April 6, 2007

Hope Lodge a home for cancer patients

Cancer patients from across the globe have long journeyed to Boston — home to some of the world's finest cancer programs — for high-quality care, but securing convenient and affordable temporary housing for the duration of treatment has often proved difficult. The American Cancer Society will soon ease the stress of this search when it opens the AstraZeneca Hope Lodge, a cost-free home away from home for cancer patients and their families traveling to Boston for treatment. On March 21, Peter L. Slavin, MD, president of the MGH, joined officials from the ACS, BWH, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals and other organizations to celebrate the groundbreaking of the newest Hope Lodge.

Slated for completion in the spring of 2008, the Hope Lodge will be housed in the former Vincent Memorial Hospital building located at 125 South Huntington Ave. The spacious, 50,000-square-foot facility will be able to accommodate more than 1,500 cancer patients and their families each year and will increase patient lodging capacity in the city by nearly 70 percent. Some of the amenities for guests include private suites, full kitchen facilities and transportation to nearby treatment facilities.

"The Hope Lodge will provide a much-needed temporary home for thousands of outpatient cancer patients and their families for years to come," says Slavin. "I am proud that the MGH provided some of the financial resources necessary to make the Hope Lodge a reality."

The groundbreaking for the Boston Hope Lodge