Giving in Action: An Unforgettable Journey: National Breast Cancer Foundation
The Koontz Center has cared for hundreds of patients with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer since its inception in 2016.
Saint Luke's Hospital Koontz Center for Advanced Breast Cancer is the only center regionally—and one of only a few nationally—that focuses exclusively on improving the outcomes and quality of life for patients with advanced breast cancer. Also unique to the region is its Journey of Courage and Hope Retreat—core to the center’s vision of healing.
Organized by Saint Luke’s Koontz Center for Advanced Breast Cancer, the retreat takes patients and their support persons to a peaceful setting so they can focus on healing and renewal.
Nestled in the wooded fields of Circle S. Ranch in Lawrence, Kansas, the three-day, two-night weekend offers time for group discussion, yoga, therapeutic massages, nature walks, and spiritual and emotional reflection. Patients are open to explore relationships, fear, coping, grief, and loss with professional counselors. Participants can also prepare for the future with legacy work. The “Beyond the C Prom" is a time to relax, dine, dance, and capture beautiful memories in photos.
The Koontz Center has cared for hundreds of patients with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer since its inception in 2016. Living with metastatic breast cancer can be challenging for both the patient and their support system, which is why the Koontz Center is dedicated to caring for this specific group of patients. The experts use a team-based, holistic approach to caring for the whole person, including the patient’s mental well-being. The Journey of Courage and Hope Retreat is an extension of this philosophy.
The National Breast Cancer Foundation has provided the funding for 150 individuals to attend the retreat at no cost. With their support, this retreat has become a valuable part of the Koontz Center’s comprehensive care model and a meaningful source of hope and healing.