Cancer Treatments

We use genetic and molecular tests to precisely diagnose each case of cancer and choose the most appropriate treatments for you. Our team-based approach means multiple cancer experts work together to personalize your care. 

This close collaboration ensures you receive personalized treatment— which may include clinical trials for eligible patients — throughout your care journey.

Why choose us for cancer treatment?

Highlights of our program include: 

• Leading cancer expertise: Our team includes specialists who are well-known nationally and internationally for advancing cancer care in different ways. Our doctors’ special expertise in areas such as cancer genetics is reshaping how doctors around the world treat certain cancers.
• Sophisticated therapies: Our surgeons are nationally known for their skill in safely removing complex tumors. We offer advanced treatments, including immunotherapy and radiation therapies, to treat all cancer types with precision. 
• Pioneering research: We are the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center in Central and South Texas. This longstanding recognition illustrates our established track record of cancer research and unwavering standards. Our physician-scientists take part in hundreds of cancer research efforts, which help you access new treatments before they are on the market. Read more about clinical trial treatments. 
• World-class partnership: Our partnership with MD Anderson Cancer Center allows us to offer expanded treatment options for advanced and rare cancers. Find out more about our partnership with MD Anderson Cancer Center.
• Convenience: You can access a full spectrum of cancer treatment services at Mays Cancer Center in San Antonio. We coordinate your care so you can receive multiple treatment services and the support you need in fewer visits.
• Support: Cancer impacts much more than your physical health. We provide a wealth of resources to support you through treatment and make your life easier. Read more about patient and family services during cancer care and our Supportive Cancer Care Clinic.

Types of cancer treatments we offer

Your doctor may recommend one or more cancer treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Often, you’ll have treatments in a specific order based on leading research.

Our comprehensive cancer treatment services include:

Medical oncology

• Chemotherapy uses medicine and other substances to destroy cancer cells or stop them from spreading.
• Regional perfusion cancer therapy delivers chemotherapy drugs directly to tumors. It is for specific types, including cancers that spread to the liver from other body areas.
• Targeted therapy involves drugs that attack features (called targets) of a certain cancer subtype. Doctors test tumor tissue or your blood to identify these targets.
• Immunotherapy harnesses the body’s immune system to stop cancer cells from growing or spreading.

Surgery

Cancer surgery removes tumors. Our fellowship-trained surgeons’ skill enables them to perform intricate procedures safely, with less impact on healthy tissue. Explore cancer surgery. 

Types of cancer surgery we offer include:

• Advanced techniques: We offer surgical methods not widely available in South Texas. These methods include oncoplastic breast cancer surgery and Mohs surgery for skin cancer. Our depth of experience enables us to treat complex cases successfully.
• Liver transplant: Through our partnership with University Hospital, our team is one of the few programs in the region offering liver transplants. For people with some liver tumors, we remove the liver and replace it with one from a healthy donor. Learn about our liver tumor and cancer program. 
• Minimally invasive surgery: We remove cancer using small incisions and techniques that preserve as much healthy tissue as possible.
• Robotic surgery: For some cancers, we use robotic-assisted surgical technologies that offer more precision than a human hand. Trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS) and robotic prostatectomy are two of the many types we offer.
• Reconstructive surgery: Additional procedures to restore appearance and function are necessary in some cases. You receive services from plastic surgeons with a depth of experience in areas such as breast reconstruction and head and neck reconstructive surgery.

Radiation therapy

This treatment uses powerful machines and technologies to hit cancer cells with high-energy beams. These precise methods protect the surrounding healthy tissue. We offer a wide spectrum of radiation therapies, including advanced options not available in South Texas. Read more about radiation oncology.

We use radiation therapy:

• As a primary treatment and possibly the only one you need depending on the cancer type and stage
• To shrink tumors to make surgery or medical therapies more effective
• To relieve symptoms when treatment is no longer curative (palliative care)

Managing symptoms and side effects of cancer

• Fertility Preservation increases a person’s chances of starting a family after cancer treatment. Specialists use the latest research-based methods to secure reproductive tissue (eggs, sperm or embryos) and store it for later use. Men, women and adolescents with specific cancer types may be eligible for these services. Get more information about fertility preservation.
• Hormone therapy uses medication to stop hormones (such as estrogen or testosterone) from helping breast cancer or prostate cancer cells grow. In thyroid cancer cases, therapy restores hormone levels after cancer surgery. Learn more about thyroid hormone therapy.
• Oncology rehabilitation can prevent or treat complications before, during and after cancer treatment. A rehabilitation plan may include help with pain management, improving movement or balance and nutritional counseling. Our services include lymphedema therapy to relieve the pain and swelling that occurs when clear fluid of the lymp system collects in soft tissues. Read more about oncology rehabilitation.
• Speech and swallow therapy: We offer specialized therapies, such as strengthening exercises and assistive devices, in the event treatment (such as for head and neck cancer) affects how you speak or swallow. Read about speech and swallow therapy during cancer treatment.

Our team approach to cancer treatment

At our center, cancer treatment is a team effort. Doctors with different areas of focus work closely with scientists to provide precise, personalized care.

Our cancer team includes:

• Surgeons who are nationally recognized for their skill, including surgical oncologists specializing in cancer surgery and plastic surgeons who focus on reconstruction and restoring function
• Pediatric oncology specialists trained to meet the unique needs of children affected by cancer
• Radiation oncologists who use high-energy radiation therapies to treat cancers with extreme precision, protecting healthy tissues as much as possible
• Medical oncologists who use leading chemotherapy and other drug advances to destroy cancer cells
• Pathologists with expert knowledge of how different cancer cells look and act
• Support professionals, such as dietitians, social workers and palliative care specialists, who help you manage treatment side effects or other ways cancer impacts your life
• Survivorship care team who helps transition you through the physical and emotional impact of surviving cancer. Get more information about our cancer survivorship program.