W. Tristram Arscott, MD

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Get to know Radiation Oncologist Dr. W. Tristram Arscott, who serves patients in Oregon.

Dr. Arscott, a skilful radiation oncologist, is affiliated with Compass Oncology. He sees patients at Compass Oncology – West Cancer Center in Tigard, Oregon & Compass Oncology – Rose Quarter Cancer Center in Portland. 

The doctor’s specific areas of specialty include breast cancer, prostate cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, genitourinary cancers, gynecologic cancers, head & neck cancers, lymphomas, high dose-rate brachytherapy, and proton beam therapy.

Believing in a collaborative approach to patient care, Dr. Arscott works with the patient’s entire care team and brings the patient into the discussion when coming up with a treatment plan. He is trained in all areas of radiation oncology, particularly in modern radiotherapy approaches to treat cancers (hypofractionation, intensity modulated radiation therapy, image-guided radiation therapy), stereotactic body radiotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery (brain and spine), as well as palliative radiation oncology.

Growing up in the Bay Area in California, Dr. Arscott is the second of four brothers. He completed his undergraduate and medical studies in Vermont, earning his medical degree from The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at The University of Vermont. He also spent two years at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland as part of a Howard Hughes Medical Institute training program, during which he performed clinical and translational research in radiation oncology with a focus on gliomas. He completed his internship in internal medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and then 4 years of training in their Radiation Oncology Program.

Continuously advancing his efforts, he is a member of the American College of Radiation Oncology, the American Society of Radiation Oncology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Radiosurgery Society, and the Society for Palliative Radiation Oncology.

An expert in his field, Dr. Arscott has a special interest in the incorporation of new technology to improve outcomes and reduce treatment-related toxicities, as well as the use of new technologies to assist patients in their path through cancer treatment. He has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals, and has presented his research at national and international scientific meetings.

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.

On a more personal note, Dr. Arscott lives in Portland with his husband. They enjoy running, climbing, exploring the outdoors, cooking, and traveling.

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