In Seattle, WA there is a community of heroes. Those who wear the gloves that change lives. This superhero team is the physicians at Virginia Mason Medical Cancer Institute. Each day they trust their instincts and hands to make the difference between life and death. At VMMC, the physicians are highly skilled and trained for all situations. They know that timing is a first priority, especially when dealing with cancerous cells. Dr. Chris Porter is one of those heroes which helps cure testicular cancer.
Virgina Mason Medical Center treats and cures every type of cancer known to man. Dr. Porter is the specialist in dealing with the most common cancer among young men, testicular cancer. According to the Mayoclinic, “Compared with other types of cancer, testicular cancer is rare” (2009). The cells typically double every hour, but this cancer type is also known as one of the most curable cancers depending on the stage and progress. In the United States, between 7,500 and 8,000 diagnoses of testicular cancer, also known as testis cancer, are made each year. Testicular cancer is an abnormal, rapid and invasive growth of cancerous cells in the testicles. Testicular cancer represents 1 percent of all cancers in males, but it is the most common cancer in the 20-35 year-old age group.
The Floyd and Delores Jones Cancer Institute at Virginia Mason represents a radical departure from traditional cancer care delivery models. Instead of requiring patients to travel to different locations within a medical center for treatment, the Cancer Institute at Virginia Mason condenses a wide range of specialized care—hematology and oncology services, clinical trials, infusion rooms, on-site pharmacy and lab services, social work, and support groups—into one central location. Services flow to the patient, resulting in minimal wait times and seamless delivery of care. The patient care system at Virginia Mason brings a sense of relaxation and hope, which is a rarity during times of cancer treatment. According to Dr. Porter, "Patient care drives all aspects of my practice; their confidence and safety are always at the heart of medical decision-making. I feel that their outcomes depend upon our quest to advance medical therapies through an integrated approach of research, education, and team medicine."
Even the facility itself was created in the image of hope. According to the creators of the structure, “A Garden of Life ties the healing properties of nature to the facility's architectural design. The Garden of Life replaces a traditional waiting room with a series of spaces intended to inspire hope. Visitors can wait in various alcoves and seating areas or visit the meditation room, education center, or the café. Designers chose natural materials such as wood, water, and stone to help create an atmosphere of optimism.”The atmosphere of VMMC as a whole makes it the leading cancer institute in the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Porter believes, "Virginia Mason’s focus on patient care and medical education, together with its outstanding national reputation, makes it a wonderful facility in which to practice medicine. I am proud to be a part of this excellent medical center."
With all this knowledge about the facilities of Virginia Mason, what makes this cancer institute unique as a community? Virginia Mason is more than a facility; it is a community of hope. It is a trusting relationship which when you visit for cancer treatment, you are one hundred percent certain you are creating the best odds for survivorship. Virginia Mason represents and markets themselves as a team. They do this by working all sections simultaneously to get each patient their results as fast as possible. Each patient should be able to walk into the medical center, receive their initial evaluation, have blood work complete and all necessary x-rays/scans to know what their problem is and how to solve it. Not only do they have the best doctors, they can prove it. This means that cross specialty/cancer lines, their doctors are far better than any other doctors around.
There is a story about a young man named Nick. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer on May 16th 2007 around 6 PM at night. Within one hour of waiting he received a call to report at 4 AM the next morning for an orchiectomy (removal of the cancerous testis). What makes Virginia Mason the best is dealing with problems instantly and giving solutions immediately. There was no time for Nick to contemplate and stress about his cancer. Instead, he was able to give his life in the gloves of the best doctors around. In return, he received the gift of life and hope.
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