minimally invasive surgical techniques. In addition to caring for patients at Fred Hutch, I serve as the chief of colorectal surgery at UW Medicine. As a member of multiple surgical associations, I participate on several committees for the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.