Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and Seattle Kraken Team up to Fight Cancer

St. Anne Cancer Center has become like a second home to Katie Sanchez. In April 2024, Sanchez noticed a lump on her neck. 

“‘You feel that, right?’” Sanchez remembers asking her husband. “I knew something wasn’t right.”

Sanchez got an ultrasound and a biopsy which revealed the unimaginable. She said the world stopped in its place when she heard the words ‘stage three non-Hodgkin lymphoma.’

“That was the worst night of my life,” she said. “We were all crying. All of a sudden, nothing else seemed to matter. When you’re a mom, it’s hard not to immediately think about your kids. It was really scary.”

Sanchez, a mother of three, began a six month treatment regimen, which included chemotherapy. Every week, she would visit her care team at St. Anne Cancer Center.

“They have taken such great care of me,” Sanchez said. “I felt so confident in my doctor’s knowledge and compassion. I knew I didn’t need to go anywhere else.”

The Cancer Center, only about a 10 minute drive from their home in Burien, was convenient and close to home.

On Thursday, Nov. 21, Sanchez celebrated a big milestone, and her care team had a special surprise for her. 

On her last day of chemotherapy, four Seattle Kraken players walked through the Cancer Center doors at St. Anne. As a part of Kraken Hockey Fights Cancer, the team visited the hospital to brighten the day for patients and staff. 

Together, with Sanchez’s care team, they sang her a song, took photos, and presented her with a purple Hockey Fights Cancer jersey. 

Sanchez said it was a great surprise–and a wonderful way to celebrate her last round of chemotherapy. 

“My kids aren’t going to believe it,” she said.

Sanchez wasn’t the only one smiling from ear-to-ear after the visit.
 

 
Justin Baas was at the clinic for radiation treatment. Adorning his Kraken jersey, he said the visit from the players was really cool. 

Baas was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2021.

“This may be a weird statement, but I’m grateful I had diverticulitis,” Baas said. 

Diverticulitis causes inflammation in the large intestine. Baas’ care team recommended a colonoscopy to help them better understand what was causing the inflammation. What they found was something unexpected.

“If it hadn’t been for that colonoscopy, I might not be here today,” said Baas. “I remember waking up and sitting down with the doctor after the procedure. He told me, ‘we found a mass.’ I immediately asked if it was cancer, and he said, ‘I can’t say for sure, but it doesn’t look good.”

Baas said his providers at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health have been incredible, helping him through what has been a long medical journey. Everyone from the nurses, to his doctors, even the staff at the front desks have been wonderful. He’s undergone two surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation. 

Baas said it’s been a hard road, but he fights every day for his two daughters and his wife. 

“You have to fight,” he said. 

Today, Baas is halfway through his radiation treatment. He said getting autographs and photos with the Kraken players was such a positive experience.

He hopes his story inspires others to get preventative care and screenings.

“I don’t want to see anyone else go through this,” Baas said. “If someone reads my story, I want them to take away one thing from it–get screened.”

Baas said that although he endured a lot, he’s also very grateful.

“I am so thankful for my entire care team,” he said. “My oncologist, gastroenterologist, radiation oncologist, nurses, everyone has been incredible.” 

Early detection saves lives

Earlier in the week, the Kraken and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) teamed up for Kraken Hockey Fights Cancer during the team’s Nov. 20 game against the Nashville Predators at Climate Pledge Arena. The stadium was lit up in purple, fans made 'I Fight For' signs, and a station was set up inside the arena where fans could get a simple PSA test to screen for prostate cancer.

During the game, 93 men were screened for prostate cancer at no cost to them, thanks to a grant through the Kraken.

As men waited in line to get a blood draw, they expressed their gratitude to VMFH staff for making prostate cancer screening accessible and convenient. 

“We drove all the way from Idaho,” said one Kraken fan. “We thought, why not watch a hockey game and get screened for prostate cancer.”

He said it was a win-win.

“Community cancer screening events are one of the ways that we can truly access patients who might otherwise not be able or willing to take time to get their routine screenings done,” said Jamie Dobosz, manager, Community Cancer Program. It makes me proud to work for an organization that prioritizes patient care and community involvement. If we help to find one cancer, or provide an attendee with information that helps with early detection, it is all worth it.”

Dean Owen, 68, was at the game on Nov. 20. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2022. He has a family history, and so he’s been vigilant about getting PSA tests. He started getting PSA tests in 2015. The quick blood draw, which measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), can help detect prostate cancer early.

For seven years, Owen monitored his PSA numbers, and they kept climbing. It was a concerning trend, and one that could indicate prostate cancer. Eventually, a biopsy revealed that to be the case, and Owen decided surgical intervention was the best option for him.

“Knowledge is power,” said Owen. “When you’re screened, you have answers. It’s important to be vigilant. There are many different treatment options. For me, surgery was the best choice.”

Owen said he trusted his care team implicitly. They individualized his care and treatment plan, and they led with compassion and knowledge.

Owen underwent surgery, radiation, and hormone therapy.

“We have a team approach to treatment,” said Amber Post, MD, PhD, Owen’s radiation oncologist at VMFH. “It’s hard to hear you have cancer, but we walk with our patients through the process. We know early detection saves lives. You don’t want to have to think about prostate cancer, but at events like this, we are meeting guys where they are.”

“The doctors at VMFH are world-class,” said Owen.

Owen says today, he’s doing well. Today, his PSA is zero. What continues to drive him forward is his bucket list.

“All guys have a bucket list,” he said. “We have goals we want to reach. For me, it’s seeing my 4-year-old grandson graduate college, and I know Dr. Post will help me achieve that goal.”