Moffitt Cancer Center is quite famous as a cancer treatment hospital in Tampa. Its official name is H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, but it is commonly referred to as Moffitt. It is not just a large cancer hospital in Tampa; it is recognized as a high-level cancer specialty hospital in the United States.

The main facility, Magnolia Campus, is located right next to the University of South Florida at 12902 USF Magnolia Drive. The hospital, outpatient clinic, and research facilities are all in one place, allowing for a seamless experience from cancer diagnosis to surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, research, and clinical trials.

The history is also interesting. In the 1970s, H. Lee Moffitt, who was a Florida state legislator, experienced cancer personally and lost friends to the disease, leading him to believe that Florida needed a proper cancer specialty hospital. The Florida legislature approved the establishment of the cancer center in 1981, and with an investment of about $70 million, the hospital was built and received its first patient in 1986.

Moffitt's most important title is that it is designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the NCI, or the National Cancer Institute. It became an NCI Cancer Center in 1998 and received Comprehensive Cancer Center status in 2001. Currently, Moffitt is the only cancer center in Florida with this designation.

This is important for a reason. Such cancer centers are not just hospitals that perform many surgeries; they must be recognized for their comprehensive capabilities in cancer research, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and the development of new therapies. The value of these specialized cancer centers increases, especially in cases of rare cancers, difficult-to-treat cancers, or recurrent cancers, where general hospitals may struggle to determine treatment directions.

The range of treatment areas is quite broad. Specialized teams handle various cancers, including breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, ovarian cancer, blood cancers, brain tumors, skin cancer, and head and neck cancers.

In addition to surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, treatments such as immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and bone marrow and blood stem cell transplants are also performed.

Particularly noteworthy is the clinical trials. Moffitt operates over 300 clinical trials as a large research institution.

This means that patients who find it difficult to achieve results with standard treatments have the opportunity to explore new drugs or therapies.

Of course, not everyone can participate in clinical trials; various conditions must be met, including the type and stage of cancer and previous treatment history.

The scale is also significant. Moffitt has nearly 10,000 employees and hundreds of clinicians and researchers, treating over 100,000 patients annually. Patients come not only from Tampa but also from all over Florida, as well as other states and countries.

Recent evaluations also highlight its prominence. In the 2026-27 U.S. News rankings, it was rated the number one cancer hospital in the Tampa Bay area and second in Florida.

However, just because someone receives a cancer diagnosis does not mean they must be treated at Moffitt. If the cancer is early and the treatment method is clear, a good hospital closer to home may be more convenient.

However, if the cancer is advanced, recurrent, or if there is uncertainty about the treatment options presented by another hospital, seeking a second opinion at Moffitt is certainly worth considering.

For those living in Tampa, it is the best hospital to go to if you never have to visit one in your lifetime. However, having one of the top cancer specialty centers in the same city when facing a serious issue like cancer is a significant advantage for Tampa's healthcare environment.