A cancer journey made easier

The Washington Regional J.B. Hunt Transport Services Cancer Support Home is an outreach program of Washington Regional Medical Foundation and has been meeting the needs of those on a cancer journey in the Northwest Arkansas community and beyond for over 25 years. The mission of the Cancer Support Home is to provide hope and comfort to those on a cancer journey. All programs and services are provided at no cost. Those served do not have to be Washington Regional patients.

In the spring of 2021, Washington Regional opened the newly constructed J.B. Hunt Transport Services Cancer Support Home. This beautiful, accessible facility better supports and expands the mission of the Cancer Support Home to provide hope and comfort to those on a cancer journey. The new Cancer Support Home was made possible by many generous donors, including a capstone gift from J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., through a nearly three-year capital campaign.

Located in a wooded setting just minutes from the hospital and treatment facilities, the Cancer Support Home offers eight overnight guestroom suites and home-like amenities; a salon-style boutique with private dressing rooms; a consultation room; and a separate office suite for staff.

The Cancer Support Home programs and services include:

• Overnight Lodging – Lodging is available to those traveling into Northwest Arkansas for cancer treatment. This home-like facility includes eight overnight guestrooms with private bath; great room with dining and living areas; open, double kitchen for multiple users; guest pantry; laundry room; sunroom with deck; and courtyard.

• Boutique – the boutique offers a variety of sizes and styles of wigs, hats, scarves, and post-mastectomy supplies including bras and breast forms to meet the individual needs of each client.

• Breast Health Navigation – The Breast Health Navigator provides individualized guidance to clients recently diagnosed with breast cancer. The Navigator follows those diagnosed throughout every aspect of treatment, aiding in dispelling fear, linking to financial and quality of life support resources, and being a comfort and friend to patients and their families.

• Support Programs - Other support programs include breast exam screening clinics, financial support for breast health screening and diagnostics services for uninsured and underinsured individuals, financial assistance for daily living expenses, and support groups for social connection.

“The new facility is working better than we imagined,” says Cancer Support Home Manager Brandi Blackmon, “and we expect the need for programs and services will continue to grow.

“The Boutique has grown from serving 5-6 clients per week to an average of 25-30 clients per week, and the overnight lodging rooms, which doubled from four to eight, are utilized every night of the week – often near full occupancy,” she notes. “Referral calls for services are received daily and breast health screening clinics relaunched in 2022. Our Navigation program experienced a 30% increase in new

patient referrals in 2021 and has served over 140 patients this year.”

Why it’s important

In the last three years, financial support for local services by national cancer organizations has significantly decreased, resulting in the loss of funding, through grants, to support the Cancer Support Home and other programs across Northwest Arkansas.

In response, Washington Regional Medical Foundation launched the Sustaining Hope and Comfort Campaign to ensure continued funding for the programs and services of the Cancer Support Home.

“A cancer diagnosis is stressful. The financial, emotional, and physical toll of cancer treatment can be an overwhelming and enormous burden for patients and their families,” Blackmon points out. “The programs and services at the Cancer Support Home are designed to help ease burdens and eliminate barriers to care for our clients. We can’t make cancer and its burdens go away, but we can lighten the load for those we serve. “

More about the Washington Regional JB Hunt Transport Services Cancer Support Home:

Average number of people served annually?

Approximately 1,500 people are served annually through overnight lodging, boutique, navigation, financial assistance, and support groups.

What makes the organization’s mission unique?

The services we provide to fulfill our mission are unique in Northwest Arkansas. We are the only program that provides overnight lodging and boutique services to cancer patients at no cost in the region. In addition, our breast health navigator provides intensive one-on-one navigation to breast cancer patients.

What part of your mission is most satisfying?

Whether it’s providing overnight lodging, boutique items, navigation, financial assistance or other support programs, it is truly a privilege to step into someone’s journey and help them determine what they need.

What challenges does your organization face?

We are grateful for generous community support that allows us to provide services at no cost. Our number one challenge is to raise the funds needed to sustain the programs of the Cancer Support Home. As long as cancer exists, the need for services will always outpaces available resources.

Anything else you’d like people to know?

The Cancer Support Home is pure mission for Washington Regional, and Washington Regional Medical Foundation raises every dollar needed to sustain our outreach programs. The programs and services of the Cancer Support Home are designed to meet people where they are and help ease burdens and eliminate barriers to care.

What are you most grateful for right now?

We are immeasurably grateful for all of our generous donors who allow us to do what we do. We are also incredibly grateful to our wonderful clients and guests who allow us to be part of their journey.