The new two-story, 52,000-square-foot Cancer Care Center houses the Central Maine Cancer Institute, which provides multi-specialty, team-based care. The facility also houses new equipment, including new linear accelerators critical for radiation therapy.

Construction on the $33.2 million project began November 2, 2020 and is now complete and the center is welcoming patients from all of Central Maine. The new center is the cornerstone of the Cancer Care Institute and providers services in an accessible, centralized location so patients do not have to make their way to different parts of the Lewiston hospital campus for their care.

Healing Environment Inspired Design

The Cancer Care Center was thoughtfully designed to incorporate the landscape in and around Lewiston. Local mills and factories, features of the region’s proud heritage, played a crucial part in the design concept. The interior architecture and layout was inspired by the work and research being conducted in DNA research and how it relates to cancer care. Using natural light, sustainable features, growing plants and open space to allow for the best possible healing environment.

Linear Accelerators and Radiation Therapy
This center will have two new, state-of-the-art Varian TrueBeam Linear Accelerators for the radiation oncology department. A medical linear accelerator (LINAC) is the device most commonly used for radiation treatments for patients with cancer. It delivers high-energy x-rays or electrons to the region of the patient’s tumor. Using this advanced technology, these treatments can be delivered in such a way that they destroy the cancer cells while sparing the surrounding normal tissue.

More than half of U.S. cancer patients receive radiation therapy — and many of these treatments wouldn’t be possible without a machine called a linear accelerator (LINAC). A linear accelerator, also referred to as LINAC, is a machine that aims radiation at cancer tumors with pinpoint accuracy, sparing nearby healthy tissue. It’s used to deliver several types of external beam radiation therapy.

LINACs send radiation, such as x-rays or electron beams, through the body and into cancer tumors. Today’s LINACs are equipped with 3D image guidance like CT scanning to accurately target tumors. Special software then matches radiation beams to unique tumor sizes and shapes. This customized approach makes external beam radiation therapy safe and precise for cancer treatment.

Dempsey Center
The Dempsey Center makes life better for people managing the impact of cancer with locations in Lewiston, South Portland, and now our third virtual location, Dempsey Connects. Services are provided at no cost. Whether you are a patient, care partner, family member, or friend, the Dempsey Center is here to help navigate unique cancer impacts. With two physical locations in Maine and virtual services via Dempsey Connects, programs are designed to meet you where you are, no matter where you are and all at no cost to utilize them.

Infusion Suites
Our infusion suites are designed to provide the most comfortable and calming setting for our patients who are undergoing chemotherapy treatment. The Suites are designed with natural light, private entertainment screens, comfortable seating and, most importantly, the dedicated attention of our nursing team with a large nursing station located within the same room.

Onsite Lab
Patients can conveniently access any of the variety of laboratory tests are needed for navigating cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment. Lab tests also may be used to screen high-risk patients, pinpoint the stage of cancer, identify treatment options and evaluate whether the cancer is responding to treatment.

Onsite Pharmacy
The pharmacy team at the Cancer Care Center understands that cancer is a complex disease, and that oncology medications play a key role in fighting it. Our onsite oncology pharmacy provides quality care in several ways and CMMC Cancer Center pharmacists guide patients through the process to educate patients and their caregiver, helping them understand medications and manage side effects.