Phoenix Children’s Hospital breaks ground on second cancer center
May 13, 2016, 9:00 AM
PHOENIX — The groundbreaking of a new cancer center at Phoenix Children’s Hospital took place during a ceremony on Thursday, moving to allow more children to receive the care needed to battle the deadly disease.
According to a recent press release, the center will be located at the second floor of the hospital. It will have on-site treatment rooms to avoid patient transportation for simple operations, will be located closer to the emergency rooms, imaging department and inpatent areas.
The new center will also have access to the state’s only proton beam therapy program, which will use protons rather than x-rays in a radiation treatment to kill cancer cells.
The current cancer center, Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, is at full capacity, treating up to 90 cancer patients a day.
Hospital officials estimate that, based on population growth throughout the state, Phoenix Children’s will treat more children with cancer who will require bone marrow transplants in the near future.
According to the release, the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders treated 22,000 patients in 2015, compared to just 8,900 in 2007.
KTAR News’ Jeremy Foster contributed to this report.