The new comprehensive cancer center in Harnett County recently received a pledge for a $500,000 donation from P.K. Vyas, M.D., founder of Eastern Carolina Medical Center in Benson. In recognition of this donation, the Cancer Center’s waiting room will be named in his honor.

“I am grateful to be able to financially support a cause that is near a dear to my heart, rural health,” Dr. Vyas said in a press release. “The addition of a full-service cancer center to Harnett County will bring the same resources and treatments, once only available in large cities, closer to my patients and their families. It is my hope this donation will give everyone the opportunity to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer."

The new Cape Fear Valley Cancer Center – Central Harnett Hospital will be located in the Medical Arts Building currently under construction near the campus of Central Harnett Hospital. Harnett Health and Cape Fear Valley broke ground on the facility in May 2023, and it’s on schedule to open in December of this year. Tentative plans for the facility also include specialists such as Orthopedics; Ear, Nose, Throat; a surgical clinic, Neurology; Cardiology and Rheumatology.

“We’re very grateful for this gift from Dr. Vyas, who is continuing his record of community support with this donation,” said Harnett Health Foundation Executive Director Scott Childers in a press release. “Community support is such an important part of these projects, both before and after. We truly appreciate Dr. Vyas for sharing our vision of improving and expanding cancer care in Harnett County.”

The Cancer Center will anchor the new three-story, 66,000-square-foot Medical Arts Complex. The new 17,000-square-foot Cancer Center will offer the full spectrum of cancer care, including radiation oncology services. Currently, Central Harnett Hospital in Lillington offers cancer services, including diagnosis and chemotherapy, with nine infusion chairs available. However, it does not currently have the ability to offer radiation therapy, nor is there another option for radiation treatment available within Harnett County.