Comprehensive Cancer Center

In September 2000 the Commission on Cancer from the American College of Surgeons designated VA Puget Sound Health Care System as a Teaching Hospital Cancer Program. This designation qualified us in May 2001 as a Comprehensive Cancer Center through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Over the past years we have a labored under the demands and enjoyed benefits of the continued Growth of the Cancer Program at the VAPSHCS. Our patient load has continued to grow at an average annual rate of approximately 15%. This is due in part to the nationally recognized seed brachytherapy program for prostate cancer that has continued to develop innovative methods of administration and cost-containment.

The Cancer Care Clinic has continued to provide comprehensive patient care to a large number of veterans and their families. The Cancer Clinic has its own infusion clinic for chemotherapy as well as clinics for Oncology outpatients. Patients are often able to receive all their workup and treatment without admission to the hospital.

The VAPSHCS multidisciplinary oncology Tumor Board conference is held weekly. Tumor Board provides clinical information, pathologic staging, and treatment recommendations for the patient's disease. Staff representatives from Medical, Surgical, and Radiation Oncology act as discussants. The conference provides a forum to disseminate the most current publications and determine eligibility of patients for cooperative group trials (SWOG). The conferences provide continuing medical education and provide a convenient forum for expeditious management decisions of complex patients.

Over the past year the cancer program at the VA Puget Sound has continued to grow in both clinical volume and scope of services provided to veterans.  Our programs in telemedical oncology and palliative care have matured and now serve as practice models for other VA medical centers around the country.  New multidisciplinary programs have been initiated that focus on head and neck oncology and urologic oncology. The Marrow Transplant Program also remains a model of the latest patient care and clinical research available.

The VAPSHCS Cancer Program is dedicated to reducing the mortality rate of cancer by using a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of patients, screening and early detection of cancer.

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