History
The Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia (INCan) is one of the 13 Mexican Institutes of Health, founded in 1946, is the federal government's principal agency for cancer research, treatments and training. The INCan is a public hospital, located in Mexico City, provides specialized cancer care to patients from all over the country rich and poor, urban and rural, mainly those with low income and no-formal employment.
Profile
The INCan is one of the largest comprehensive cancer centre in Latin America, receives and treats over 5 000 new patients per year. The hospital complex is fully equipped with the most advanced technology for cancer diagnosis, treatment and research. The 172 inpatient beds dedicated to cancer patients’ treatments (surgery, medical oncology, hematology, radiotherapy, critical care, bone marrow transplantation area). Also, has ambulatory treatments for chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy. A large pathology department, molecular diagnostics, ensure the most advanced treatments. The emergency department of the INCan, is available 24/7, all year long.
The Institute has important role in cancer education in the country and Latin America. Yearly around 250 residents are were being trained in residence programs (Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Radio Oncology, Gynecologic Oncology, Infectology, Nuclear Medicine, Critical Medicine, Internal Medicine, Radiology, Endoscopy, Pathology, Cytology), several Fellowship, Diploma programs for physicians are also available, and different training programs in psychology, dental medicine, nurses specialty programs. Continual medical education activities are also an important part of the activities. The hospital is supported by multi-professional staff.
Specialities
We care for adult patients with all cancers. We have specialist multidisciplinary teams for treatment, clinical and basic research of and rare solid tumours, as well as. Highly specialized multidisciplinary teams of all common solid tumours, includes medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, surgical oncologist; hemato-oncology specialist for hematological neoplasms. Support Specialties includes: Critical care, Anaesthesiology, Palliative Medicine, Pain medicine, Pulmonology, Transfusion medicine, Infectology, Dental oncology, Psycho-oncology, Nutritional oncology, Rehabilitation, Stoma care unit. Diagnostic, Radiology, Pathology, Microbiology, Clinical biochemistry, Molecular oncology, Nuclear medicine.
Basic and Clinical Research teams with M.D., PhD, graduated and undergraduate students, work in fully equipped laboratories.
Palliative and Supportive Care
The Palliative Care Service has led the way in the country with the first dedicated palliative care ward for cancer patients. The work of the department is constantly expanding and sees over 1000 new patients each year. Innovative ways of integrating with the oncologist, includes a support team for patients with advanced cancer patients in clinical trials, palliative care geriatrics team, and research.
Education has been an important component of the work, specialist in palliative Medicine and Diploma programs of Palliative Care in Oncology, have been active for more than 10 years. A key approach for palliative care integration, has been an active role with the oncology residents, this down-top education process resulted in an increased number of referrals.
The palliative care service has created the Onco-Palliative-Network, in addition of palliative care teams of the cancer centers located in the country, teams of Central and South America, have become members of the network.
The Service helps in managing complex pain and physical symptoms, psychological, social and spiritual issues of hospitalized and ambulatory patients and their families. Early Palliative care and advanced disease care are available.
Last update: June 2022
