Physician Review
Diagnosis, pathology, imaging, biomarkers, current medications, prior treatment and the patient’s present condition are reviewed together.
PHYSICIAN-DIRECTED CANCER CARE
Explore cancer care, find information for your diagnosis and plan your next step with our Scottsdale team.
Understand your next step.
Find information by cancer type.
Plan active care in Scottsdale.
CANCER PATIENT RESOURCES
Find help with treatment costs, travel, lodging and the next decisions for you and your family.
Explore financial support.
Find help getting to care.
Resources for your next step.
RESOURCES BY REGION
PHYSICIAN-DIRECTED CANCER CARE
Explore cancer care, find information for your diagnosis and plan your next step with our Scottsdale team.
Understand your next step.
Find information by cancer type.
Plan active care in Scottsdale.
CANCER PATIENT RESOURCES
Find help with treatment costs, travel, lodging and the next decisions for you and your family.
Explore financial support.
Find help getting to care.
Resources for your next step.
RESOURCES BY REGION
INTEGRATIVE & ALTERNATIVE ONCOLOGY
Individualized physician-directed cancer care for newly diagnosed, recurrent, metastatic and Stage 4 cancer.
At Sunridge Medical, we take a broader view of cancer treatment. We review the biology of the cancer, what has already been tried, available pathology and molecular information, the patient’s current health, and which integrative strategies may reasonably fit the case.
Patients come to us before treatment begins, while receiving chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy or targeted therapy, after treatment, at recurrence, with Stage 4 disease, or when they want to explore another treatment path.
People contact Sunridge for many reasons: a new diagnosis, an oncology second opinion, questions about alternatives to chemotherapy or radiation, support during active treatment, or a broader review after cancer has progressed. We begin by understanding the diagnosis, the treatments already recommended or tried, and what the patient needs now.
Organize pathology, staging, biomarkers, second-opinion questions and the decisions that may come next.
Read the newly diagnosed guide → 02 / SECOND OPINIONRequest a physician-directed review of the diagnosis, treatment history, current recommendations and remaining questions.
See how consultation works → 03 / OTHER OPTIONSUnderstand what integrative or alternative cancer treatment may reasonably include—and when standard options still deserve consideration.
Review another treatment path → 04 / ADVANCED CANCERLearn how Sunridge reviews complex cases, previous response, resistance, updated biomarkers and remaining options.
Explore Stage 4 cancer care → 05 / COORDINATED CARESunridge can provide integrative care alongside an outside oncology team, with attention to timing, interactions and treatment tolerance.
How coordinated care works → 06 / TRAVELING FOR CAREPatients travel from across the United States and internationally. Start with the practical information for planning a visit.
Plan your visit to Sunridge →A consultation is an evaluation—not a promise that every treatment is appropriate. Recommendations depend on the cancer, current health, available records, existing oncology care and the physician’s assessment.
STAGE 4 & ADVANCED CANCER
Patients come to Sunridge with metastatic disease, recurrence, treatment resistance and previous therapy histories that may require a more individualized strategy.
A Stage 4 diagnosis can change the conversation quickly. Some patients arrive while still receiving active systemic treatment. Others have progressed through several lines of therapy and feel that the list of choices is getting shorter.
That is when a careful re-review of the whole case can matter.
We look at the type and biology of the cancer, where it has spread, previous treatments and responses, available molecular information, current blood counts and organ function, treatment tolerance, and what the patient wants from the next phase of care.
Updated pathology and biomarker information
Previous treatment response and resistance
Remaining standard and clinical-trial options
Physician-directed integrative strategies
Quality of life and treatment tolerance
We do not assume that every Stage 4 patient needs the same program. The question is what vulnerabilities can still be identified, what treatments remain reasonable, and how we can support the patient while continuing to address the cancer.
YOUR CANCER JOURNEY
There is no single “correct” moment to begin integrative oncology. The role of Sunridge changes depending on where you are in the cancer journey.
Review the diagnosis, understand available options and begin building an individualized integrative plan before treatment starts.
Coordinate physician-directed integrative care around chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy or targeted therapy when clinically appropriate.
Focus on recovery, rebuilding strength, treatment-related effects, ongoing monitoring and a longer-term health strategy.
