About Dr. Ryan Holbrook
Dr. Ryan Holbrook retired in 2023 after more than 20 years of caring for cancer patients. His career focused on abdominal cancers, and he was considered one of the top mesothelioma surgeons in the country.
Peritoneal mesothelioma patients from the Pacific Northwest and around the United States have sought Dr. Holbrook for surgical treatment, as surgery is the only curative option available.
Depending on the cancer stage and other factors, cytoreduction with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) allows patients to live longer than was ever possible.
“We can have a long-term cure rate of anywhere from 75 to 90%, versus before it wasn’t very good at all.”
– Dr. Ryan Holbrook
Dr. Ryan Holbrook’s Career Highlights
With more than 20 years of experience surgically treating cancer, Dr. Holbrook significantly contributed to mesothelioma treatment and research.
Career highlights include:
- Introducing radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment at Cancer Care Northwest to kill cancer cells using heat and energy
- Helping develop a world-class cancer treatment center with an integrated care model
- Pioneering the use of HIPEC for peritoneal mesothelioma treatment
- Serving as the only peritoneal mesothelioma specialist in the Pacific Northwest
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Dr. Ryan Holbrook’s Background
Dr. Holbrook holds a degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. After an internship at New England Medical Center, he completed general surgical residencies at Tufts Medical Center in Boston and Maine Medical Center in Portland.
He has since honed his surgical skills and gained valuable experience through several fellowships around the country.
These have included:
- Massachusetts General Hospital (designated by the National Cancer Institute as a comprehensive cancer center)
- Roswell Park Cancer Institute (America’s first cancer center)
- Virginia Mason Medical Center (with its premier Cancer Institute in Seattle)
Dr. Holbrook has spent more than 20 years in Washington as a surgical oncologist specializing in abdominal cancers, including peritoneal mesothelioma.
For most of that time, he has partnered with Cancer Care Northwest, where he introduced several important procedures like cytoreduction with HIPEC and radiofrequency ablation (RFA).
In addition to his groundbreaking treatment for mesothelioma patients, Dr. Holbrook can treat nearly 30 other types of cancers and conditions using a wide range of procedures, allowing him to master skills that further inform his work in mesothelioma.
Dr. Ryan Holbrook’s Medical Specializations
Dr. Holbrook is a board-certified surgical oncologist specializing in peritoneal mesothelioma cancer. As the only surgeon in the Pacific Northwest qualified to treat peritoneal mesothelioma, he has worked with countless patients within the region and beyond.
He pioneered cytoreduction with HIPEC surgery in the region. The average life expectancy of peritoneal mesothelioma is 1 year or less. However, surgery with HIPEC treatment has proven to extend patients’ lives by another 4 or 5 years. Some patients have even achieved long-term survival, living 15 years or more following this treatment.
Cytoreduction with HIPEC is a two-part surgical treatment. First, the surgical team removes visible tumors in the abdominal lining. Then after the surgery is complete, the team bathes the abdominal cavity with a heated chemotherapy solution that kills the remaining cancer cells.
“The heat is important. The heat kills cancer cells, but it also helps in a sense [to] open the pores of the tissue so the chemo will penetrate a little bit further.”
– Dr. Ryan Holbrook
Cytoreduction with HIPEC is a complex procedure that requires highly skilled and experienced surgeons. Depending on the tumor locations, surgeons may have to move organs for better access and cut away cancerous parts. The entire operation takes 10 hours or longer.
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Dr. Ryan Holbrook’s Career Accomplishments
Dr. Holbrook has achieved remarkable accomplishments in his career as a cancer surgeon.
During his years of service at Cancer Care Northwest, Dr. Holbrook has helped develop an integrated cancer care center that treats each patient as a unique individual. Dr. Holbrook and the center’s staff ensure families are emotionally supported during these difficult times.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Holbrook’s awards and honors include:
- American College of Surgeons Fellow
- Best Doctors in America® List selection
- Massachusetts General Hospital (Fellowship)
- Roswell Park Cancer Institute (Fellowship)
- Society of Surgical Oncology (Member)
- Virginia Mason Medical Center (Fellowship)
Dr. Ryan Holbrook’s Healing Philosophy
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare illness, but Dr. Holbrook closely examined each patient’s case and provided customized treatment.
“Each patient is treated as an individual and given the best possible surgical treatment for their cancer. I believe that supporting each person we treat physically, psychologically, and spiritually is an essential part of healing.”
– Dr. Ryan Holbrook
The stage of cancer, tumor location, and the patient’s overall health all have an impact on how Dr. Holbrook performed related surgeries.
Connect With Mesothelioma Specialists
If you’ve been diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, you may be eligible for treatments that can help you live longer with fewer symptoms.
We can help you connect with top mesothelioma doctors who provide the latest therapies.
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