As you can see by the change in the look of our blog, we've been experiencing a few changes here in our little corner of the world. Helping Oncology Patients Excel has merged with Northwest Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute and has now become Hope Cancer Resources. We will continue to offer all of the free programs that were previously managed by the individual agencies, including:

• Cancer Screenings
• Prevention Education
• Interpretation Services
• Emotional Support
• Financial Support
• Support Groups
• Clinical Trial Access
  
• Educational Materials & Speakers
• Transportation Services

The effect this merger will have on our patients, and on the general health and well-being of our friends and neighbors in NW Arkansas, is tremendous. As one agency, we will no longer compete for funding from local grant-making organizations. We will be able to blend our overlapping services and serve a growing number of cancer patients and their caregivers with increased and more focused resources. We are now located in a larger and more centrally-located building. Programs we have had on our "someday" list will now be able to be made a reality. Can you see why we're excited??

A new website is currently in the works, and should be live sometime around the first of the new year. Until then, keep in touch with what's going on here on our blog. It's the season to be thankful, and we at Hope Cancer Resources have a great deal of good things to remember as we contemplate where we are, and where we're headed... and we couldn't do all the good work we do without your help.

Thank YOU, Northwest Arkansas!!

Cancer Support Groups

Cancer patients and their caregivers can feel isolated and helpless when it comes to finding people to talk to who understand what they're going through. Neighbors and friends tell them they are there if they need them, but many times the patient or their loved ones just don't want to "burden" their friends with their frustrations and fears.


If you are nodding your head right now in agreement, you may be interested to know about the following support groups that HOPE facilitates for cancer patients in NW Arkansas:


Coping and Conversation is held every Wednesday at noon at the Cancer Support Home in Fayetteville and is a partnership between the Cancer Support Home and HOPE, Inc. It's for patients and caregivers dealing with any cancer diagnosis. Call for more information: (479) 521-8024

Lung Cancer Support Group is held the third Thursday of each month at 5:00 p.m. at the Highlands Oncology Group offices in Fayetteville. This group is a partnership between Highlands Oncology and HOPE, Inc. For more information: (479) 571-4673

Young Adults Cancer Support Group (YACS) is held the first Thursday of each month at the Cancer Support Home in Bentonville and is a partnership between the Cancer Support Home and HOPE, Inc. For more information: (479) 271-2257

Children's Lives Include Moments of Bravery (CLIMB) is a group for children who have a parent, grandparent or loved one with cancer. It meets once a week for six weeks and these six week sessions are scheduled twice a year. This group is coordinated as a partnership between NARTI, the Cancer Support Home and HOPE, Inc. For information on when the next session will open for registration, call (479) 571-4673.