Our History

A Legacy of Care and Innovation

The success and innovation of today’s Penrose Cancer Center can be traced to the Spencer Penrose family and their relentless pursuit of bringing world-class cancer care to the doorsteps of southern Colorado residents. Over the years, Penrose-St. Francis Health Services has partnered with national and international physicians and experts, opened new facilities, received top awards and honors, and delivered superior patient outcomes – all with the ultimate goal of providing the highest quality of care and helping patients win the war against cancer.

The Penrose Cancer Center is one of the best-known, long-standing community cancer programs in the western United States.  The Penrose Cancer Center established the nation's first radiation oncology residency program, funded by the NCI. Part of a not-for-profit health system, our advanced cancer-fighting services include specialties in state-of-the-art, integrated, multidisciplinary care to treat a wide range of adult cancer illnesses throughout our accessible and modern outpatient and inpatient facilities. In addition to leading-edge treatment, we also offer the best technological advances in cancer diagnosis and supportive care.

Along with a legacy of providing advanced technology, our specialists have a long history of regional and national recognition and have trained at premier medical centers across the country. As part of our commitment to provide the best outcomes and the highest quality of care, each of our staff members is selected based on our values of delivering prompt and personal care, creativity, imagination, excellence in clinical research and community service.