SEATTLE — May is National Cancer Research Month, and Swedish is increasing awareness of its cutting-edge cancer treatment and research.
“We’ll be celebrating our 90th anniversary next year with great innovations in cancer care including some of the first radiation treatments this side of the Mississippi,” said Sara Jo Grethlein, Executive Medical Director, Swedish Cancer Institute.
The Swedish Cancer Institute provides the full spectrum of cancer care at multiple sites around Puget Sound, including prevention, screening and treatment. Swedish has also been doing cancer research since the 1970s and now offers 300 clinical trials with 100 of those dedicated to treatment choices for patients.
“Research is inseparable from state-of-the-art cancer care,” said Dr. Philip Gold, Medical Director for Clinical Research, Swedish Cancer Institute “All of the treatments our patients get, at some point, were a research study.”
A leader in research and clinical trials, the Swedish team gives patients today a fighting chance by helping them access experimental drugs. This means tomorrow’s patients receive more options for treatment, based on the results of those trials. The team believes that cancer care and clinical research work in tandem to provide the best care for patients.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have fallen behind on cancer screenings. Now is the time to prioritize those lifesaving screenings.
These include screenings for breast, prostate, lung, cervical and colon cancers. Cervical cancer screening is recommended starting at age 25 for anyone with a cervix, and many other cancer screening tests are advised to start in your 40s for individuals at average risk.
Swedish specialists have helped develop screening tests, technologies and therapies that are now helping cancer patients around the world. The cancer care team is providing several “first in human” therapies as part of its cutting-edge, clinical research program.
“I’m very excited about tackling some of the toughest diseases that are out there,” Grethlein said. “It’s a very exciting time. The future is so much brighter than it was only 5 years ago.”
If you feel inspired to support cancer research with a monetary gift, you can learn more at swedishfoundation.org/cancer.
Sponsored by Swedish. Segment Producer Suzie Wiley. Watch New Day Northwest 11 AM weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.