Medical Oncologists from the Jam

Medical Oncologists from the James Graham Brown Cancer Center (Damien Laber, MD and Vivek Sharma, MD) are available for consultation and treatment planning by appointment.

A full-time medical oncologist, Dr. Zewdu Lissanu, has joined the staff at Taylor Regional Hospital and is now available Monday through Friday at the cancer center.

Nursing staff follows Oncology Nursing Society guidelines in order to provide holistic patient care.

The James Graham Brown Cancer Center at Taylor Regional Hospital in on the leading edge of cancer treatment by using the latest FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of cancer. National clinical trials are available for patients who meet qualifications. Phase II and Phase III drugs are available. Experimental drugs are not available.

Our Medical Oncology/Hematology team develops an individualized, comprehensive treatment plan for each patient. Medical oncologists, hematologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, and other specialists form this integrated team.

Chemotherapy has been offered at Taylor County Hospital since 1979. As the number of treatments increased, the department relocated to various areas within and outside of the hospital. In March, 2005 the new James Graham Brown Cancer Center at Taylor Regional Hospital became a reality after more than three years of planning and the chemotherapy department moved to its present location on 125 Greenbriar Drive.

Outpatient Chemotherapy treatments are done at the Cancer Center Monday through Friday. Occasionally, certain chemotherapy regimens require patient admission to the hospital for treatment. Outpatient and inpatient treatments are done by nurses from Taylor Regional Hospital, who have been specially trained in the care of oncology patients. These nurses attend a yearly Oncology Nursing Society conference in order to stay abreast of new technology. Three of the nurses are Oncology Certified. This certification verifies their special expertise in Oncology. The certification has to be updated every four years.

The medical oncology department has grown from 1 full -time nurse in 1975 to 3 full-time and 5 part-time nurses in 2007.

What is chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells, stop them from spreading and/or relieve pain or other symptoms caused by cancer. Chemotherapy can also be used to shrink a tumor before other treatments, such as surgery or radiation therapy. Sometimes chemotherapy is given concurrent with radiation therapy. Radiation treatments are given at the Cancer Center in a adjoining department.

Before you begin your treatment, you will meet with our nurses and physician (medical oncologist) to review your health information and assess what support you may need. Your physician will create a treatment plan with chemotherapy drugs specifically designed for the type of cancer you have, its stage and location. Your treatment schedule also depends on these factors, and on how your body reacts to the chemotherapy drugs. You may receive treatments daily, weekly, every 2-3 weeks, or monthly. These treatments are typically in cycles with built-in rest periods so you can regain your strength. Your treatments will be scheduled as conveniently as possible for you and your family.

Most chemotherapy treatments are given intravenously, in a vein in the arm or in a venous access device such as a "port" or catheter. There are some drugs that are given orally or as injections. Some treatments take only a few minutes, while others may take several hours. Sometimes you may require a portable infusion pump for continuous chemotherapy at home. A family member or loved one is welcome to sit with you while your receive treatment.

When healthy cells are harmed during treatment, side effects can result. Side effects are drug-specific, so not everyone experiences the same ones. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, hair loss and fatigue. Nausea and vomiting are not as prevalent now that we have very powerful and effective medicines to prevent nausea and vomiting. While you're receiving treatments, make sure you get proper rest, eat healthy foods and limit your activities to keep us you strength. Our specially trained oncology nurses will help you manage your symptoms, so be sure to tell them or your physician about any side effects you experience.

Lab work and X-Rays will be done before you begin treatment and periodically during and after treatments to determine how effective the therapy is.

After you've completed your treatments, you will be scheduled with a series of follow-up visits to check on your progress. Our goal is to help you recover to your optimal level of health and resume your everyday lifestyle.