Onvida Health performs first Y-90 liver cancer treatment in Yuma County

Yuma County patients with liver tumors may no longer have to leave town for Y-90 treatment, a development that could save families time, money and stress during cancer care. Onvida Health said its team successfully performed the county’s first Y-90 procedure, marking a new local option for patients who need highly targeted treatment.

Y-90 radioembolization is a minimally invasive therapy that delivers yttrium-90 through the blood vessels feeding a liver tumor. In plain terms, the treatment sends tiny radioactive beads directly to the cancer, where they release radiation inside the body and are designed to damage tumor cells while limiting exposure to more healthy liver tissue. Mayo Clinic says Y-90 is an option for select patients based on stage, tumor location and overall health.

Dr. Kamalani Hanamaika’i said the treatment may matter especially for patients who do not initially qualify for a transplant because their tumors fall outside accepted criteria. In some cases, if the tumor can be shrunk or controlled enough, Y-90 can be used as bridging or downstaging therapy, potentially opening a path to transplantation later. That makes the procedure more than a local first. It is part of a broader liver cancer strategy used at major centers.

The timing also fits Onvida Health’s push to expand specialty care in Yuma. The health system, which changed its official name from Yuma Regional Medical Center in October 2024, says its Cancer and Blood Disorders Center offers comprehensive cancer services “all under one roof” in Yuma. Onvida has also pointed to other growth in advanced care, including surpassing 5,000 robotic surgeries in 2025.

For a region where access to specialty treatment has long been a public concern, having Y-90 available locally could reduce travel burdens for patients and families who already face the physical and emotional strain of cancer. It also strengthens Onvida’s role as a regional medical center serving Yuma County and surrounding communities close to home.

The need is significant. Mayo Clinic says about 41,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with liver cancer each year and nearly 29,000 die from it. With that burden, even one new treatment option in Yuma can change what care looks like for patients who need precision treatment without a long drive out of town.