Dana-Farber will restore radiation oncology services to the Merrimack Health campus in Methuen, reviving a local cancer treatment option that shut down in October 2025. The move, announced Thursday after months of service consolidation tied to the Steward Health Care bankruptcy, is expected to cut down long trips for Merrimack Valley patients who have been heading to larger centers for radiation.
As reported by Boston Business Journal, Dana-Farber plans to reopen a radiation oncology clinic on Merrimack Health's Methuen campus, positioning the move as part of a broader effort to rebuild services that were shuttered during the hospital system's recent restructuring.
Dana-Farber already lists a Merrimack Valley outpatient center at 5 Branch Street in Methuen, with details available on Dana-Farber's site. Merrimack Health's locations page also identifies the Dana-Farber Community Cancer Care site on the Methuen campus. The Dana-Farber listing includes a local contact number for appointments and pharmacy services: 978-620-2020.
What Patients Can Expect
Since the Methuen radiation unit closed in October 2025, patients have had to travel to other centers for treatment. Bringing radiation back on campus is expected to ease that travel burden and help streamline follow-up care closer to home. The Boston Business Journal reports that the plan centers on restoring local capacity rather than building an entirely new department.
Service Shifts After Steward Bankruptcy
Steward Health Care filed for Chapter 11 protection in May 2024, triggering sales and service transitions across several Massachusetts hospitals, according to the Massachusetts state government. Merrimack Health has continued to reshuffle services this year, including an early closure of the Methuen birthing center announced in June 2026, the Massachusetts Nurses Association said.
Dana-Farber's Regional Radiation Plans
Dana-Farber is also putting money into more advanced radiation options. The institute won state approval in May 2026 to build a proton therapy center on its Longwood campus, a project that Dana-Farber says will broaden regional access to precision radiation treatments. In its news release, Dana-Farber framed the proton center as part of a wider radiation strategy, though neither Dana-Farber nor Merrimack Health has released a public timeline for when Methuen's radiation clinic will be back to treating patients.
We will update this story as hospital leaders or Dana-Farber share details on staffing, equipment, or a start date. For appointments or questions, Dana-Farber — Merrimack Valley can be reached at 978-620-2020.
