Cancer center open house, ribbon cutting set for Thursday

The result: a 36,000 square-foot state-of-the-art treatment facility on the South Danville Bypass designed to fulfill virtually every cancer care need in central Kentucky.

Anchored by Commonwealth Cancer Center’s medical oncology offices for Dr. Baeker, his partners Drs. Aruna Arekapudi and Emmanuel Nidhiry, CKCC also houses the therapeutic radiation services of radiation oncology specialist Dr. Greg Carlsen with 21st Century Oncology and the Ephraim McDowell Cancer Support Center. University of Kentucky Health Care augments specialty clinical services through providing on site, complementary specialty physicians, such as board-certified thoracic surgeon Timothy Mullett, M.D. Commonwealth also is working closely with UK Healthcare to augment the center’s clinical research program.

According to Allen, this strategic alignment of cancer care services under one roof allows the center to streamline treatment for patients. “This is not a collection of providers in one place. It’s a coordinated team approach, where each partnering service complements the other in providing the entire continuum of cancer care for patients.”

The scope of coordinated services offered at the new facility range from the latest technology in chemotherapy and radiation treatments, to opportunities to participate in clinical trials and breakthrough research. Social Services and patient support care, such as physical therapy, dietary counseling, labs and X-ray machines, even transportation assistance and a developing volunteer program, work in concert to provide the most advanced and complete cancer treatment systems available.

“In the end, it comes down to our patients and our commitment to meet their complete needs with the most thorough, personalized, comfortable care possible,” said Baeker, who also serves as medical director for CKCC. “Our ability, with this new facility, to combine modalities of chemotherapy and radiation with other aspects of care in a single, accessible location is extremely beneficial to patients, and that’s why this is so exciting.”

Allen adds, “It’s our goal to serve as a primary destination for families seeking centralized cancer care without having to travel long distances. You don’t have to go to a metropolitan area to get the care you deserve. You can receive world-class, comprehensive cancer treatment right here at home – and, it’s our mission to provide this.”

For more information on the full-range of specialized care provided by the partners of Central Kentucky Cancer Center, visit http://www.centralkentuckycancercenter.com.