Honoring a Legacy
When philanthropist Harold Alfond needed cancer treatment, he chose to stay in Central Maine and receive his care from MaineGeneral, saying, "I could have been treated anywhere in the world, but I wanted to be close by and knew the care I would receive at MaineGeneral is comparable to anywhere else. I hope that cancer never touches you or your family, but if it does, trust me, you'll want the best."
Harold's experience and transformative vision of a world-class cancer center in Augusta launched a community-wide fundraising campaign to build the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care (HACCC). More than 2,100 people generously responded to that call. Together, they not only fashioned our facility that opened in 2007, they also forged a lasting legacy of connection and care for each other and for our region's cancer community.
Our Mission
The Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care's mission is to save the lives of people in Maine and lower the death rate from cancer in the Kennebec Valley and beyond.
One in three Mainers will face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. More than 9,000 adults are diagnosed with cancer each year in Maine, and more than 3,000 Mainers die from the disease annually. Every year, more than 2,000 new patients walk through our doors. You, your family, your friends and your neighbors need access to local cancer care today and in the future.
Promises Made, Promises Kept
When the HACCC first opened, we promised you, our community, to uphold Harold Alfond's vision of a local, holistic center for cancer care where the patient always comes first.
Patients are referred from all of Maine's sixteen counties, with the majority from Kennebec and Somerset Counties. The Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care is the only Maine cancer center centrally located to serve this broad region.
We pride ourselves on providing the highest quality cancer care close to home — just like Harold Alfond envisioned, and just like we promised.
Each patient's journey is supported by more than 100 staff and clinicians, and we carry patients through their entire cancer journey. Our person-centered approach includes:
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- Care teams that include medical and radiation oncologists, oncology nurses, licensed clinical social workers, community resource navigators, dietitians and oncology pharmacists;
- An Open Access Clinic dedicated to same-day acute care, helping our immunocompromised patients avoid the Emergency Department;
- Clinical trials, targeted therapies and novel technologies through on-site collaboration with the Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative of the Jackson Laboratory;
- An array of social services including financial counseling, cancer survivorship resources, care management and dietary counseling;
- Hematology services to care for our population of patients with blood disorders;
- Telemedicine options to reduce the burden of travel on patients; and
- Prevention, screenings and patient education to promote early detection and increase survivorship.
Every moment each patient has with their loved ones is priceless.