Published on September 27, 2023

MaineGeneral Medical Center Begins Expansion of Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care

MaineGeneral Medical Center ceremonially broke ground on its Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care (HACCC) expansion project today. Alongside staff and community supporters, cancer center leadership also recognized major contributors who have already stepped up to lead the fundraising required to complete the $36 million project.

The facility at 361 Old Belgrade Road opened in 2007, consolidating MaineGeneral outpatient oncology services under one roof. The campus the cancer center now sits on also houses the Alfond Center for Health, which is recognizing its tenth year of operation, and a child care center for MaineGeneral employees.

“For 16 years, this building has served us well, providing skilled and compassionate care to thousands of Maine cancer patients. However, designed to see 800 new patients a year, the community need for its services is now more than double what we anticipated,” said Nathan Howell, President & CEO of MaineGeneral Health. “Since 2018 alone, we’ve seen a 75 percent increase in new patient consults. The need for cancer care exceeds our ability to provide it in the world-class way our patients expect and deserve.”

Cancer incidence is on the rise. More than 9,000 Mainers are diagnosed with cancer each year; MaineGeneral sees 2,000 of those patients. Additionally, 3,000 Maine patients die of the disease each year, making cancer the leading cause of death in the state.

New treatments and technology are helping people live longer with cancer. Together, the rise in incidence and need for longer-term care for patients has stretched capacity at the HACCC. To adapt before the expansion plans, the center has turned offices into exam rooms, converted storage rooms into offices and constrained space for cancer research and clinical trials. Additionally, there is no space currently to help patients with education and other support services such as survivorship programs.

Also speaking at the ceremony was Gregory Powell, Chairman of the Harold Alfond Foundation. Before his passing, Harold Alfond was the leading benefactor of MaineGeneral’s cancer center, as well as the inpatient medical center now colocated on the campus.

Continuing the vision that Harold Alfond had for the Kennebec Valley community more than 16 years ago, Powell announced that the Harold Alfond Foundation is providing $25 million to support the expansion project.

“In the time since the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care opened, 70,000 patients have passed through the center’s doors. They have been treated by the finest caregivers, close to home, and received high-quality care in a beautiful setting,” Powell said. “The Harold Alfond Foundation is proud to again support the vital work that goes on here.” 

In addition to the Harold Alfond Foundation, significant gifts toward the $30 million fundraising goal have been pledged by:

  • Charlie & Nancy Shuman ($1 million);
  • Peter and Sandra Prescott ($500,000);
  • Kennebec Savings Bank ($250,000);
  • Lajoie Bros., the project’s general contractor ($250,000); and
  • Mike and Beth Nowak ($100,000).

“To date, $29 million has been raised towards the $30 million goal,” said Nicole McSweeney, Chief Marketing & Philanthropy Officer of MaineGeneral. “We launch the public phase of the campaign today: Honoring a Legacy, Shaping the Future, and ask our community to help close the gap in our fundraising efforts to support our patients, family and friends.”

The HACCC expansion is expected to take two years to complete, and will be accomplished in a phased approach so patient care will not be interrupted.

The cancer center has been recognized for quality care, being one of the first QOPI®-certified facilities in the country, and is also accredited by the Commission on Cancer and the American College of Radiology.

To learn more about the expansion, go to give.mainegeneral.org/expand.