History
Founded more than 30 years ago, Cancer Care Northwest has grown into the Inland Northwest’s premier cancer center. While we have seen significant change over the last three decades, we have remained committed to our vision of becoming the region’s leading provider of integrated, comprehensive cancer care services.
This is our story:
Cancer Care Northwest was founded in 1975 as Spokane Oncology & Hematology by Dr. Turner Wood, a highly respected cancer physician. In 1999, the practice was purchased by U.S. Oncology, a nationwide network of oncology practices. With this partnership came new access to cancer technologies, research programs, and management and funding resources. It was a strategic move that allowed us to recruit leading oncologists and to expand our services.
Later that year, Cancer Care Northwest moved into a spacious 20,500-square-foot facility in south Spokane, realizing our vision of providing the region with a new model of cancer care. As the first fully integrated cancer center in the Inland Northwest, the South Office offered patients comprehensive cancer care at one convenient location, including on-site lab, nursing, medical oncology, therapeutic radiation, diagnostic imaging, X-rays, support programs and counseling.
To meet the needs of the community, we opened a new 12,500-square-foot treatment center in north Spokane in June 2000. The state-of-the-art North Office enhanced our research capabilities and made treatment more convenient for patients. We also opened our Spokane Valley Office to improve our Valley patients’ access to our comprehensive services.
Jan. 1, 2008, Cancer Care Northwest separated from our longtime partner, U.S. Oncology, to become a physician-owned practice. The separation allowed our physicians to pursue their long-term vision for providing integrated cancer services.
Also in 2008, Cancer Care Northwest purchased Spokane’s first GE Discovery PET/CT scanner. Located at our Deaconess Office, this sophisticated technology gives our patients access to the most advanced imaging services in the region. The scanner is located in a healing environment, a new, forward-thinking approach to providing better cancer care. The Deaconess suite features natural elements and soothing colors that encourage healing and reduce patient’s stress.
A Varian Clinac iX Linear Accelerator was also added to our suite of radiation services at our North office in 2008. This modern, digital linear accelerator delivers advanced forms of radiation therapy and is the newest accelerator in the region.
In 2009, we further enhanced our services with an American Cancer Society patient navigator, an oncology nutritionist, and a breast program coordinator. The addition of these new cancer specialists to our integrated care teams improved our ability to provide the highest level of cancer care to our patient care.
We are proud to be the only privately owned, fully integrated cancer treatment center in the Inland Northwest. Since our beginnings, we have served the region with comprehensive, innovative, compassionate care. We are committed to providing, and continuously improving, our premier cancer care in the decades to come.