If standard options have become limited—or you have chosen not to pursue a recommended treatment—we can review the case and discuss what physician-directed alternatives may reasonably be considered.
WHY SUNRIDGE
A different approach does not have to mean a less serious approach. We believe integrative oncology should be personalized, active, medically supervised and willing to ask more questions.
Cancer care should involve more than choosing one isolated therapy. We review the diagnosis, previous treatment, relevant tumor biology, current health and the broader clinical picture.
Stage, pathology, molecular findings, previous response, medications, organ function, treatment tolerance and the patient's goals can all influence the treatment strategy.
Botanical, nutritional, metabolic and redox therapies can have real biological effects. That is why we believe they should be selected thoughtfully and used with medical supervision.
Many patients continue chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy or targeted therapy with an outside oncology team while receiving coordinated integrative care at Sunridge.
Metastatic, recurrent and heavily treated cancers deserve careful evaluation rather than being dismissed simply because the case has become difficult.
Cancer changes. Treatment response changes. The patient's condition changes. A serious treatment plan should be capable of changing with the clinical picture.
Physician-directed cancer care in Scottsdale, Arizona
Sunridge Medical provides individualized integrative and alternative cancer care at our Scottsdale clinic. Some patients begin with us before treatment starts; others continue seeing their medical oncologist, radiation oncologist or surgical team at home while coming to Sunridge for evaluation and physician-directed treatment.
Diagnosis, pathology, imaging, biomarkers, current medications, prior treatment and the patient’s present condition are reviewed together.
The plan is built around the cancer and the person—not a preselected package of therapies used for every patient.
When appropriate, integrative care can be timed around chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, endocrine therapy or targeted treatment.
Patients may begin with a conversation about their case and the records needed before making plans to travel to Arizona.
Questions before scheduling are welcome. Speaking with the Patient Care Team is a practical first step and does not obligate you to begin treatment.
Learn About Sunridge Medical →A CLINICAL FRAMEWORK
The goal is to connect tumor biology with whole-person physiology and then keep reassessing the plan as the clinical picture changes.
We begin with the diagnosis itself: cancer type, stage, pathology, location of disease, growth pattern, molecular information and the history of how the cancer has responded to previous treatment.
Laboratory findings, nutritional status, metabolism, inflammation, organ function, symptoms, medications and treatment tolerance help us understand the physiological environment surrounding the cancer.
We consider which conventional, integrative, metabolic, botanical, nutritional or other physician-directed strategies make sense for the cancer biology and the patient's current treatment situation.
Symptoms, laboratory data, imaging when available, treatment tolerance and changes in the clinical picture help determine whether the plan should continue, intensify, change or simplify.
The treatment plan is not static. Cancer biology can change, resistance can develop and the patient's condition can improve or decline. Reassessment is therefore part of the treatment strategy—not an afterthought.
SCIENCE + NATURAL MEDICINE
Choosing natural medicine should not mean abandoning scientific discipline. Natural compounds can be biologically active—and that is exactly why they should be selected deliberately.
At Sunridge, the questions are the same ones we would want asked of any therapy:
Is there a credible mechanism that makes the therapy relevant to this cancer or treatment objective?
We distinguish human clinical evidence from animal studies, laboratory findings and theoretical mechanisms.
A compound taken orally may behave differently from one used intravenously or at pharmacologic concentrations.
Chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, endocrine therapy and targeted drugs all require consideration.
Tumor biology, treatment support, metabolism, inflammation and quality of life are different objectives.
Symptoms, laboratory findings, imaging and treatment tolerance help determine whether the strategy should continue or change.
Natural therapies should be evaluated for mechanism, clinical evidence, dose, route, safety, interactions and a clearly defined treatment objective.
TREATMENT FAMILIES
Cancer treatment is rarely about one isolated therapy. At Sunridge Medical, treatments may be selected from several different categories depending on the cancer, previous treatment, current medications, laboratory findings, treatment goals and the patient’s overall condition.
The purpose is not to use every available therapy. It is to determine which combination makes the most sense for the individual case.
Physician-directed intravenous therapies may be incorporated when the route, concentration and clinical objective make IV administration appropriate.
