Lee Health OKs $14M Regional Cancer Center expansion

Lee Health's elected governing board voted Thursday afternoon to spend more than $14 million to expand the Regional Cancer Center in Fort Myers, one of Southwest Florida's primary cancer-care destinations.

Plans call for adding 24,000 square feet to 64,000-square-foot center, located off Colonial Boulevard near Interstate 75. The new space will allow the center to add to its medical staff, its pharmacy, cancer services and provide enough space to house a care team specializing in symptom and pain relief.

Administrators say the nine-year-old center has seen sharp growth every year it has operated, likely the result of the region's aging population and the center's ever expanding treatment offerings.

"I think Lee County is poised to see a tremendous increase in the burden of cancer care, going through 2030, and then doubling by 2050," said Sharon MacDonald, who oversees oncology and home health services for Lee Health. "And we knew when we built the building, we would eventually run out of space."

As of last year, more than 16,000 patients visited the center. That's up from 14,715 it counted in 2014, according to Lee Health.

It provides treatments for a varieties of cancer types, including breast, lung, gynecological malignancies, colo-rectal and lymphatic system malignancies.

The center also allows Lee Health to partner with Florida Cancer Specialists, 21st Century Oncology and Florida Gynecologic Oncology for treatment services.

The board had already agreed last year to spend more than $820,000 to plan and design the project, and preliminary work is already under way. Construction is expected to be finished in by April 2018.

Dave Kistel, Lee Health's vice president of facilities and support services, said the center will offer valet parking services for patients while site work is underway.

"So, they can come right to the drop off point, go into the building and we'll park the car for them," he said.

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