A Promise Kept as New Cancer Center Welcomes Patients

When Betty Wilson first heard The University of Kansas Health System was bringing its cancer services to Liberty Hospital, she was sitting in a waiting room, preparing for yet another treatment.

"I saw it on this big board and went, 'Oh my gosh, they're coming to Liberty. Woo hoo! Yay me!" Betty jokes, recalling the moment. "It was like they did it just for me."

For Betty, a longtime Liberty resident living with myelodysplastic syndrome — a chronic blood and bone marrow disease — treatment isn't optional. She needs chemotherapy infusions five times a week, with each session lasting about two hours. Before the new center opened, her typical drive was at least 40 minutes each way on busy highways through often unpredictable Missouri weather.

"Now I'm here in 10 minutes," Betty said. " I don't need help from anyone. I can get here myself. Time is so important, and this will help many people living even farther north. Cutting an hour or more off a round trip after chemo is huge."

This June, Liberty Hospital and The University of Kansas Health System officially opened the doors to The University of Kansas Cancer Center at Liberty Hospital. For years, hospital leaders heard from patients and families in the Northland that high-level cancer care was too far away. This new center brings state-of-the-art cancer care closer to patients in Liberty and surrounding communities.

"This is something we've been looking forward to for a long time," says Dr. Raghu Adiga, President and CEO of Liberty Hospital. "When we joined The University of Kansas Health System, one of the promises was to bring high-quality, world-class care right here on campus so people wouldn't have to travel downtown or far away to get it."

The new center offers chemotherapy and medical oncology services, with radiation oncology care on the way and expected to be operational this fall. Patients will also gain access to The University of Kansas Cancer Center's clinical trials network. It's the same NCI-Designated Cancer Center expertise known across the region now available in the Northland.

For patients like Betty, it's about more than convenience. It's about quality of life.

"When you've been through treatment, you don't feel like driving home for an hour," she explains. "Now we can get everything done in one place, instead of going to different hospitals or units."

She's also impressed by the space itself. "It's magnificent. Beautiful, clean, brand new — and it feels calm," she says. "That matters when you're sitting here for hours getting treatment."

Still, she's quick to point out that the people delivering the care matter even more. "Those who work with cancer patients are special," she says. "The nurses, the staff, everyone is so kind and generous. They help each other. It's like a family. I know I'll miss my team at Green Hills, but I know it will be the same here. I trust them."

That trust is something Dr. Adiga and his team don't take lightly. "These patients come here almost daily for their care," he says. "We want them to know they're getting the best care possible in their communities with the people they know and trust."

As Liberty Hospital and The University of Kansas Health System celebrate this milestone, they're most excited about what it means for Northland families, keeping them close to home when they need it most.

"Everybody in this world knows someone with cancer," Betty reflects. "It's so rewarding to know somebody's got your back. That's what this is."

The cancer center opening at Liberty Hospital is the beginning of fulfilling a promise made to bring world-class care to those living in the area. Liberty Hospital is one of three cancer center sites in the Northland. Medical oncology exams are also now available at the Briarcliff location , and the Green Hills location will remain open, ensuring continued access to care.

Learn more about The University of Kansas Cancer Center Now at Liberty Hospital.