The heart is an amazing organ, sitting unassumingly in the middle of your chest, it beats hundreds of times each day and pumps thousands of gallons of blood throughout the body. Its function is so vital that we cannot live without it. Recently, my physician has told me that I need to be strengthening my heart and expanding its function. She gave me some suggestions on how to do that--do more of the “e” word--exercise, eat better and reduce my stress. Those are all very good suggestions to live by and will help me to be healthier and remain more active through the years.

The heart is also known as the very center of our feelings; from it flows the deepest sense of compassion for others! This function of the heart I see in action everyday at Cancer Action. Cancer Action is the heart of cancer support in Kansas City. For the past 47 years, the agency has compassionately provided vital, life-saving services to thousands of people who have been diagnosed with cancer in our community. One of Cancer Action’s secrets to success is that it has unassumingly but intentionally changed and expanded its array of supportive services as the needs of those with cancer has changed. The agency has remained an integral part of the care of persons living with, through and beyond cancer.

Cancer Action is currently, actively and intentionally expanding its “heart” of care to better meet the needs of our community today and for the years ahead. Important research has been done to determine the unmet needs of cancer patients and survivors. Many of those needs being seen across the country are being addressed here in Kansas City through the comprehensive support given at Cancer Action. We want to continue our tradition of compassionate, vital care into the next 50 years, and we are positioning ourselves to do that through careful planning and development of new programs, services and preparing our facilities to be a place of comfort, hope, and support to those with cancer at every stage of their journey.

We are so appreciative of those who unassumingly and intentionally provide our support through gifts of time, talents and treasures. You are a part of making Cancer Action the heart of cancer support in Kansas City!