Miles City Woman Grateful for Care Closer to Home

I have never given up hope,” shared Dixie Yeager, of Miles City who recently completed her initial treatment for cancer at Intermountain Health Holy Rosary Hospital.  

Having access to the majority of her cancer care in Miles City has been a blessing. This was made possible with the renovation and expansion of the cancer center at Holy Rosary Hospital in 2025. 

The renovation, supported by a $6 million grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, allowed the hospital to now offer radiation oncology services in addition to chemotherapy, medical oncology, among other support services. With the region’s only medical linear accelerator, the necessary equipment to deliver radiation oncology treatments, Holy Rosary is home to the only comprehensive cancer center within a 125-mile radius.

Prior to the opening of the new center, patients in eastern Montana often faced long and potentially costly trips for radiation oncology treatments. Radiation treatments are generally daily treatments for several weeks at a time. Patients may have to choose to make a daily trip or spend weeks away from home.

Yeager’s treatment plan involved weekly chemotherapy infusions and radiation oncology treatments over the course of three months.  She called the new center a “blessing” because it saved her from having to travel for her treatment.  In addition to the state-of-the-art equipment and expanded, redesigned space to provide a more healing a calming environment for patients, Dixie shared that it is the experienced care team that has really made the difference for her.  

“The team is incredible. You get to know them, and you can really tell that they love what they do,” she said. “They all know their stuff and make you feel like you are their only patient.”

Coming for weekly treatments, Yeager has seen first-hand the impact that the new center is having. She has met other patients from not just Miles City but many of the surrounding communities.  

Yeager has also benefited from Holy Rosary also bringing a mobile PET-CT scan, monthly to the center, allowing cancer patients to have the necessary follow up imaging.  A PET-CT scan is an advanced imaging tool that helps doctors detect cancer, monitor its spread, and assess how well treatment works. Previously, patients would need to travel to Billings for this imaging.  

"Patients like Dixie are a reminder of why our cancer center is so important for our community. We are able to provide a level of cancer care locally that patients once had to travel hours to receive, " said Katie Donnelly, RN, director of oncology at Holy Rosary Hospital.  

As Yeager continues her care and treatment, she continues to rely on her faith and her caregivers to support her on her journey.  

“You can’t go in with a negative attitude,” she said when asked what her advice for other patients would be. “With everything you have to go through you have to have faith in God and faith in (your care team).”