| story by Autumn Bishop | |
| photos courtesy | LMH Health |
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The Cancer Center expansion and renovation is beautiful.
The Cancer Center expansion and renovation is beautiful.
“Breast cancer, right? You know, there’s not a day that goes by that I am not grateful that I had cancer. Now, I appreciate every day in a way that I never did before.” LMH Health Foundation Board President Gail Vick shared these words she heard during her own cancer journey. I caught my breath when I heard them, not because I was shocked but because it finally put words to the jumble of feelings that had been weighing in my chest.
Cancer Center Treatment Room – Before and After Top:semi-private; After Bottom: private
Now, don’t get me wrong, I didn’t wake up one day and think, “Self? You know what would be great? Cancer.” Trust me when I say that having breast cancer isn’t something I’d put at the top of my to-do list.
I was at the right place at the right time.
“Are you getting your care at LMH? It’s kind of cramped, and you’ll be getting chemo in a room all by yourself.”
Honestly, it never occurred to me to look to a different oncology clinic until someone brought it up. I enjoyed the small, private room I inhabited for a few hours each week—sometimes with a companion—and the team of nurses and oncologists breezing in and out. Let’s face it: Not everyone feels the same.
The truth is, the space didn’t reflect the extraordinary level of care the oncology team provides. It was dark. Offices meant for one person had multiple people squeezed in. It could feel crowded. The team was caring for more than 19,000 patient encounters each year in a space that was built to serve 2,400 in 2001.
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“Our facility was great, but the needs of our patients simply outgrew our space,” says Dr. Jodi Palmer, hematology and oncology. “We want to provide a pleasant, low-stress environment that’s conducive to healing throughout the entire cancer journey.”
It was time for an upgrade.
Before and After
Renovations to the Cancer Center began in 2024, but the vision and planning started long before that. The LMH Health Foundation began a major fundraising initiative, and the community stepped up. Donors, foundations and community partners contributed more than $7.2 million to support the renovation and expansion.
The transformation is stunning. Side-by-side photos of the old space and the new are like night and day. The Cancer Center expansion and renovation is beautiful. It is bright, filled with light and radiates hope. Improvements to the clinic include:
- more treatment and exam rooms
- a larger waiting room
- an expanded laboratory area
- patient education and consultation rooms
- a dedicated family lounge area.
If you’re getting an infusion, you’ll see the improvements immediately. The treatment bays face large windows, providing natural light and a connection to the outdoors, helping patients to feel less isolated. And let’s be honest, a good view can be a great distraction when you want to escape the reality of cancer treatment.
“I’m proud to say that cancer patients have always been able to find outstanding oncology and hematology care at our hospital, and they’ll continue to find it here in this new, outstanding setting,” oncologist Dr. Jodie Barr says.
left: Cancer Center Reception and Waiting; right: Cancer Center Exam Room
Looking Back, Moving Forward
Cancer brought me through the highest highs and the lowest lows. I made it through and finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel. (No, not that light. This is supposed to be inspirational, remember?)
Life is filled with moments—big and small—that shape who we are and who we become. They stack together to form a beautiful, sometimes tragic and always meaningful symphony.
If cancer fills some of those moments for you or someone you love, trust that you’ll get world-class care close to home, right here in Lawrence at the LMH Health Cancer Center. They fought day and night to save my life, and they’ll do the same for you.
