Health Systems Invest $4 Billion in Cancer Care Expansion

Hospitals and health systems across the U.S. are expanding cancer care capacity and decentralizing access to improve oncology services.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Health systems in the U.S. are investing over $4 billion to expand their cancer care infrastructure and services. The investments aim to improve access to cancer care, support the growing population of cancer survivors, and keep pace with advancements in precision diagnostics and cellular therapies. The expansions include new cancer centers, inpatient units, research facilities, and specialized clinics focused on areas like BRCA-related cancers.

Why it matters

Cancer care is evolving beyond traditional hospital-based treatment, requiring health systems to rethink their oncology service delivery models. These major investments demonstrate the industry's commitment to providing high-quality, accessible cancer care as the patient population and treatment options continue to grow in complexity.

The details

The $4 billion in cancer care expansions span 16 different health systems across the country. Projects include a $650 million cancer center at Oregon Health & Science University, a $1.1 billion cancer hospital at the Medical University of South Carolina, a $65 million cancer center in Redmond, Oregon, and a $1.68 billion joint-venture cancer hospital between Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians in Boston. Other investments are focused on specialized care, such as a $30 million gift to establish the Cedars-Sinai Cayton BRCA Center in Los Angeles.

  • The new $650 million cancer center at Oregon Health & Science University will open in April 2026.
  • Construction on the new $1.68 billion Dana-Farber Cancer Institute hospital is expected to begin in mid-2026.
  • Confluence Health's nearly $60 million cancer center in Wenatchee, Washington is slated to open in 2028.
  • The $15 million gift to expand the oncology unit at Hartford HealthCare's St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, Connecticut was received from the estate of Neil Mellen.

The players

Robert Stone

CEO at City of Hope, a cancer research and treatment organization in Duarte, California.

Armin Ghobadi, MD

Bone marrow transplant specialist and medical oncologist at Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis.

Phil and Penny Knight

Philanthropists who donated $2 billion to establish a new cancer care delivery model at the Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University.

Arthur L. Irving

The namesake of the Irving Oil Limited Center for Urgent Cancer Care and Irving Oil Limited Healing Garden at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Josh and Anita Bekenstein, Jonathan and Jeannie Lavine

Families who provided the largest single gift in Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's history to support the institute's future inpatient hospital.

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What they’re saying

“Cancer care can no longer be designed around treatment alone. We must intentionally redesign oncology as a continuum of care, where survivorship is not an afterthought but a core clinical strategy.”

— Robert Stone, CEO, City of Hope (Becker's Hospital Review)

“Hospital and health system leaders often underestimate the complexity of patient selection, treatment timing and site-of-care decisions. Ultimately, successful immunotherapy programs depend on tight alignment between clinical expertise, operational authority and sustainable financial models — recognizing immunotherapy as an enduring service line rather than a one-time therapeutic event.”

— Armin Ghobadi, MD, Bone marrow transplant specialist and medical oncologist, Siteman Cancer Center (Becker's Hospital Review)

What’s next

The new cancer hospitals and centers announced in this story are in various stages of planning and construction, with opening dates ranging from 2026 to 2028. As these projects progress, the health systems involved will continue to share updates on construction timelines, service offerings, and patient impact.

The takeaway

These major investments in cancer care infrastructure demonstrate the healthcare industry's commitment to expanding access, improving outcomes, and keeping pace with the evolving needs of cancer patients and survivors. By decentralizing services and embracing new treatment modalities, health systems are positioning themselves to deliver high-quality, comprehensive oncology care for years to come.