Treatment Options

We are local leaders in Radiotherapy, as our radiology specialists have honed their expertise for over 3 decades. Radiation therapy works by damaging the DNA in the cancer cell, thereby disabling the cancer cells from reproducing and growing. The cancer cells then die and the cancer shrinks. The objective of radiation therapy is to kill enough cancer cells to maximize the probability of cure and minimize the side effects. Under some circumstances, radiation therapy may also be used as palliative care, which is aimed at reducing symptoms but not curing the underlying disease.

Also called Internal Radiation, Brachytherapy is one of our sophisticated types of radiation therapies used to treat cancer. The technique allows doctors to deliver higher doses of radiation to more-specific areas of the body, compared with the conventional form of radiation therapy (external beam radiation) that projects radiation from a machine outside of your body. One of the most notable advantages is that Brachytherapy may cause fewer side effects than does external beam radiation, and the overall treatment time is usually shorter with brachytherapy.

Radiosurgery is an effective treatment for many different types of cancer. It uses sophisticated technology to deliver very precise and accurate beams of radiation to a tumor while minimizing exposure to nearby healthy tissue.

There are two main types of radiosurgery—stereotactic radiosurgery (called SRS), which is for cancers in the brain and spinal region, and stereotactic body radiotherapy (also called SBRT), for cancers in other parts of the body. Both of these treatments are noninvasive—that is, the body isn’t operated on in the traditional sense.

Surgery is used in several ways to help cancer patients. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), it is the oldest form of cancer treatment. It provides the best chance to stop many types of cancer, and it also plays a part in diagnosing, staging, and supporting cancer treatment. Undergoing surgery for cancer is different for every patient, depending on the type of surgery, the type of cancer, and the patient’s health. For some people, surgery is a major medical procedure with life-changing side effects. For others, surgery is quick and has few side effects.

Women who have surgery as part of their breast cancer treatment may choose breast reconstruction surgery to rebuild the shape and look of the breast. There are different types of breast reconstruction. Learn about all your options and what to expect before and after your surgery. Some procedures are done (or started) at the same time as mastectomy, while others are done later. Consult with the Surgery experts at Grupo San Cristóbal to learn more about your options.

Good nutrition is crucial at all stages, helping patients feel better before, during and after your cancer treatment. Our expert nutritionists can offer tips and recipes to help you through your treatment. Did you know that some cancer treatments might affect a patient’s ability to eat? Our Nutrition team can teach patients and their families how to manage those side effects, gain weight, or reach any dietary goal while promoting holistic wellness. 

Complementary therapies proven effective in supporting patients when paired with traditional methods have been incorporated into the comprehensive treatment programs at San Cristóbal Cancer Institute. Our evidence-based Integrative Medicine program, provides cancer patients access to complementary therapies to help them through their conventional treatments.

Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.

We offer psychology services to patients, families, and caregivers. These services help to cope with the emotions that come with a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Counseling sessions include individual, couples and family counseling, as well as support groups.

At San Cristóbal Cancer Institute, your spiritual health is paramount. That’s why we take care of our patients and their families through Pastoral Care and thorough emotional and spiritual support, to restore and maintain each patient’s faith during a time of uncertainty and overwhelming changes.