Dr. Heather Parsons to Lead Fred Hutch's Breast Cancer Initiatives
Medical oncologist Dr. Heather Parsons, MD, MPH, has a personal connection to cancer, having witnessed its impact on her family when her younger sister was diagnosed with lymphoma as a young adult, and later with melanoma in childhood.
Depending on the progression of the illness and how the patient responds to treatment, they often work with the same oncology team for months or even years.
Her sister's diagnosis and treatment were a challenging time for her family, but now her sister is thriving. This experience led Dr. Parsons to specialize in oncology, specifically breast cancer treatment and research.
Dr. Parsons joined Fred Hutch Cancer Center as program head of the Breast Oncology Program, aiming to improve the experience for patients and their families.
Author's summary: Dr. Heather Parsons leads breast cancer initiatives at Fred Hutch.