When I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 29, the majority of my care was centered in Little Rock. I needed specialized care from a gynecological oncologist and only two places in the state had that specialty, Little Rock and Northwest Arkansas.
Both clinics were over two hours away from where my parents lived and they were my main caregivers. I chose a practice in Little Rock, but either way it would mean long drives and sacrifice for our family.
I was fortunate my parents could make that kind of a drive to support me, but too many men and women in western Arkansas don’t. If my life was even slightly different, access to lifesaving care would have been out of reach for me the same way it is for so many in Western Arkansas. That’s why Mercy Fort Smith’s planned cancer center isn’t just a facility, it’s a game changer.
The gap we’ve been living with
Arkansas consistently faces higher-than-average cancer mortality. Between 2018 and 2022, our state’s age‑adjusted cancer mortality rate was 168.2 per 100,000, putting us well above the national rate of 146. Cancer remains the second leading cause of death here, claiming an estimated 6,730 lives in 2020 alone.
Rural areas fare even worse due to barriers to care urban areas don’t face. Examples of these challenges are a lack of access to cancer screening and treatment as well as adequate access to care after treatment ends.
Lung cancer in particular presents a devastating challenge for our healthcare system. Only 22.6% of people diagnosed with lung cancer in Arkansas will be alive five years later, whereas the national five year survival rate is 28.4%. This may not seem like much, but when we are talking about lives and years, every percentage point matters.
What changes with the new cancer center This center brings advanced diagnostics, treatment, and multidisciplinary oncology teams within Western Arkansans’ reach. No more cancelled appointments, exhausted families, or delayed treatment simply because a two hour drive is too far or too expensive for families.
This isn’t about convenience; it’s about real outcomes. Easier access to timely care can reduce mortality and pressure on distant facilities. Plus, families keep their time, income, and energy close to home. Local spending stays local, fueling the economy and building sustainable healthcare infrastructure.
Why this center matters for the whole state
Building capacity in Fort Smith helps balance healthcare access across Arkansas. Right now, too much specialized oncology care is centralized in Little Rock or out of state. This forces rural and underserved patients into spending money on travel they don’t have. The new center strengthens equity in care and alleviates burdens elsewhere.
Moreover, health access shapes economic resiliency. When cancer treatment forces families to leave town, expenses slip elsewhere. The hotel stays, the food they eat. Those dollars go somewhere else. Now, community dollars stay local. Most importantly, when patients get care near home, they’re better able to work, support their families, and keep local economies moving.
More than medicine
Looking back on my treatment, I realize how fortunate I was. As draining as the trips were, they were possible. For many, they aren’t. Fort Smith’s new cancer center means that no Arkansan has to choose between their health and their hometown.
But the real measure of success will be how we staff, fund, and sustain it. Let’s ensure this is a legacy of equity, survival, and hope. Our communities deserve it.
Editor’s note: Kayley Corley is a cancer survivor and women’s health advocate from Western Arkansas. Her work focuses on closing healthcare gaps in Arkansas and amplifying rural voices in policy conversations. The opinions expressed are those of the author.