What Is VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center and How Do You Get Care There?

VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center based in Richmond, Virginia, offering multidisciplinary cancer treatment across central Virginia and Hampton Roads. It is one of two NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in Virginia. If you are looking for cancer care in Virginia, want to join a clinical trial, or need to refer a patient, Massey provides a structured path to care through provider search, appointment requests, and patient support services. This article explains what the designation means, what Massey treats, and how to start care there.

What "NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center" Means

The NCI designation is the key differentiator in Massey's own description of itself. According to the center, Massey is "one of two NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in Virginia" and describes itself as "leading the nation in a community-centric approach to a future without cancer."

In practical terms, an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center designation signals that a center meets national standards for both research and clinical care, and that research directly informs treatment. Massey states that its clinical care is "informed by our innovative research and a community-centered approach." The center also notes it has "over 200 cancer-related studies," which matters if you are considering clinical trials as part of treatment.

Massey is also marking "50 years of excellence," describing a history of "providing cutting-edge cancer care and groundbreaking research."

What Massey Treats

Massey organizes care by cancer type, with a team of subspecialized experts from multiple disciplines working together on each case. The center's published list of cancer types and treatments includes:

• Blood cancers: Leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndrome, myeloproliferative disorder
• Breast cancers: Breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, male breast cancer
• Digestive and abdominal: Anal cancer, appendix cancer, bile duct cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, hepatoblastoma
• Gynecologic: Cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, fallopian tube cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, vaginal cancer, vulvar cancer
• Head, neck, and endocrine: Laryngeal cancer, oral cancer, paranasal sinus and nasal cavity cancer, parathyroid disease, pituitary tumors, thyroid cancer
• Lung and chest: Lung cancer, mesothelioma
• Neurological: Brain tumors, central nervous system tumors
• Skin and soft tissue: Melanoma, Kaposi sarcoma, skin cancer, soft tissue sarcoma
• Urologic: Bladder cancer, kidney cancer, penile cancer, prostate cancer, testicular cancer
• Other: Adrenal tumors, amyloidosis, bone cancer, cancer of unknown primary, childhood cancers, sickle cell disease

Massey also publishes a separate "View All Treatment Options" list, so treatment approaches are organized independently from cancer types.

How to Get Care at Massey

Massey's site lays out distinct paths depending on who you are. The main entry points are:

If you are a patient

1. Find a provider — use the provider search to identify a specialist for your cancer type.
2. Make an appointment — request an appointment directly through the site.
3. Access resources and support services — patient resources and support services are listed separately from clinical care.

If you are a referring provider

• Refer a patient — a dedicated referral path exists for physicians.
• Find a provider and find a clinical trial are also listed for referring clinicians.

If you are looking for research or trials

• Find a clinical trial — search available trials.
• Research programs, shared resources, and funding opportunities are listed for researchers.

If you want to support Massey

• Make a donation, get involved, or become a corporate champion.

Locations

Massey serves patients at locations throughout central Virginia and Hampton Roads, Virginia. The center's published service area keywords include Richmond, central Virginia, Henrico, and Chesterfield. If you are outside these areas, the provider search and appointment request are the practical first steps to confirm whether a location works for you.

Billing, Insurance, and Price Transparency

Massey publishes two relevant resources for planning the financial side of care:

• Billing & Insurance — Massey's own billing and insurance information page.
• Price Transparency — VCU Health's price transparency page for VCU Medical Center.

These pages are the appropriate starting points for cost and coverage questions. The available information does not specify which insurance plans are accepted or whether financial assistance is available, so those details should be confirmed directly through the billing and insurance page or by contacting the center.

Clinical Trials and Research

Massey emphasizes research as part of its clinical identity. It states it has "over 200 cancer-related studies" and describes its mission as discovering and developing "new drugs and better treatments." For patients, the practical implication is that clinical trial participation may be an option alongside standard treatment. Massey provides a dedicated clinical trial search, and referring providers can also search trials on a patient's behalf.

Quick Reference

What to Confirm Before You Commit

The site does not state accepted insurance plans, appointment wait times, or whether a referral is required for all visit types. Before scheduling, confirm:

• Whether your insurance is accepted (via the Billing & Insurance page)
• Whether you need a referral from your current physician
• Which Massey location is closest to you and offers your cancer type
• Whether a clinical trial is relevant to your diagnosis

Massey's combination of NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center designation, subspecialized multidisciplinary teams, and an active research program makes it a reasonable starting point for cancer care in Virginia. The fastest way to move from information to care is to use the provider search and appointment request, then confirm coverage through the billing page.