UPMC Horizon completes work on $9.6M project to expand cancer care
The UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at UPMC Horizon has announced in a news release that work had been completed on a $9.6 million project to expand cancer care services.
Mercer County residents will now have access to "the most sophisticated radiation oncology treatment" with the addition of a second linear accelerator.
The $9.6 million went to the construction for the vault that would house the linear accelerator.
"So instead of having to always travel down to Pittsburgh, [patients] can remain here and be treated with the same excellent quality of care at home," Dr. Uzoma Iheagwara, UPMC Hillman at UPMC Horizon Radiation Oncologist said.
The linear accelerator delivers high-energy, external beam radiation treatments that can target a variety of cancer tumors throughout the body, including in the lung, breast and prostate - all with precision.
This linear accelerator will be an addition to the conventional beam radiation that is currently located at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at UPMC Horizon.
The linear accelerator will allow access for treatments of different types of cancers that have, in the past, required patients to travel to Pittsburgh for treatment.
"When demand for UPMC services increases, we prioritize and we respond to the needs of our community," said Dave Patton, President of UPMC Horizon and UPMC Jameson.
According to the news release, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center had 186 patient radiation oncology consultations and 4,160 treatments provided in 2011 when they added comprehensive cancer care to its list of treatments.
In 2024, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center treated 460 new patients and nearly 8,000 radiation oncology treatments were provided.
