photo by: Courtesy of LMH Health

The team of health care providers at LMH Health’s renovated Cancer Center, 330 Arkansas St.

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 from a friend 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.

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.

Before my diagnosis, I had already shared stories about other cancer survivors and the top-notch care that they got right here at LMH Health. I had learned about our Cancer Center, developed relationships and connected with the very oncologists and nurses who would eventually become my care team.

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.

“Our facility was great, but the needs of our patients simply outgrew our space,” said hematologist Dr. Jodi Palmer. “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.

photo by: Courtesy of LMH Health

LMH Health’s renovated Cancer Center, 330 Arkansas St.

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.

• Larger waiting room.

• 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.

Come see for yourself

You won’t have to wait much longer to get your own look at the new Cancer Center. After a year of construction, LMH Health is throwing open the doors to welcome the public for an open house and tours on Saturday, July 19, from 10 a.m. to noon.

“I’m proud to say that cancer patients have always been able to find outstanding oncology and hematology care at our hospital,” said oncologist Dr. Jodie Barr. “We know there will be many more family members, friends, neighbors and co-workers who will need care, and they’ll find it here in this new, outstanding setting.”

Looking back, moving forward

Let’s go back to the beginning. You know, the part where Gail’s story helped me realize how grateful I am to appreciate each day a little more?

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.

— Autumn Bishop is the marketing manager and content strategist at LMH Health, which is a sponsor of the Lawrence Journal-World health section.