Central Kentucky Cancer Care Cuts the Ribbon on New Radiation Oncology Facility

(Georgetown, KY. – September 9, 2022) – Georgetown Community Hospital ceremoniously cut the ribbon on its new radiation oncology center this week and in doing so expanded oncology treatment options for patients from Georgetown and beyond.  The event was attended by over 100 guests including hospital leaders from across Central Kentucky, executive leadership from LifePoint Health, Georgetown Hospital physicians, Cheri Tolle and Dr. Timothy Mullett from Markey Cancer Center’s Affiliate Network, Georgetown Mayor and hospital board chair Tom Prather, State Senator Damon Thayer and State Representative Cherlynn Stevenson, field representative from Senator Mitch McConnell’s office Stephanie Nelson, Georgetown board members and other special guests.  Attendees enjoyed refreshments and tours of the new facility following the presentation.

Central Kentucky Cancer Care’s radiation oncology program is led by Dr. Laura Downes, who attended medical school and completed her residency training at the University of Kentucky.  She leads a team of medical dosimetrists and medical physicists who - along with the oncology team - work to design and deliver individualized radiation treatment plans with high precision treatments for local patients with cancer.  

“We are pleased to provide convenient, accessible, and precise treatments, able to target tumors and oftentimes cure the patient either with radiation alone or together with chemotherapy,” Dr. Downes shared during the event. “More importantly, we are looking forward to getting to know each patient on an individual level, in a more intimate and community-based setting.”

The new center offers several new therapies and advanced equipment including: a new CT scanner, which will be used to create detailed cross-sectional images of a patient; a linear accelerator, used for external beam radiation treatments targeted to destroy cancer cells; respiratory gating; intense modulated radio-therapy; and stereotactic radiosurgery. These upgrades offer several benefits to physicians and patients alike including the ability for physicians to see tumors in real time and more precise positioning of the patient’s body for accurate treatment planning.  For patients, targeting radiation treatments with pinpoint precision decreases the need for additional incisions or surgery, minimizes the exposure of radiation to nearby healthy tissue and organs, and offers faster recovery after treatment. 

The state of Kentucky faces some of the highest rates of cancer incidence and mortality in the nation and the addition of these services is vital to Georgetown’s ability to offer care, close to home. 

Central Kentucky LifePoint Market President and Georgetown CEO Cliff Wilson shared:  “The process of building a comprehensive oncology program has taken nearly six years of planning and the expanded facility, its technology, and services represent exceptional growth for our hospital but they mean much more for our patients – now, our community can have access to state-of-the-art imaging and radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer right here, close to home.”

Central Kentucky Cancer Care’s radiation oncology services are located at 1152 Lexington Road, Georgetown, KY 40324. For more information or referrals, please call 502.603.0925. For a list of complete oncology services please visit GeorgetownCommunityHospital.com/cancer-care