Nellowe Candelario, MD

“I aim to get to know my patients and their families to understand their goals. Providing personalized cancer care is about more than treating the underlying cancer diagnosis. It’s also about understanding what’s important to a patient.”

— Dr. Candelario

What do you value about providing oncology care?

Each patient has their own story. Every first appointment with a patient and their loved ones has a lot of impact on me as a provider. It is when we discuss things about themselves, their worries and concerns, and questions they have about their diagnosis and treatment process. I see it as a chance to understand what matters to them while also providing answers.

I take great satisfaction when patients feel more informed and in control after that first visit. Being a partner with each patient through their treatment is a unique opportunity and the most rewarding part of my job.

What do you hope it’s like for a patient to work with you?

I believe patients should be key participants in their care and that the patient/physician partnership is very important. I strive to always have an in-depth discussion of a patient's diagnosis and treatment options. Open communication is essential to the success of any treatment.

Provider Background

Area of Clinical Practice
Medical oncology, benign (classical) and malignant hematology

I am a hematologist-oncologist who sees patients at Fred Hutch at UW Medical Center – Northwest.

I treat a wide variety of hematologic and oncologic disorders. I have had extensive clinical and research training in genitourinary oncology focused on prostate, bladder, kidney and testicular cancer, learning from world leaders in this cancer subspecialty. Genitourinary oncology includes a variety of cancer types with unique tumor characteristics, patient impacts, treatments and outcomes. I also treat other solid tumors, such as breast, lung and gastrointestinal, as well as skin cancers and blood disorders. I have been involved in various trials in genitourinary oncology during my training, and my research training also includes clinical trial design. I was privileged to be selected as one of the participants in the ASCO/AACR Methods of Clinical Cancer Research as a senior fellow.

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.