Naturally derived compounds can influence cellular signaling, metabolism, oxidative stress, hormone pathways and other processes relevant to cancer research.
Selected therapies are designed around redox signaling, cellular stress responses, circulation and related physiological pathways.
Cancer cells frequently demonstrate altered energy metabolism. Metabolic strategies examine these differences alongside the patient's nutritional and physiological status.
Cancer and immune function are closely interconnected. Integrative strategies may be considered in the context of the patient's immune status and existing oncology treatment.
Treating cancer also means paying attention to how the patient is functioning during and after treatment.
DIAGNOSTICS & PERSONALIZATION
Personalized cancer care starts with understanding what we are actually treating.
At Sunridge Medical, we review the information already available—pathology, stage, imaging, previous treatments, laboratory findings and relevant molecular or biomarker testing—before deciding which integrative strategies may make sense.
The more accurately we understand the cancer and the patient, the more intelligently treatment can be selected.
Pathology helps establish the diagnosis, tumor type, grade and other characteristics that influence how the cancer is expected to behave.
Imaging and staging help define tumor burden, metastatic sites, progression patterns and the overall clinical picture.
Previous surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and treatment response provide important information about the next strategy.
Molecular and biomarker testing may identify genes, proteins or other tumor characteristics that help guide treatment decisions.
Blood counts, kidney and liver function, nutritional status, metabolism, inflammation and treatment tolerance can affect what therapies are appropriate.
Treatment goals may include tumor response, slowing progression, supporting active oncology treatment, recovery or improving quality of life.
Integrative care should not ignore modern oncology information. Pathology, imaging and molecular data can make an integrative treatment plan more—not less—individualized.
Cancer biology + whole-person context
Cancer develops within a complex biological environment. The diagnosis, tumor behavior and treatment history matter, and so do the patient’s metabolism, immune function, nutrition, resilience and ability to tolerate care. The purpose is a broader review—not a one-size-fits-all explanation.
Pathology, stage, molecular information, location and growth pattern help define what is being treated.
Laboratory findings, nutrition, organ function, inflammation, energy and current symptoms shape what may be practical.
Imaging, biomarkers, symptoms, function and tolerance provide different pieces of the response picture.
As the cancer or the patient changes, the questions, priorities and treatment-support plan may need to change too.
DURING ACTIVE ONCOLOGY
You do not necessarily have to wait until conventional cancer treatment is finished to begin integrative care.
Many patients come to Sunridge while an outside oncology team is actively treating the cancer. In that setting, our role is to understand the current oncology plan, review potential interactions, identify appropriate supportive or adjunctive strategies, and coordinate timing around treatment cycles, laboratory results and the patient’s changing condition.
Integrative care should work with the clinical situation—not ignore it.
Coordination matters especially with immunotherapy, targeted drugs and therapies whose effectiveness or toxicity may be affected by metabolism, immune signaling or redox-active compounds.
We review the drugs, radiation schedule, immunotherapy, targeted therapy or other treatment the patient is currently receiving.
Natural compounds, antioxidants, herbs and other therapies may have effects that matter during active cancer treatment, so timing and compatibility deserve attention.
Fatigue, neuropathy, appetite, nausea, sleep, nutritional status and recovery can become important parts of the integrative plan.
Blood counts, organ function, treatment response and side effects can change from cycle to cycle, so the integrative plan may need to change too.
Integrative treatment is not automatically appropriate simply because it is natural. Chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, endocrine therapy and targeted drugs can each create different considerations. The goal is to select therapies that make sense for the patient’s current treatment environment.
WHEN YOU WANT ANOTHER PATH
Some patients come to Sunridge because they have decided they do not want surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or another recommended treatment. Others arrive after toxicity, progression or previous treatment experiences have changed what they are willing to pursue.
You can still request a consultation.
Our role is to understand your diagnosis, review what has been recommended, listen to your priorities and discuss what physician-directed integrative or alternative options may reasonably be considered.
We also believe an informed decision requires understanding when a conventional treatment has meaningful evidence for cure, survival or disease control. Choosing another path should be a deliberate medical decision—not simply a reaction to fear or frustration.
