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.

Positron emission tomography (PET) uses small amounts of radioactive materials called radiotracers or radiopharmaceuticals, along with a special camera and computer, to evaluate the function of organs and tissues. By identifying changes at the cellular level, PET can detect the early onset of disease before other imaging tests. You can count on San Cristobal Cancer Institute to remain at the forefront of the most advanced technology for early detection.

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.

A mammogram is an imaging study that uses low doses of X-rays to examine breast tissue and detect abnormal changes. It is one of the most effective tools for identifying breast cancer in its early stages, even before symptoms appear. This exam is routinely recommended as part of preventive women’s health care. At San Cristobal Cancer Institute, you have access to the most advanced mammography systems available.

Sonomammography is an imaging study that uses ultrasound to evaluate breast tissue, producing detailed images through sound waves instead of radiation. It is used as a complement to traditional mammography, especially for women with dense breast tissue or when a specific finding needs further evaluation. This exam helps clearly distinguish between cysts, solid masses, and other abnormalities. San Cristobal Cancer Institute offers the most advanced technology to provide the highest standard of accuracy, safety, and patient comfort.

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.

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.