Evergreen cancer patients have access to the latest in treatment protocols and state-of-the-art medical technologies.

The multidisciplinary design of the Evergreen Cancer Program provides patients access to a team of experts who collaborate in their consultation and care. The Cancer Advisory Board meets weekly to discuss all cancer cases and the various treatment options available. For patients, this means the top minds from all disciplines of cancer care are involved in developing the best treatment plan specific to each individual.

Treatment recommendations will depend on many factors, such as the size, history, location and stage of the tumor along with the patient's age and general health. Certain features of the tumor cells (such as whether they depend on hormones to grow) are also considered.

Evergreen is also pleased to team with NexCura, Inc. to provide patients with The NexProfiler.  This decision-support tool will help you understand your treatment options and the possible side effects. It also provides you with questions to ask your doctor and personalized reports using published medical research papers.

Factors Considered in Treatment Recommendations

TUMOR SIZE

• The smaller the size the better

LOCATION

• Is the tumor localized?
• Has it spread to lymph nodes?
• Has it spread to distant parts of the body (metastasized)?

HORMONE RECEPTOR STATUS

• Estrogen and progesterone can act as food for some cancers. When a tumor is “estrogen receptor (ER) positive” or “progesterone receptor (PR) positive” it means that estrogen and/or progesterone when inserted (much like an electrical plus) into the receptor will stimulate that cell to multiply.
• When ER and/or PR status is positive it allows for additional treatment options involving medications that act to block the connection between the hormones and the receptors.

S-PHASE FRACTION

• This measures how actively a tumor is growing
• A high S-phase fraction indicates an aggressive tumor

GRADING

• Grades go from 1-4; the lower the grade of the tumor the better
• Low grade tumors are the least abnormal
• High grade tumors are the most abnormal

STAGE OF DISEASE

• All of the above factors determine the stage of disease
• Staging is a measurement of the extent of cancer present within a patient. There are 4 stages: Stage I, Stage II, Stage III, and Stage IV. The higher the staging number, the more advanced the cancer.

Using all of this information, Evergreen’s multidisciplinary team analyzes each case to determine the most effective treatment. This team is made up of experts in all areas of cancer treatment at Evergreen and includes radiologists, pathologists, surgeons and both medical and radiation oncologists. This close working relationship between the different branches of cancer diagnosis and treatment provide Evergreen patients with the best ideas from some of the brightest minds in their fields.

If you have a question about cancer radiation therapy or another cancer treatment, please call 425.899.1860.