Lantern Cancer Care, a benefit offered to U.S. Hilton Team Members, provides expert oncology nurse navigators who provide personalized, one-on-one support from diagnosis through treatment and survivorship. It’s a service designed to bring clarity, compassion, and calm to a situation that can feel anything but.
Meet Paul, Director of Sales & Marketing at the Conrad New York Downtown, who experiences just how powerful Lanterns’ support can be. When Paul went in for his routine annual physical, he’d been feeling healthier than ever. But when his bloodwork came back, something was off–his red blood cell count was much higher than usual. A few follow-up tests later, Paul found himself sitting in a hematologist’s office, learning he had Polycythemia Vera (PV), a rare form of blood cancer. “The internet was terrifying,” Paul shared. “Everywhere I looked, it just made things worse. I needed someone to help me understand what was actually happening.”
That’s when he learned that Hilton offered a benefit called Lantern Cancer Care, a service that connects Team Members facing cancer with expert nurse navigators for one-on-one support. He was connected with a nurse who would become, in his words, “an angel overlooking me through the whole process.”
Real People, Real Support
Paul’s nurse was the calm in the storm. She explained everything in plain language and gave him a heads-up on what to expect, keeping him grounded and mentally in a good place. Every six to eight weeks, Lantern would check in, not because Paul had reached out, but because they were proactively monitoring his journey. “They were always there before I even thought to call,” he said.
A New Path Forward
Paul’s first treatment was harsh and had uncomfortable side effects. However, through Lantern, he discovered other treatment options. His nurse navigator connected him with resources and specialists who helped him explore alternatives, including a more targeted therapy designed to treat PV directly. After consulting with a specialist, his doctor approved the new treatment, but there was one problem. The medication costs $16,000 a month.
“That number made my stomach drop,” Paul said. “But my nurse helped me find a solution.” Through Prudent RX, which partners with Hilton’s health plan, Paul was able to get the medication fully covered after paying an annual copay. “I felt like everything lined up at the right time: the right people, the right support,” he said. “Lantern guided me every step of the way.”
More Than Medical Help
Lantern didn’t just guide Paul through treatment. They made life easier in countless small ways. When travel to his cancer center became frequent, Lantern provided a prepaid debit card to help cover gas and even offered extra funds when his wife joined him. “It might sound small, but those gestures meant everything,” he said. “It reminded me that I wasn’t in this alone.”
Now, every time Paul visits the cancer center for his routine phlebotomy, he feels a deep sense of gratitude–for the care he’s receiving, and for the support that helped him get there. “Everyone’s cancer journey is their own,” he said. “Mine just happened to come with a guiding light.”
After 30 years with Hilton, Paul says the experience has given him a new perspective on what it means to work for a company that genuinely looks after its people. “Hilton has the foresight to understand that anything can happen to any Team Member,” he said. “And they’ve taken it upon themselves to make sure we have the best benefits possible. Lantern was invaluable–it gave me purpose and peace of mind during the hardest time of my life.”
