UCLA Opens Cancer Clinic in El Segundo's South Bay

Cancer patients in Southern California's South Bay no longer need to travel far from home for world-class treatment. UCLA Health just opened a new radiation oncology clinic in El Segundo that brings the same advanced care available at its Westwood campus directly to the community.

The clinic welcomed its first patients on January 13, offering something previously unavailable in the area. Patients can now access UCLA's expert specialists, clinical trials, and cutting-edge technology without leaving their neighborhood.

"This clinic allows patients to access UCLA radiation therapy services without having to travel outside their own community," says Dr. David C. Khan, vice chair of the UCLA Radiation Oncology Network. The facility represents a complete extension of UCLA's main campus, not a scaled-down version.

At the heart of the clinic sits the South Bay's first adaptive radiation therapy linear accelerator. This machine does something remarkable: it adjusts treatment plans in real time based on how a patient's body looks that exact day.

Traditional radiation therapy creates treatment plans days in advance, accounting for possible changes in body positioning or organ movement by targeting a larger area. That means more radiation exposure to healthy tissue surrounding the tumor.

The new technology re-images patients immediately before treatment. The medical team can then modify the radiation plan within minutes instead of days, delivering maximum doses to tumors while protecting healthy organs.

"This precision allows us to safely deliver higher doses of radiation to the tumor while reducing exposure to healthy organs," Dr. Khan explains. "As a result, patients have a higher chance of overcoming cancer with fewer side effects."

The clinic also opens doors to clinical trials that evaluate promising new treatments before they become widely available. Many South Bay patients wanted to participate in UCLA's trials but couldn't manage the commute to Westwood or Santa Monica.

The Ripple Effect

The new facility extends beyond just technology and convenience. Patients gain access to UCLA's comprehensive care model, where radiation oncologists collaborate seamlessly with medical oncologists, imaging specialists, physicists, and support staff under one system.

This multidisciplinary approach means every aspect of a patient's cancer journey receives expert attention. The team works together to ensure treatments are delivered safely, accurately, and with the full support patients need during a challenging time.

For families facing cancer diagnoses, having world-class care close to home changes everything. Parents can attend treatment without arranging childcare for long trips. Patients can lean on their local support networks while receiving the best possible care.

South Bay residents now have something that seemed impossible before: neighborhood access to treatment options that rival any cancer center in the world.