WHEN OPTIONS FEEL LIMITED
There are situations in which standard oncology options become limited because the cancer has progressed through treatment, developed resistance, or because the expected benefit of another conventional therapy has become small.
That does not mean the case no longer deserves careful review.
A broader reassessment may include what has already been tried, why treatment stopped working, whether the biology of the cancer may have changed, whether updated pathology or biomarker information could reveal another target, what conventional or clinical-trial possibilities remain, and which integrative strategies may still be reasonable.
Cancer can evolve under treatment pressure. Updated pathology, imaging or molecular information may sometimes provide a different picture than what was available earlier in the disease course.
Understanding previous response, duration of benefit and progression patterns can help clarify which treatment pathways may still be worth considering.
A broader review may include remaining standard therapies, targeted options, clinical trials and updated biomarker-directed possibilities.
Metabolic, botanical, nutritional, redox, immune-supportive and other physician-directed strategies may be considered according to the patient’s current condition and treatment goals.
Sometimes the goal is tumor response. Sometimes it is slowing progression. Sometimes it is rebuilding strength so another treatment becomes possible. Sometimes quality of life becomes the highest priority. A serious cancer plan should be able to adapt as the clinical situation changes.
Before declining a treatment, it is useful to understand whether its purpose is cure, reducing recurrence risk, slowing progression, shrinking disease or relieving symptoms.
Treatment decisions can be influenced by quality of life, previous toxicity, age, other medical conditions, treatment burden and the patient’s individual goals.
We can review integrative approaches, remaining conventional choices, possible clinical trials and other physician-directed strategies in the context of the individual cancer.
A serious alternative strategy should still have defined treatment goals, medical supervision, appropriate monitoring and a plan for reassessment.
You do not have to agree to every conventional recommendation before speaking with us. We can review the case, discuss your goals and help you understand what integrative and alternative approaches may be reasonable—while being clear about what is known, what is uncertain and where delaying an effective treatment could carry meaningful risk.
Talk With Our Cancer Patient Care Team →CANCERS WE TREAT
Cancer is not one disease, and different cancers can require very different treatment strategies.
Explore cancer-specific information about diagnosis, tumor biology, conventional treatment options, advanced disease and physician-directed integrative cancer care at Sunridge Medical.
Integrative care for hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive, triple-negative, recurrent and metastatic breast cancer.
Explore Breast Cancer →Individualized care for non-small cell, small cell, recurrent and metastatic lung cancer.
Explore Lung Cancer →Care informed by stage, PSA, pathology, imaging, hormone status and previous treatment.
Explore Prostate Cancer →Integrative strategies for localized, recurrent and metastatic colorectal cancer.
Explore Colorectal Cancer →A comprehensive approach to resectable, locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Explore Pancreatic Cancer →Advanced cancer care for patients with metastatic disease, progression or limited remaining treatment options.
Explore Stage 4 Cancer →Individualized evaluation for primary brain tumors and complex advanced brain cancer cases.
Explore Brain Cancer →Integrative care for primary liver cancer and complex cancers involving the liver.
Explore Liver Cancer →Personalized integrative care for newly diagnosed, recurrent and advanced ovarian cancer.
Explore Ovarian Cancer →Individualized care for patients navigating lymphoma, previous treatment and recurrence.
Explore Lymphoma →Integrative care considered alongside modern systemic and immune-based melanoma treatment.
Explore Melanoma →Cancer-specific review for non-muscle-invasive, muscle-invasive, recurrent and metastatic disease.
Explore Bladder Cancer →PATIENT EXPERIENCE
Cancer treatment decisions are medical, but the experience of treatment is deeply personal. Patients often arrive with fatigue, fear, previous treatment toxicity, uncertainty and a long list of unanswered questions.
We want patients to understand the treatment strategy, know why each therapy is being considered and have a medical team willing to keep reassessing the case as it evolves.
Treating the cancer matters. So does helping the patient remain strong enough—physically and emotionally—to continue making informed decisions about care.
Patients should know what is being recommended, why it is being considered and what the treatment is intended to accomplish.
Energy, appetite, sleep, nutrition, pain, neuropathy, treatment tolerance and quality of life can all influence the overall plan.
The patient's condition and the cancer can change. Treatment should be reviewed as new information, symptoms and responses emerge.
