Realizing A Vision

The James Graham Brown Cancer Center in Louisville and the Taylor Regional Hospital worked together over the years to provide cancer care to patients in our community. The physicians in Taylor County wanted a place dedicated to providing the highest level of clinical care to our community’s cancer patients. Taylor Regional Hospital listened and responded.

The James Graham Brown Cancer Center at Taylor Regional Hospital was formed from a vision that would offer the expertise of trained oncologists and the latest in cancer therapies close to home. We realized that vision by opening the Cancer Center in March 2005. Convenient and accessible to patients living in Taylor County and the surrounding area, the Brown Cancer Center at Taylor Regional Hospital is forging a path to increase cancer survival rates
in our region.

Inspiring Hope

The James Graham Brown Cancer Center at Taylor Regional Hospital was envisioned with the hope of helping
cancer patients throughout the region. Cancer care is now offered close to home for those living in Taylor, Adair, Green, Marion, Russell, Nelson, Metcalf and LaRue Counties.

Combine nationally recognized physicians with the most advanced technology and you’re sure to find the highest quality of care at the James Graham Brown Cancer Center at Taylor Regional Hospital. We can be proud of our contribution to improving the quality of life for cancer patients in our region.

Radiation Oncology

Armed with the latest in cancer-fighting technology, Radiation Oncology is equipped to provide the most effective
and accurate treatment. Utilizing a highly precise radiation system, the Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy
(IMRT) delivers carefully calculated beams of radiation directly to the tumor. A 3D computer image allows the
oncology team to calibrate the radiation therapy of the linear accelerator with pinpoint accuracy. The advantage for
the patient involves maximizing the dose of radiation to the tumor while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue thereby
reducing the side effects and improving quality of life.

The IMRT is used for a variety of cancers including prostate, breast, head and neck and brain. Treatments are usually
given daily over a series of weeks with each treatment taking less than a half hour. Radiation oncology nurses provide
patients with information about their treatment and discuss any possible side effects. Radiation oncologists from the
James Graham Brown Cancer Center are on-site Mondays through Fridays.

Medical Oncology

Chemotherapy treatments are prepared in-house by the pharmacy and usually administered by I.V. to cancer patients on an outpatient basis. Medical Oncology combines therapies to provide each patient with an individual comprehensive treatment plan. The medical oncologists monitor each patient’s treatment and provide follow-up care. They help patients manage pain and side effects of drug therapy, so patients can lead reasonably normal lives during
treatment.

Support Services

At the James Graham Brown Cancer Center at Taylor Regional Hospital, treating the total patient is our highest
priority. Cancer care is about improving the quality of life through medical treatment and support services. The
Cancer Center offers these support services:

•  Make Today Count Support Group is meets at 6:00  p.m. on the second Thursday of each month in the hospital meeting room.
• On-site resource library equipped with computer for research.
• Assistance with wigs and breast prosthetic fittings courtesy of the American Cancer Society.
• In-house pharmacy prepares chemotherapy drugs to administer on-site.
• Registered dietitians help patients maintain a nutritional diet.
• Hospital chaplain offers spiritual support to patients and families throughout treatment.
• Speakers are available to give presentations on cancer prevention and treatment to local businesses and civic organizations.

The Cancer Care Team

William J. Spanos, Jr., M.D., FACR

Professor and Chairman
Department of Radiation Oncology

Dr. Spanos serves as Chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology. He joined the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Louisville in 1985 as Associate Professor and Vice Chairman of Patient Care and was promoted to Chairman in 1997. He is board certified and lends his expertise to the area of head and neck oncology, GYN oncology and breast cancer.

B. Oliapuram Jose, M.D., FACR

Professor and Vice Chairman
of Patient Care
Department of Radiation Oncology

Dr. Jose was board certified by the American Board of Radiology in 1978. For over 25 years, Dr. Jose has lent his knowledge and skills to the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Louisville. In 1991, he became a Professor and in 1997 was appointed Vice Chairman. His expertise is in urology and prostate cancer having published numerous articles. Dr. Jose is actively involved in the development of the IMRT program for prostate cancer patients.

Kristie J. Paris, M.D., FACR

Professor
Department of Radiation Oncology

Dr. Paris graduated from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 1982 and completed her residency in Radiation Oncology at the James Graham Brown Cancer Center in 1986. She is board certified in Therapeutic Radiology. In 1987, Dr. Paris was appointed Director of the Residency Program and became a Professor in 2000. She was appointed Fellow of the American Board of Radiology in 2004. She lends her expertise as principal investigator for several protocols and has numerous publications and book chapters to her credit.

Michael D. Mills, Ph.D.
FACMP, FAAPM

Chief of Physics
Associate Professor
Department of Radiation Oncology

Dr. Mills received his Ph.D. from the University of Texas in 1980 and his Master of Science in Public Health from Uof L in 2002. He served as clinical physicist at the Cleveland Clinic and on the faculty at MD
Anderson Cancer Center prior to joining the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Louisville in 1998. He is board certified in Radiological Physics and is a Fellow of the American College of Medical Physics and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Damian A. Laber, M.D., FACP

Assistant Professor and Scientist
Medical Oncology/Hematology

Dr. Laber joined the James Graham Brown Cancer Center in 2000 as an Assistant Professor and Scientist. He graduated from University of Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1992. He completed fellowships in Medical Oncology/Hematology at Baylor College and MD Anderson Cancer Center prior to joining the James Graham Brown Cancer Center. Dr. Laber also serves as Director of the Genito-Urinary Cancer Clinical Research Program.

Vivek R. Sharma, M.D., FACP

Assistant Professor and Research
Scientist
Medical Oncology/Hematology

Dr. Sharma received his medical degree from the University of Louisville in 1998. He completed his fellowship in medical oncology/hematology in 2001 and is board certified in Medical Oncology and Hematology. Dr. Sharma currently serves as Assistant Professor and Director of the Hemophilia Program at the James Graham Brown Cancer Center.

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Zewdu Lissanu, M.D.

Dr. Lissanu received his medical degree from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia and has completed a residency program at Woodhull Medical & Mental Health Center in Brooklyn, New York.  He has also completed a fellowship in Hematology & Oncology at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC.  Dr. Lissanu is no stranger to Kentucky as he operated a private practice in Hematology & Oncology in Somerset from 2001-2006.