A hospital in Colorado Springs is increasing its ability to treat cancer patients.

UCHealth’s Memorial Hospital North is adding a second linear accelerator to its oncology department. The $3.4 million project will double the hospital’s capacity to treat patients in Monument, northeast Colorado Springs and northern El Paso County.

“It is anticipated the new linear accelerator will be installed in early 2026 and be operational mid-year,” said Carolyn Vogrin, a spokesperson with UCHealth. “Construction for the installation of a second linear accelerator has not impacted current capacity or patient care at the center.”

Radiation therapy is a common treatment for cancer patients. A linear accelerator uses a beam of high energy radiation to target tumors in a patient’s body. Radiation damages the DNA of cancer cells, preventing them from growing and dividing. This ultimately kills the cancer cells, according to the American Cancer Society.

There are risks associated with radiation therapy, and patients are at a higher risk of contracting a second cancer. However, the benefits of treating existing cancer often outweigh the risks of a second cancer according to the American Cancer Society.

Because of the risks, a cancer vault like the one being built at Memorial North, must be specially constructed. The first vault at Memorial Hospital North, opened in 2016 and has walls that are 7.5 feet thick. The National Council on Radiation Protection recommends walls be as thick as 10 feet, depending on a site’s specifics.

This vault’s addition continues Memorial Hospital North’s expansion this year. In September, five exam rooms and more office space were added to the cancer center. This expanded palliative care, research and support services, Vogrin said.

Adding a second linear accelerator is, however, separate from plans to build a six-story tower at Memorial Hospital North. The new tower will add 50 beds, lab space, more operating rooms and a parking structure to the hospital.

It will cost more than $440 million, Vogrin said.

“We don’t yet have firm dates for groundbreaking, but we anticipate it will occur in mid-2026,” she said. “The expansions not only increase access to care for people in northern El Paso County, they also reduce pressure on UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central, east of downtown.”

More than 38% of people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes, according to the National Institute of Cancer. In 2022, more than 18 million people were living with the disease, it reported.