Read patient experiences and learn more about what it is like to pursue individualized cancer care at Sunridge Medical.
BECOMING A PATIENT
You do not need to have every answer before contacting us. Many patients reach out while they are still trying to understand their diagnosis, treatment recommendations or remaining options.
Our Patient Care Team can help you determine what information is needed and what the next step would look like.
Contact our Patient Care Team and tell us your diagnosis, where you are in treatment and what you are hoping to explore. You do not need to have all of your records organized before making the first call.
Pathology, imaging, laboratory results, treatment history and molecular testing can help us better understand the cancer before or around the physician consultation.
The consultation focuses on the diagnosis, previous treatments, current oncology plan, patient health, treatment goals and which integrative approaches may reasonably fit the situation.
When appropriate, an individualized program can be developed around the cancer, the patient's condition, existing treatment and the objectives identified during the evaluation.
Do not delay contacting us because you are missing something. The Patient Care Team can help identify which records are most useful for your particular case.
Whether you are newly diagnosed, currently in treatment, facing recurrence or living with Stage 4 cancer, our Patient Care Team can help you understand the next step.
Patients often want to know when to come, whether Stage 4 disease can still be evaluated, and how integrative care may fit before, during or after conventional oncology treatment.
Yes. Patients with metastatic, recurrent and heavily treated cancers can be evaluated. The goals and appropriate therapies depend on the cancer, previous treatment, current condition and available options.
Yes. Many patients seek integrative care during active oncology treatment. Potential interactions and treatment timing should be reviewed carefully before adding therapies.
Yes. A consultation can help you understand the diagnosis, review available information and plan integrative care around upcoming treatment.
Post-treatment care may focus on recovery, persistent side effects, nutritional and metabolic status, laboratory monitoring and a longer-term health strategy.
You can still request a consultation. We will review your goals and discuss integrative options, while also making sure you understand when a standard treatment has established survival or curative benefit so that your decision is informed.
Progression after multiple treatments can narrow options, but it does not eliminate the value of a careful re-review. Updated pathology, biomarker information, remaining standard options, clinical trials and integrative strategies may all be relevant.
Many Sunridge patients maintain relationships with outside oncologists. Coordination is particularly important when integrative therapies are being used around chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation or immunotherapy.
Yes. Sunridge Medical is located in Scottsdale, Arizona, and patients travel from other states and countries for consultation and treatment.
Pathology, operative reports, imaging reports, recent laboratory work, molecular or biomarker testing, current medications and a treatment timeline are especially useful.
Complementary care is used alongside conventional oncology treatment. Alternative care is used in place of standard treatment. Integrative care aims to coordinate appropriate evidence-informed supportive and biologically relevant therapies within the overall plan of care.
Whether you are newly diagnosed, in active treatment, living with Stage 4 cancer, recovering after treatment or exploring a different approach, our Patient Care Team can help you understand the next step.
EVIDENCE & SOURCES
Tell us where you are in your cancer journey. Our Patient Care Team can answer questions and help determine the next step.
Learn how Sunridge approaches metastatic, recurrent and heavily treated cancer cases.
Explore Stage 4 Cancer Care →Integrative care may be coordinated around chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy or targeted therapy when appropriate.
Browse cancer-specific research, care-planning guidance, treatment considerations and patient education.
Browse Research & Education →Sunridge Medical provides physician-directed integrative support for people facing cancer care at our Scottsdale clinic. We serve patients from Scottsdale, Phoenix, the Greater Phoenix area and people traveling to Arizona for care.
People contact Sunridge at many points in the cancer journey, including a new diagnosis, active treatment, recurrence, advanced disease, recovery planning and second-opinion review.
14200 N Northsight Blvd, Suite 160
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
Map, parking and directions →
Call 1-800-923-7878 for a free introductory conversation about your diagnosis and next steps.
Our team can help you understand scheduling and plan a visit to the Scottsdale clinic.
14200 N Northsight Blvd #160
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
Monday–Friday: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
Tell us what you are facing. There is no charge to speak with our Patient Care Team, understand how Sunridge works and determine whether a physician consultation may be an appropriate next step.
This introductory call is not a medical consultation and does not establish a physician-patient relationship.