Dr. Rafael Santana-Davila leads the medical oncology department at the Swedish Cancer Institute First Hill. His expertise focuses on asbestos-related diseases and thoracic oncology, including mesothelioma and lung cancers. He believes compassionate, evidence-based care empowers patients facing complex diagnoses.
“It is our responsibility to offer the best possible treatment, providing state-of-the-art care within a multidisciplinary team,” he tells us. “My goal is to provide patients and their families the most up-to-date and clear information about their disease, prognosis and treatment options.”
Dr. Santana-Davila specializes in understanding how mesothelioma cells spread, grow and die at the genetic level. His research helps predict which patients will respond best to specific treatments, allowing for more personalized care plans. At his cancer center, he uses advanced technology including Gamma Knife radiation systems and an on-site laboratory for fast, accurate diagnostics. Patients benefit from his approach of applying the latest research findings directly to their individual treatment.
“We have come a long way [in treating cancer] from a few decades ago, but there still is a lot of work to do,” he says. “I want to continue seeking advances in therapeutic options for patients with cancer.”
He adds, “My interest in oncology grew from two things: First from a fascination with trying to understand the process of why cancer develops. And secondly, and probably most importantly, is because while caring for cancer patients, they invariably teach you a variety of life lessons that make you a better person.”
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Tim Povtak is an award-winning writer with more than 30 years of reporting national and international news. His specialty is interviewing top mesothelioma specialists and researchers, reporting the latest news at mesothelioma cancer centers and talking with survivors and caregivers.
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