For more than two decades, Compass Oncology has been a trusted leader in providing world-class cancer care to patients across Northern Oregon and Southern Washington. Our integrated team approach guides patients from diagnosis through cancer treatment and into survivorship with personalized, comprehensive care every step of the way.
Choosing Compass Oncology means receiving care close to home in a welcoming, community-based setting, where you’re more than just a patient. We know your name, remember your story, and are here for you with genuine compassion. In our hallways, hugs are common, and the connections we build with our patients are lasting.
Learn more about the type of cancer you or a loved one was diagnosed with. If you don’t see it here, it doesn’t mean we don’t treat it! Request an appointment for a consultation.
Cancer is a disease that occurs when cells in the body grow and divide uncontrollably. Normally, cells follow an orderly process of growth, division, and death. However, when this process breaks down, abnormal cells can form and multiply without stopping. These cancer cells can form masses called tumors (though not all cancers form tumors) and may interfere with normal body functions.
Cancer cells can spread beyond their original site through tissue, blood, and the lymphatic system—a process known as metastasis. This ability to invade surrounding tissues and travel to other parts of the body is what makes cancer particularly serious.
There are more than 100 types of cancer, usually named for the organ or type of cell where the cancer begins, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, or colon cancer. While each type of cancer behaves differently, they all begin with changes in the genetic material of cells, often triggered by a combination of lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors.
Understanding what cancer is—and how it behaves—is the first step in learning how it’s diagnosed, treated, and, in many cases, managed successfully.