The Arizona Cancer Center is nationally recognized for developing improved methods for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer. Many techniques developed here have become standard protocols used worldwide. Giving cancer patients the hope of a cure through the newest treatments is one of the cornerstones of care at the Center.
The Arizona Cancer Center is one of a small, prestigious network of comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). More than 60 percent of our patients travel from other Arizona communities, as well as other states and countries, to receive promising new cancer therapies. Many treatments offered through the Arizona Cancer Center are available nowhere else in the state, and, in some cases, these advanced treatments are available at only a handful of centers nationwide.
While the Center is renowned for its compassionate care and the latest treatments, our ultimate goal is the elimination of cancer as a threat to humankind. Our team of scientists and medical professionals conduct research on how cancer starts, how to improve treatment, and what can be done to prevent it, with the hope that this knowledge will lead to a cancer-free generation.
Cancer Center Clinics
Arizona Cancer Center physicians see patients in two clinics: the Multidisciplinary Oncology Clinic, located on the first floor, and the Radiation Oncology Clinic, located in the basement.
The type of treatment you receive determines which clinic you visit. Patients being treated with surgery, chemotherapy, biologics, or other drug treatments are seen in the Multidisciplinary Oncology Clinic. Patients receiving radiation treatments are seen in the Radiation Oncology Clinic.
Our clinics have designated days for certain types of cancer, special treatments, or other medical problems. The clinics are open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on holidays. Appointments are necessary.
Depending on your diagnosis and treatment recommendations, you may receive treatment as an outpatient at the Arizona Cancer Center or in your hometown with the help of a local cancer specialist. Doctors occasionally admit patients to University Medical Center, the teaching hospital for The University of Arizona College of Medicine. Some out-of-town patients may need to make arrangements to stay in Tucson during their treatment. The Arizona Cancer Center staff can help you with housing arrangements.
Arizona Health Sciences Center
The Arizona Cancer Center is part of The University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, an allied health care complex dedicated to patient care, research, and education. As a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, the Arizona Cancer Center is nationally recognized as having a major commitment to conquering cancer through its laboratory and clinical research programs.
As a result of the excellence of the Arizona Cancer Center’s clinical research endeavors, University Medical Center has been consistently listed among the nation’s leading hospitals for cancer care.
Attending physicians at the Arizona Cancer Center are faculty members of The University of Arizona College of Medicine and members of The University Physicians. Specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and blood disorders, they are experts in medical oncology, gynecologic oncology, hematology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, neurologic oncology, immunology, and cancer prevention.
The Arizona Cancer Center conducts research independently and in cooperation with the National Institutes of Health, the National Cancer Institute, the Southwest Oncology Group, the Pediatric Oncology Group, the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group, the Gynecologic Oncology Group, and a variety of other research sponsors.
Many new cancer treatments have been developed in the last two decades, and research has led to a major increase in the survival of cancer patients. Certain forms of cancer now can be cured if detected and treated early. Other types of cancer cannot be cured but can be controlled for many years. Researchers also are finding new ways to make treatments easier for patients to tolerate, thereby helping patients maintain daily life activities.
Prevention & Control Program
At the Arizona Cancer Center, preventing cancer is as important as treating it. The Center’s Cancer Prevention and Control Program is one of the largest and most diverse in the country.
Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is a major health threat in Arizona since our rate of skin cancer is the second highest in the world.
Skin cancer prevention research includes projects that test the effectiveness of different chemopreventive methods, such as vitamins and topical agents. One study is evaluating the use of a topical ointment containing EGCG, a chemical extract from green tea, to prevent skin cancer as well as repair sun-damaged skin . In a separate study, NDGA—a chemical found in the creosotebush, a plant native to the Southern Arizona desert—also is being tested as a potential treatment for patients with severely sun-damaged skin.
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Cancer of the colon or rectum is often called colorectal cancer. The colon and rectum are part of the large or lower intestine, which is part of the digestive system.
The Arizona Cancer Center’s Colon Cancer Prevention Project is working to find out if polyp formation can be reduced by taking celecoxib and/or selenium among individuals who have already had at least one adenomatous polyp removed.
Breast Cancer
Diet may play a role in breast cancer. The Arizona Cancer Center is conducting three separate research projects investigating the role of high-fiber, low-fat diets and of diets high in fruits and vegetables in preventing breast cancer recurrence.
The Arizona Cancer Center also is one of more than 400 sites in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico testing the effectiveness of the drug tamoxifen compared to raloxifene in preventing breast cancer in women who are at increased risk. STAR (the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene) will recruit approximately 22,000 postmenopausal women over the age of 35.
