Leonard Lawson Cancer Center

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Introduction

The Leonard Lawson Cancer Center (LLCC) opened in 1996 to provide cancer care that caters to the cancer patients' special needs. The LLCC provides this area with sophisticated treatment methods and a full line of support services in one location.

The Leonard Lawson Cancer Center offers each patient an individualized, aggressive treatment program through radiation therapy, chemotherapy, pain management and other support therapies. The additional services of hospitalization, surgery, pathology, diagnostic radiology, CT Scan, MRI, ultrasound, nuclear medicine and pharmacy services are also available and are easily accessible.

Radiation Oncology

Pikeville Medical Center recently invested more than $10 million to purchase two RapidArc™ linear accelerators to treat cancer patients. One unit is already in use, and the other will be operational in April, 2010.

Pikeville Medical Center’s Leonard Lawson Cancer Center (LLCC) has commenced treating cancer patients with RapidArc™ radiotherapy technology, a fast, precise form of treatment using advanced technology from Varian Medical Systems. The new RapidArc™ treatment is two to eight times faster than conventional forms of radiotherapy.

PMC Radiation Oncologist, Dr. John Simmons said the RapidArc™ treatments are not only easier on patients, but also more accurate because the device specifically targets the cancer without destroying healthy tissue.

“RapidArc™ makes it possible for us to deliver highly-precise treatments quickly,” he added.

“By delivering doses more quickly, we can simultaneously improve the quality of care and make our patients more comfortable.”

LLCC’s RapidArc™ radiotherapy treatment is delivered with just a single rotation of the treatment machine around the patient. During that rotation, the treatment beam is continually shaped and reshaped according to the size, shape, and position of the tumor within the body.

The beam shaping is accomplished using a device called a multi-leaf collimator (MLC). This device has 120 computer-controlled mechanical “leaves” or “fingers” that move to create openings of different shapes and sizes. During a RapidArc™ treatment, specialized software varies three variables simultaneously: the speed of rotation around the patient, the shape of the beam, and the dose delivery rate.

Diagnostics

Because cancer is such a complex disease, each patient will go through a variety of diagnostic procedures before, during and after treatment. Diagnostic procedures conducted during treatment are coordinated by the cancer center staff so the patient will receive minimal disruption of treatment. Diagnostic services including surgery, pathology, diagnostic radiology, CT scans, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, PET scans and laboratory tests are performed at Pikeville Medical Center.

Pain Management

Cancer patients do not have to suffer from the pain of their disease. Pain management is another facet of the comprehensive care provided at the Leonard Lawson Cancer Center. A pain management clinic is located on the riverfill (click for a map, marker #3) for the purpose of aiding cancer patients and others with chronic pain conditions with the pain they may experience from the disease.

Clinical Trials

The Leonard Lawson Cancer Center is approved by the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) and the Cancer Trial Support Unit (CTSU), a service of the National Cancer Institute, to conduct clinical trials for patients that meet certain criteria. Through clinical trials, patients will receive new treatment in the testing phase or the best available standard treatment for their cancer without having to travel long distances as in the past.

Support Services.

The LLCC is diligently working to make patient rooms more comfortable than ever.
Patient and family support services are available through Pikeville Medical Center. Nutritional training, physical therapy, social services, wig and turban programs, and financial counseling are just some of the special support services available.

Additionally, support groups meet each month for patients and their families to draw strength from others who are expecting similar situations. For information on the ABC (After Breast Cancer) or LLCC Cancer Support Group, contact the Programs Coordinator at (606) 218-4992.

When You Arrive

The Leonard Lawson Cancer Care Center has its own central registration area. Please check in with the patient interviewer when you arrive.

We Want to Help

It is the goal of the Leonard Lawson Cancer Care Center's staff to treat every patient respectfully. We also want to make each visit as easy, uncomplicated and comfortable as possible. If there is anything we can do to assist you, please let us know.

How to Reach Us

The General Contact number for Pikeville Medical Center is (606) 218-3500. The following are numbers specific to Leonard Lawson Cancer Center staff:

If at any time you need to contact your doctor or nurse, you may call (606) 218-3956 (Medical Oncology) or (606) 218-3516 (Radiation Oncology) during office hours. After hours, you may contact your doctor by calling Pikeville Medical Center at (606) 218-3500 and asking the operator to "beep" your physician.

In case of an emergency, please go immediately to the Pikeville Medical Center Emergency Room and the staff will contact your doctor.

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