Dr. Ann Pittier, MD

Media Releases

Get to know Radiation Oncologist Dr. Ann Pittier, who serves patients in Tacoma, Washington.

Passionate about the treatment of breast and gynecologic cancers, Dr. Pittier is affiliated with Tacoma Valley Radiation Oncology Centers. She has a strong background in utilizing radiotherapeutic treatments for solid tumors  including pulmonary, gastrointestinal, head and neck, sarcoma, and central nervous system disorders. 

Furthermore, she has extensive experience with intensity modulated radiation therapy, image-guided radiation therapy and stereotactic radiosurgery. She is also highly skilled at brachytherapy for breast, gynecologic and prostate cancers.

Academically, Dr. Pittier earned her Bachelor of Science degree at Occidental College before pursuing her medical degree at the Trinity College and completing a residency in internal medicine at the University of Washington. She furthered her training with an emphasis on cancer treatment, and completed a second residency in radiation oncology at the University of Washington Medical Center.

A member of the American College of Radiation Oncology, she is board-certified in radiation oncology and internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). The ABIM is a physician-led, non-profit, independent evaluation organization driven by doctors who want to achieve higher standards for better care in a rapidly changing world.

Radiation oncology is a medical specialty that involves the controlled use of radiation to treat cancer. It is one of the three primary specialties – the other two being surgical and medical oncology – involved in the treatment of cancer. A radiation oncologist is a specialist physician who uses ionizing radiation in the treatment of cancer.

Recommended Articles

• Radiation Therapy vs Chemotherapy

  Radiation TherapyIn this method, the doctors will use gamma rays, x-rays, and charged particles that will be directed at, implanted, or introduced directly into the blood stream. In this form of treatment, you will find the three types of therapy that will all be described according to way they...

• She Survived Breast Cancer, But Says a Treatment Side Effect Almost Killed Her

  In 2014, 47-year-old Virginia Harrod found a lump in her breast, which was actually stage III breast cancer. She was immediately started on shock-and-awe chemotherapy, but as it turned out, the cancer was chemo-resistant and the tumor only grew with each treatment. Harrod then underwent a double...

• Three-Week Chemotherapy Dosing Reconfirmed as First-Line Treatment of Ovarian Cancer

  Chemotherapy as a treatment option for cancer has existed for decades, and has long been the standard of care and first line of treatment for almost all forms of cancer. The term is an umbrella term referring to the use of medicines to halt the growth of cancerous tumors and to kill off cancerous...

• Radiotherapy for Cervical Cancer

  Radiotherapy is a treatment that involves high-energy X-rays or particles, which kill cancerous cells. It is sometimes used to treat non-cancerous tumors. Studies have shown that almost half of people with cancer receive radiotherapy as a part of their treatment plan.The type of radiotherapy to be...

• What Is Stage 4 Bladder Cancer?

  Stage 4 bladder cancer is a bladder cancer that has spread through the bladder wall. In this stage, cancer has also invaded the lymph nodes, abdominal wall, and other body organs. This type of cancer is also known as "metastatic" bladder cancer.Stage 4 bladder cancer applies to bladder cancer that...

• Does Bladder Cancer Require Chemotherapy for Treatment?

  Does bladder cancer require chemotherapy for treatment?Bladder cancer can be treated through a number of ways and chemotherapy is one of them. Chemotherapy is an important treatment method and it works well in many cases. However, to understand whether it is necessary, it is important to know what...