Miles Perret Cancer Services has opened a new facility in Lafayette, offering more space and expanded resources for Acadiana families facing cancer.
The organization has relocated in late March to its new Cancer Care Resource Center at 110 Capital Drive, the former Halliburton office, leaving behind its longtime home on Kaliste Saloom Road after outgrowing the space. The new facility focuses not only on services, but also on a more welcoming environment.
Leaders say the building was carefully designed over a two-year period, with every detail meant to improve the client experience.
From more of an open layout and natural light to more colorful décor and private spaces, the goal was to move away from what staff described as “dark and clinical” environments often associated with treatment.
“We’ve transformed how a client feels when they walk in,” said Beth Guidry, public relations coordinator for Miles Perret Cancer Services. “It doesn’t have to be doom and gloom.”
The center now includes three private family rooms, an increase from two in the previous building, along with a dedicated children’s area to accommodate families. Instead of a clinical setting, the family rooms are more living-room style, designed to make clients feel at ease after receiving a diagnosis, according to Guidry.
Among the many upgrades is a dedicated wig and prosthetics fitting room designed to resemble a salon, which Guidry described as one of the facility’s most exciting enhancements.
“There’s a big difference between sitting in a place that feels like a doctor’s office and sitting in a space that feels like home,” Guidry said.
Other additions include a teaching kitchen where clients can learn to prepare healthy meals during and after treatment, a significantly larger fitness center with space for group classes like yoga and Pilates, and a meditation room and chapel space for quiet reflection.
For longtime client Catherine Sarwar, who has been connected with the organization for more than a decade, the difference is significant.
“The old facility was much smaller and didn’t offer us as much space,” Sarwar said. “This is just night and day. It’s huge.”
Sarwar said the larger space allows more people to be served comfortably, especially during group activities like exercise classes that were previously cramped. She added that features like open windows and natural light improve the experience and support mental well-being.
“All of our services are free, and we turn no one away,” Guidry said. “Our mission is to help people fight, survive and live with cancer.”
The nonprofit, now in its 26th year, has helped more than 10,000 clients directly, reflecting the growing demand for its new building and services in Acadiana.
Individuals interested in receiving services must be referred by a doctor, a process that allows staff to assess needs and connect clients with appropriate resources. The organization is also working to bring counseling services on-site, expanding its focus on emotional, physical and spiritual well-being.
was created in honor of Miles Perret, who died in 1996 at age 8 after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.
His family established the nonprofit to address gaps they experienced while traveling for treatment and caring for their family at home. Today, those efforts include helping clients and families with everyday needs such as gas cards, school supplies, holiday support, and healthy living resources to allow them to focus on treatment and recovery.
Staff say the new facility represents both a milestone and a starting point for future growth.
“There’s a sense of pride and humility,” said receptionist Sierra O’Quinn. “This is 26 years in the making, and now we’re thinking about the next 25.”
The organization will host a media day Wednesday to showcase the new facility and its expanded services.