Dr. Verónica Núñez Cáceres

Dr. Verónica Núñez Cáceres is a prominent medical oncologist practicing at Central Asistencial del IPS (Instituto de Previsión Social), the principal social security hospital in Paraguay and one of the largest healthcare institutions in the country. For over fifteen years, she has been at the forefront of oncological care for Paraguayan patients, managing a wide range of malignancies with both evidence-based systemic therapies and a deeply compassionate approach to patient-centered care.

Dr. Núñez Cáceres completed her specialist training in oncology and returned to Paraguay with a strong commitment to making cancer care accessible within the public health system. At Central Asistencial del IPS, she works within a multidisciplinary oncology team that brings together surgeons, radiation oncologists, pathologists, and palliative care specialists to deliver integrated cancer management.

Her clinical focus is on solid tumor oncology, with particular emphasis on breast cancer — the most prevalent cancer among Paraguayan women — as well as gastrointestinal malignancies including colorectal and gastric cancers. She is recognized for her ability to tailor chemotherapy and targeted therapy protocols to individual patient profiles, weighing efficacy against tolerability and quality of life.

Dr. Núñez Cáceres is also deeply involved in patient education, conducting workshops in both Spanish and Guaraní to raise cancer awareness and promote early detection in a country where late-stage diagnosis remains a significant challenge. Her work embodies a dual commitment to clinical excellence and public health advocacy.

Dr. Núñez Cáceres earned her medical degree from the Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Faculty of Medical Sciences, where she graduated with distinction. She subsequently completed a residency in internal medicine at Hospital de Clínicas, developing the broad diagnostic foundation essential for oncological practice.

She then pursued specialty training in medical oncology, completing a fellowship in hematology-oncology at a recognized institution in Brazil, where she gained extensive experience managing hematological malignancies and solid tumors in a high-volume oncology center. She supplemented this training with rotations focused on breast oncology and gastrointestinal cancer, areas that now define her primary clinical practice.

Dr. Núñez Cáceres holds recognition as a Specialist in Medical Oncology and participates actively in the continuing education programs offered by the Sociedad Paraguaya de Oncología. She is also affiliated with the Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group (LACOG), through which she maintains connections to regional clinical research networks.

Dr. Núñez Cáceres's clinical expertise encompasses the full range of medical oncology practice. Her primary sub-specialty is breast oncology, where she manages patients across all stages of disease, from adjuvant chemotherapy following curative surgery to palliative systemic therapy for metastatic breast cancer. She is experienced in hormonal therapy, HER2-targeted agents, and CDK4/6 inhibitors, selecting regimens based on tumor biology and patient performance status.

In gastrointestinal oncology, she manages colorectal, gastric, and pancreatic cancers, coordinating with surgical teams for peri-operative chemotherapy planning. She also treats lymphoma and leukemia in collaboration with hematology colleagues at Central Asistencial del IPS.

Dr. Núñez Cáceres is skilled in the administration and monitoring of cytotoxic chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy agents. She places strong emphasis on toxicity management and supportive care, working closely with palliative medicine to address pain, symptom burden, and quality of life throughout the cancer journey.

Dr. Núñez Cáceres has been involved in regional oncology research through her affiliation with LACOG and collaboration with academic centers in Argentina and Brazil. Her research interests include the epidemiology of breast cancer in Paraguay — particularly the patterns of late-stage presentation — and outcomes data for patients receiving chemotherapy in the public hospital setting.

She has contributed to multi-center studies examining the effectiveness of adapted chemotherapy protocols in resource-limited settings and has presented findings at national oncology congresses. Dr. Núñez Cáceres is an advocate for generating Paraguay-specific data to guide local clinical practice guidelines, recognizing that disease patterns and treatment access differ significantly from wealthier nations.

Dr. Núñez Cáceres is fluent in Spanish, Guaraní, and English, making her accessible to international patients seeking oncology consultation or second opinions in Paraguay. Central Asistencial del IPS primarily serves the Paraguayan social security population, but Dr. Núñez Cáceres is available for private consultations and can facilitate referrals to appropriate private oncology facilities when needed.

For international patients, she offers video consultations for pre-visit case review and remote second opinions, allowing patients to share their pathology reports, imaging studies, and treatment histories for her assessment. This service is particularly valuable for patients in neighboring countries or those considering travel to Paraguay for oncological management.

Dr. Núñez Cáceres is recognized within the Sociedad Paraguaya de Oncología for her contributions to oncology education and her work expanding access to cancer care within the public health system. She has received acknowledgment from her peers for her dedicated approach to patient advocacy and her efforts to improve cancer awareness and early detection rates in Paraguay. Her membership in LACOG reflects her standing within the broader Latin American oncology community.