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ABOUT MARKEY
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About Markey Cancer Center
The Markey Cancer Center at the University of Kentucky has provided state of the art care of patients with cancer for more than 15 years. Our teams of physicians, nurses and other health care providers focus on treatment in a compassionate and caring environment. Our goals are to cure and maintain quality of life. For patients with advanced or recurrent cancer, we often utilize the latest research programs to provide hope and to attempt to obtain tumor control and remissions. Our expertise has been recognized for several years by U.S. News & World Report who ranked our Cancer program within the Top 20 in the entire United States.
As a University-based Cancer Center, we obtain quality outcomes and patient satisfaction based on several principles:
For most of the major types of cancers, we bring together physicians, nurses and other health care providers with special expertise to provide "Diagnosis and Treatment Review" at a single office visit. This allows the patient and family to understand what their tumor is, their "stage" and prognosis, and the alternative treatment programs available. Each patient receives this individualized assessment that empowers them to decide on which treatment best meets their needs and personal preferences.
Advances in surgery, radiation and medical oncology often involve high technology. The Markey Cancer Center and the UK HealthCare are committed to providing these approaches to our patients.
Our staff place great value on maintaining patients' quality of life despite cancer treatment. For some patients, this will involve preserving normal appearance and for others, "organ" preservation. Our physicians, surgeons, medical oncologists and radiation therapists have consdierable special expertise in such cancer treatments.
The UK Lucille P. Markey Cancer Center initiated a new era in the war against cancer in Kentucky when it opened its doors in January 1986. However, "roots" of the Center trace back to the early 1970s when a group of faculty and administrators at the University of Kentucky joined forces with community and legislative leaders to mount a frontal attack on the problem of cancer in the commonwealth. In 1975, these leaders formally established a community outreach and education program, named the McDowell Cancer Network in honor of famed surgeon Ephraim McDowell from Danville, Ky.
Based on the early success of the McDowell Network, and with the encouragement and leadership of Ben Roach, M.D., one of the founding directors of the Network, the vision of the organization quickly expanded to include the elements of cancer research and treatment. Dr. Roach was joined by a number of community leaders in 1978 to establish a private, non-profit foundation, the Ephraim McDowell Cancer Research Foundation, for the purpose of raising funds to construct and support a state of the art cancer research and treatment facility at the UK Chandler Hospital.
In the course of sharing this dream with Lucille P. Markey, grand matriarch of Calumet Farm, Dr. Roach’s enthusiasm for the project was so contagious that Mrs. Markey not only agreed to help, but also made a commitment to match any funds he would raise from other sources. As funds were raised, and as Mrs. Markey matched each gift and took an increasing personal interest in the project's success, it became overwhelmingly apparent that her name should be attached permanently to the Center. Unfortunately, Mrs. Markey did not live to see this "jewel" of her creation materialize. However, the Lucille P. Markey Charitable Trust, which she established upon her death, continued the spirit of her matching fund campaign, ultimately helping construct three buildings, funding an endowed chair and a major research program development grant, and providing "seed" support for the Women's Cancer Facility.
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