Cancer patients in Tampa Bay are about to get a powerful new option a lot closer to home. Two of the region's biggest health systems say they will open proton therapy units, ending years of long drives and temporary relocations to other Florida cities for this highly targeted form of radiation. Both centers are expected to be treating patients in the back half of 2026.
According to the Tampa Bay Business Journal, Moffitt Cancer Center and BayCare are both moving ahead with proton therapy plans, pulling together details from recent press releases and schedule updates from each system.
Moffitt's Speros campus will house IBA's Proteus®ONE
Moffitt plans to install IBA's Proteus®ONE compact proton system at its Speros Outpatient Center in Land O' Lakes, with patient treatments expected to begin around the end of July 2026. As noted by Moffitt Cancer Center, the system was shipped from Belgium and is slated to boost the NCI-designated center's capacity for complex cases and clinical trials.
BayCare's MEVION unit is already in place at St. Joseph's
BayCare reports that its MEVION S250-FIT proton accelerator was hoisted into St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa in October 2025, a moment director of operations Jennifer Kotwicki called "a major milestone" in a BayCare news release. The health system expects to begin treating patients with the unit by mid-2026.
How proton therapy differs from standard radiation
Unlike conventional X-ray radiation, proton therapy uses charged particles that can be tuned to release most of their energy at a specific depth. That lets clinicians hit tumors while limiting exposure to nearby healthy organs, which is especially important for cancers near the brain, spinal cord or heart and is a key reason the approach is often recommended for children. Medical analyses suggest proton therapy can cut down on both short- and long-term side effects compared with traditional radiation, as explained by the Mayo Clinic.
Less travel for Tampa Bay families
Up to now, many Tampa Bay patients have had to travel to Jacksonville's UF Health Proton Therapy Institute or to centers in Orlando for proton treatment, turning multi-week care schedules into logistical marathons with added time away, lodging costs and family juggling. Information from the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute highlights how the closest options have long been outside the immediate Tampa Bay region.
Insurance, networks and real-world access
Having the machines in the building is only part of the story. Actual access will depend on referrals, prior authorizations and whether a patient's insurance network includes these centers. Local reporting has noted that Moffitt has lost participation in some Medicare Advantage plans, a wrinkle that could affect coverage for older patients. Anyone considering proton therapy is urged to check their benefits and network status with their plan and providers, according to Moffitt loses two Medicare networks.
What comes next for local cancer care
Before either system can open the doors to patients, both still need to finish clinical commissioning, train specialized staff and finalize agreements with insurers. They have signaled that mid-to-late 2026 remains the target window for starting treatments. Moffitt's Speros campus, a 775-acre site, is being promoted as part of a broader life-science push that county leaders hope will draw research dollars and clinical trials to the area, according to Moffitt Cancer Center.
For patients and clinicians, the upside is straightforward: shorter drives and more local choices for complex radiation care. For details on timelines, scheduling and referrals, readers can consult the Tampa Bay Business Journal coverage along with the hospital websites for Moffitt and BayCare.
