Top 10 Cancer Hospitals in the United States

Each year, U.S. News & World Report releases its annual list of the top 50 hospitals in the United States. In addition to the list of overall best patient care and research, the editors highlight facilities that specialize in certain medical fields, including oncology (cancer). All told, around 4,800 U.S. hospitals are considered in the rankings.

Of those that topped the list of the best cancer hospitals, several have met the standard of care required by the National Cancer Institute to receive the official "Comprehensive Cancer Center" designation. Today, there are only 71 hospitals to have received such status.

There are many reasons why you would want to access a comprehensive cancer center as opposed to an oncology practice and clinic in your area. It may be that you or your child have an uncommon form of cancer or one that is resistant to standard therapies.

Many of these centers engage in cutting-edge research and may be able to offer treatments that are either experimental or not yet available in other facilities. Or, you may simply want a second opinion from someone who is a leader in their field.

Whatever your motivation, these top-rated facilities are guaranteed to offer the highest level of care and expertise if you or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer.

MD Anderson Center

The University of Texas MD Anderson Center in Houston, Texas, is one of the three original Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the United States. MD Anderson is widely considered to be one of the foremost cancer hospitals in the world.

The MD Anderson Center provides care to over 135,000 people annually and employs almost 20,000 people.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital

Memorial Sloan-Kettering is a non-profit hospital located in New York City. It was founded in 1884 as the New York Cancer Hospital by a group of philanthropists and businessmen including John Jacob Astor.

The center now treats hundreds of subtypes of cancers each year. Treatment locations include the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center, the Sillerman Center for Rehabilitation, and the Bendheim Integrative Medicine Center, as well as other locations in New York state and New Jersey.

Mayo Clinic

The Mayo Clinic is one of the most well-known hospitals in the world, with a tradition of cutting-edge patient care and a multi-centered cancer unit.

The Mayo Clinic Cancer Center is based on three campuses — Phoenix, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota — and offers comprehensive oncological treatment to people from around the world.

Johns Hopkins Hospital

Johns Hopkins Hospital is one of the most familiar and trusted names in health care in the United States. In keeping with that tradition, its Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center in Baltimore delivers cancer-specific treatment, education, and research across all disciplines, including cancer immunotherapy and bone marrow transplants.

Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center

Based in Boston, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has long been a leader in cancer research, education, and treatment.

The collaborative Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center provides state-of-the-art care for women and men with breast cancer and is staffed with leading surgeons, oncologists, and radiation oncologists, some of whom have pioneered techniques that have become the template for optimal breast cancer treatment.

Cleveland Clinic

The Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio, boasts more than 700 doctors, researchers, nurses, and technicians delivering cancer-specific care to thousands of patients each year.

The large health care system unites doctors and scientists from the Taussig Cancer Institute (housed in a 377,000-square-foot facility that opened in 2017), as well as the hospital's 26 other clinical and surgical institutes.

UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is one of the nation's most highly ranked hospitals. The UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, located in Shadyside, provides cancer care at over 60 locations with over 200 medical, radiation, and surgical oncologists.

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute

The H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute is a non-profit treatment and research center in Tampa, Florida. Established in 1981, the hospital officially opened its doors in 1986 and has quickly risen through the ranks to become of the most comprehensive and state-of-the-art facilities in the United States.

Massachusetts General Hospital

Massachusets General Hospital, affiliated with Harvard University in Boston, is home to the Mass General Cancer Center, which provides patient care and is the site of cancer research. Patients may have the option to enroll in clinical trials.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Northwestern Memorial Hospital, located in downtown Chicago, is home to the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. Specializing in hematopoietic stem cell transplant and precision medicine, the Cancer Center is affiliated with several research sites. It also provides patient care for many types of cancer.

A Word From Verywell

There is no doubt that NCI-accredited comprehensive cancer centers are unrivaled in their medical and technical capacity. But, that shouldn't suggest that oncologists in your area are unable to deliver anything less the highest standard of care or are out of touch with the latest immunotherapeutic or precision medicines. There are excellent oncologists throughout the United States who practice at the highest level in their field.

When searching for the oncologist or oncology center best suited to oversee your care, do your research and ask as many questions as possible to make an informed choice. Search for board-certified oncologists with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and check credentials on the American Board of Medical Specialities (ABMS) website.

There are other NCI-designated centers throughout the United States that can be found on the National Cancer Institute website.