Margie and Robert E. Petersen Cancer Centers

Multiple oncology units have been brought together into one single site along with state-of-the-art radiation oncology technology. The Margie and Robert E. Petersen Cancer Centers at the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John's include treatments for brain, breast, gastroenterology, gynecology, liver and pancreas, melanoma and lung cancers. The comprehensive breast center provides everything from diagnostic screening, onsite digital mammograms and an internationally acclaimed medical staff.

Using advanced technology, Saint John's nationally recognized radiation oncologists, neurosurgeons and other gifted specialists can treat cancers, tumors and other conditions with precision and efficiency in the Vasak Polak Radiation Therapy Center. The new Trilogy linear accelerator technology allows patients to receive higher dose radiation treatments precisely targeted to the tumor in shorter sessions. As a result, patients are more comfortable, healthy tissue is spared and outcomes are improved.
The versatile system can also be used for radiosurgery, a less traumatic way of treating a tumor than conventional surgery. The Triology is particularly useful for treating prostate, head/neck, lung and brain tumors. The technology will be fully operation in the new Howard Keck Center in early 2010.