BEAUMONT, Texas — Within the next year, Southeast Texas cancer patients will have another choice for treatment in the area.
Many cancer patients and their families struggle to get care here at home. Many find themselves driving hours back and forth from Houston just to get the care they need.
Thanks to Texas Oncology and CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth hospital, patients will soon have another option closer to home.
Texas Oncology held a ground breaking ceremony Wednesday morning for a new 32,000 square foot facility they are describing as a "comprehensive cancer center."
“There's clearly a need. It saves patients a lot of time,” Scott McKenney, Texas Oncology medical director, said.
The facility, which is set to open in the spring of 2023, will be located on the campus of CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont according to a news release.
“We look forward to a better brighter future and more hope for a cancer patient,” McKenny.
The center will provide medical oncology, radiation oncology, gynecologic oncology, chemotherapy, genetic counseling, and lab services, as well as clinical trials the release said.
Radiation service will also be provided in collaboration with CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth. Officials expressed how happy they are to provide more options for community members in need.
“Today is a start of a new chapter, so we can continue to expand and advance cancer care services to all of those in our community so they don't have to travel," Kevin Parsley, vice president of strategy and business development for CHRISTUS Southeast Texas, said. "They can have their care right here in their backyard."
Texas Oncology began providing oncology services in Beaumont more than 30 years ago.
The new facility on Harrison Avenue, will be developed by Cottonwood Development with McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. serving as general contractor according to the release.
The project took five years to get to this point. Parsley feels like it is all worth it to give patients the best care closer to home.
“It’s about giving people hope and their fight against cancer," Parsley said. "And with the new facility ,and the state of the art and the latest technology and the latest treatments, our goal in working with Texas Oncology is to have the services available right here in Beaumont to meet the needs of everyone here in Southeast Texas."
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.