West Texas Opens 120,000 Sq Ft Cancer Center for Rural Patients

Patients across West Texas and Eastern New Mexico no longer have to travel hundreds of miles for world-class cancer care.

The new UMC TLC² Foundation Cancer Center opened April 20 in Lubbock, spanning over 120,000 square feet. That's nearly three times larger than the previous facility, bringing advanced treatment, research, and support services to a region where rural communities have struggled with higher cancer death rates due to limited local access.

The partnership between UMC Health System and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center created a comprehensive academic cancer center with more than 50 infusion chairs, dozens of exam rooms, and dedicated spaces for both children and adults. Wait times will drop and appointment availability will increase dramatically.

Mark Funderburk, UMC's president and CEO, says their vision is clear: eliminate suffering from cancer. The new center houses state-of-the-art treatment, research capabilities, and integrative medicine all in one place so patients can receive comprehensive care without zigzagging between buildings or cities.

The facility serves 121 counties where cancer rates run 8 to 12% higher than the national average. Many families in this rural region previously faced impossible choices between staying close to home or seeking advanced treatment far away.

Beyond treatment rooms, the center offers wellness programs, family support services, and access to clinical trials that bring the latest therapies to patients who might not find them elsewhere. Texas Tech physicians are even training the next generation of surgical oncologists through one of only 43 John Wayne Cancer Foundation fellowship programs in North America.

The Texas Legislature backed the effort with a historic $25 million investment for a rural cancer collaborative. House Speaker Dustin Burrows says the funding helps close the distance between patients and the care they need.

The center bears the name of Terry Lee Chandler, who died from glioblastoma three months after diagnosis in 2017. Her husband Doug, a two-time cancer survivor, leads the TLC² Foundation with a relentless message: "Cancer, we are coming for you."

The Ripple Effect

This isn't just about one hospital getting bigger. Rural communities throughout West Texas and Eastern New Mexico now have genuine access to the same caliber of cancer care found in major metropolitan areas. Families can stay together during treatment instead of one parent driving hours for appointments while the other stays home with kids. Local economies benefit when patients receive care locally rather than relocating temporarily to distant cities.

The research happening inside these walls will advance cancer treatment not just regionally but nationally, as Texas Tech contributes findings to the broader medical community. And those 4,900 healthcare team members now have expanded resources to serve their neighbors with dignity and hope.

One new building is changing the equation for thousands of families who deserve world-class care close to home.