Support at the Koontz Center
Living with advanced breast cancer takes a community of support. Saint Luke's Hospital Koontz Center for Advanced Breast Cancer offers programs for patients and families.
Monthly Forum
We host a monthly Koontz Center for Advanced Breast Cancer Forum, a free virtual/live gathering of individuals with Stage 4 breast cancer assembled from a variety of treatment facilities. The forum is a blend of information as well as sharing and support. Each session focuses on a different topic, such as recent data and news about metastatic breast cancer medication development, communication strategies, and management of the appearance-related side effects of cancer.
Support Groups
We are proud to partner with Gilda's Club Kansas City to offer a range of support groups of individuals with cancer and their loved ones. Gilda's Club, an affiliate of the Cancer Support Community, is dedicated to providing comprehensive programs to enhance the mind, body, and spirit of people whose lives have been affected by cancer and their loved ones.
The Journey of Courage and Hope Retreat
Saint Luke's hosts the Journey of Courage and Hope Retreat, a chance for women with metastatic breast cancer and their partner or support person to get away and experience healing and renewal. Participants experience community by bonding and learning from one another about how to deal with the chronic nature of metastatic breast cancer.
The retreat offers time for group discussion, yoga, massage, nature walks, and spiritual and emotional reflection connected to the journey of metastatic breast cancer. Topics relating to relationships, fear, coping, and grief and loss will be explored under the direction of our professional counselors.
The retreat is held twice a year and space is limited. For more information, please contact Janie Metsker at 816-932-9644 or jmetsker@saintlukeskc.org.