Cancer Treatment Centers of America chooses Phoenix for new hospital site

Illinois-based Cancer Treatment Centers of America has announced plans to build its newest hospital facility in west Phoenix.

The national for-profit hospital chain will build its fifth center on 15 acres at Thomas Road and Loop 101, across the street from Banner Estrella Medical Center.

Breaking ground in July, the $70 million, 210,000 square foot hospital is expected to open in fall 2008. It will initially employ 260 people, ramping up to a projected staff of 420 within three years.

The new CTCA site will treat advanced-stage cancer patients with both medical and complementary alternative therapies. It is expected to treat approximately 400 patients in its first year, many of them from across the Southwest.

About 90 percent of the facility's patients will come from outside the Valley, and 70 percent will come from outside the state, Robert Mayo, vice chairman of CTCA's board, told the Arizona Republic.

"Phoenix and cancer patients throughout the western United States will benefit substantially from this new facility," said Phoenix City Councilman Claude Mattox.

"CTCA will be a tremendous new asset to our medical community and our common goal to beat cancer."

The CTCA hospital is not the only new cancer hospital in town. The University of Arizona and Banner Health, the state's largest hospital system, are also planning to build a cancer hospital in downtown Phoenix.

But, as Mayo told Arizona Republic, CTCA is not there to compete directly with Banner.

He added, though, "We bring friendly, competitive spirit to the region."

Established in 1988, CTCA has a flagship hospital in Illinois and facilities in Philadelphia, Tulsa, and Seattle.

---

For more information:

"Phoenix to get cancer hospital," Arizona Republic, 03/09/2007

"Cancer Treatment Centers of America selects Phoenix for its first hospital serving the West," Cancer Treatment Centers of America press release, 03/08/2007