WEBSTER — HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake officially opened its new Blood Cancer Unit on Monday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by hospital leadership, medical staff, and community leaders.

The new unit expands access to specialized blood cancer treatment for patients across the Bay Area and surrounding communities. Hospital officials said the facility is the only hospital south of the Texas Medical Center to offer these services, providing critical care closer to home for many patients.

Among those participating in the ceremony were Dr. Rammurti Kamble, director of the Blood Cancer Center, and Todd Caliva, CEO of HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake and HCA Houston Healthcare Mainland. Webster City Councilman Edward Lapeyre attended on behalf of Mayor Donna Jasso and presented a proclamation recognizing the milestone.

Caliva described the opening as a proud moment for the organization, praising the dedication of the team that worked to bring the project to fruition.

“We put our heart and soul into this,” Caliva said, adding that he knew Dr. Kamble was the right person to lead the program.

Dr. Kamble highlighted the significant advancements that have been made in treating blood cancers, particularly leukemia.

“Traditionally, leukemia patients often survived only about three months after diagnosis,” Kamble said. “With today’s targeted therapies and advancements in treatment, survival rates have improved dramatically, with approximately 60 to 70 percent of patients now able to survive.”

Hospital officials said the new unit will help meet the growing demand for specialized cancer care in the region while allowing patients to remain closer to their families and support systems during treatment.

The opening marks a significant investment in local healthcare and expands access to advanced cancer treatment for residents throughout the Gulf Coast region.