Mayo Clinic announces $200M expansion to proton beam therapy program in Rochester

(ABC 6 News) – Mayo Clinic announced Monday it will be expanding its proton beam therapy services in Rochester to meet the growing demand for cancer treatment.

The $200 million expansion will add 110,000 square feet which will be located on the east side of the Eisenberg Building and attached to the Jacobson Building. The expansion will feature two new treatment rooms bringing the total to six treatment rooms. The expansion is anticipated to treat 900 additional patients per year and create 117 new jobs.

According to Mayo Clinic, "site preparation is anticipated to begin in November, with projects to include the relocation of utility tunnels and pedestrian subways. Building construction is scheduled to begin in late 2022, with a goal to begin treating patients in late 2025."

"Mayo Clinic Cancer Center is thrilled by the institutional support for this essential expansion of our Proton Beam Therapy Program," says Cheryl Willman, M.D., executive director of Mayo Clinic Cancer Programs and director of the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center.

"As the world leader in proton beam radiation therapy and in new particle radiation therapies under development, we are committed to providing the most advanced cancer care to all of the patients we serve."

Mayo Clinic’s Proton Beam Therapy Program uses pencil beam scanning, which allows health care providers to deliver precise radiotherapy to cancerous tissue and lower doses of radiation to healthy tissue, subsequently reducing toxicity and negative side effects for patients receiving treatment. Dr. Laack says this highly targeted therapy is ideal for people with tumors located near or within vital organs.

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