Lee Health expanding Southwest Florida cancer services

Reporter: Amy Oshier Writer: Matthew Seaver
Published: Updated:

Lee Health continues to grow its footprint in Southwest Florida. This time, it’s expanding cancer services, hoping to become a leader in the state.

From spring baseball to sandy beaches, Lee County is a top destination for leisure, and soon we may be adding cancer care to the list of distinctions. Lee Health recently unveiled its vision to promote and grow the newly-branded Lee Health Cancer Institute into Florida’s leader in cancer care.

Mark Roh is the chief executive of oncology at the Lee Health Cancer Institute. “We’re kind of a secret in town. And that’s what we want to overcome.”

The multi-year effort laid out for the hospital’s board plans up to 2025. A key aspect is hiring more cancer professionals.

“Whether it’s surgical specialties, radiation, or medical oncology, but also support services,” Roh said.

The regional cancer center in Fort Myers will remain the hub of operations, but there are also new plans to bring services to Bonita Springs and Cape Coral.

The plan also focuses on sub-specialties. Last year it was breast cancer. This year it will be lung and prostate, and later colorectal. By expanding, Lee Health hopes to stop the migration of cancer patients leaving town.

“I have watched patients travel in and out of their communities. And so that has become a goal of not only mine, but also Lee Health to ensure that cancer patients do not have to travel out of their community,” said Deb Wilson, vice president of the Lee Health Cancer Institute.

Along with Roh, Wilson leads the effort. “When you create and bring together all of the disciplines and the expertise that we have, you can then elevate it and call it that Lee Health Cancer Institute. And it means you have all services within that system.”

The largest healthcare system in Southwest Florida, Lee Health, hopes to be there as a safety net for cancer patients.

The last component is to add clinical research, providing advanced treatment options that, in the past, forced patients to go to large medical centers out of town or out of state.

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