Tim Chapman 
MCALLEN – The University of Texas System and Board of Regents has approved more than $145 million dollars in funding for the new UT Health RGV Cancer and Surgery Center.
Subhash Chauhan, director of the Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, talked about the need for a cancer facility in the Rio Grande Valley because of the lack of resources currently available as well as the fast-growing population of people with cancer.
“There are several cancers which are really the highest in the nation, for example, liver cancer, gallbladder cancer, and cervical cancer and the nearest that we have here is MD Anderson or UT Southwestern in Dallas or the closest in San Antonio but there’s nothing here in the region,” said Chauhan.
He explained this new facility will be a huge benefit to the patients and their families because it will eliminate travel, and keeping the patients closer to home helps the well-being of them and their families which makes all the difference in good health care.
“I think it is a step in the right direction, it is very useful for the population community here, it is a well-desired facility what we are looking for and I’m sure it will strengthen and help Rio Grande Valley and take care of the people, it will transform the health of Rio Grande Valley people,” added Chauhan.
Construction on the new UT Health RGV Cancer and Surgery Center is expected to begin in 2024.
