May 7, 2024
Making cancer care more convenient in Southern California
Kaiser Permanente has opened a new Radiation Oncology Center at the Bellflower Medical Offices.
The facility was intentionally designed to take advantage of natural daylight to create a calming, tranquil environment for patients to heal.
Bringing high-quality cancer care closer to home for nearly 400,000 members in southeast Los Angeles County, Kaiser Permanente added a Radiation Oncology Center on the campus of its Bellflower Medical Offices.
Growing our footprint of cancer centers
The Bellflower Radiation Oncology Center, which opened to patients in late January 2024, is the fourth cancer center of excellence and radiation therapy site for Kaiser Permanente in Southern California. The facility is equipped with advanced cancer treatment technology including 3 linear accelerators and a CT scanner.
Each treatment suite is exposed to natural light, creating a peaceful and healing environment for the patient. The rooms are outfitted with speakers, and patients can request music of their choice to be played during their treatment session.
An adjacent clinical suite houses 9 exam rooms and 8 provider offices. All patient vitals, including weight and blood pressure, can be taken inside the exam rooms using high-tech chairs for added privacy.
“The Bellflower Radiation Oncology Center represents our continued commitment to providing our members with easy access to compassionate, high-quality specialty care in their neighborhood,” said Michelle Gaskill-Hames, regional president for Kaiser Permanente in Southern California and Hawaii. “I am proud to celebrate the opening of another state-of-the-art facility as we support our oncology patients on their healing journey.”
Each treatment suite is exposed to natural light, creating a peaceful and healing environment for the patient.
An immediate impact on one member
Before the opening of the Bellflower Radiation Oncology Center, members in the Kaiser Permanente Downey service area would receive treatment at the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, Anaheim Medical Center, or Ontario Medical Center — all nearly an hour’s drive away.
Maria Madrigal, a Kaiser Permanente member from Compton, California, was one of the center’s first patients and is thankful to have avoided such a long commute.
Madrigal was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in August 2023 and underwent surgery the following month to remove the tumor. She then had her initial consultation with the Radiation Oncology team in February 2024, during the same week the center opened.
“Without this center, it would have been so much harder to get the care I needed,” said Madrigal. “My husband would not have been able to take me to my appointments given his work schedule and the travel time to either Los Angeles or Anaheim. Having him present for emotional support meant everything to me during such a trying time.”
The Kaiser Permanente difference
A 2021 study found that compared to nonintegrated health care systems, Kaiser Permanente achieved 15% lower mortality rates across 8 common types of cancer.
“Kaiser Permanente provides world-class cancer care with some of the best 5-year outcomes,” said Ramin Davidoff, MD, executive medical director for the Southern California Permanente Medical Group. “Expanding access to this cancer care in an integrated, comprehensive fashion through the expertise of our physicians and new facilities such as the Bellflower Radiation Oncology Center makes it possible to fundamentally improve the lives of our cancer patients.”
Find more information about cancer care at Kaiser Permanente.
