UNC Lineberger Clinical Trials Recruitment Specialists Participate in Sisters' Network of the Triangle Conference

On Saturday, February 21, 2009, the Sister's Network of the Triangle hosted its bi-annual conference entitled, "Surviving - Thriving after Breast Cancer." The symposium was designed for women ready to thrive after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. A majority of the attendees were breast cancer survivors.

The keynote address was delivered by Lee Gravatt Wilke, MD, who is an Assistant Professor of Surgery for the Duke University Breast Cancer Program. Several presentations were on the agenda. Gregory Clark, PhD gave a talk titled "Healthy Eating and Eating to Live." He discussed the use of botanicals in different cultures around the world and the role good nutrition plays in overall health. Susan Delaney, ND, talked about her training in Homeopathy and Naturopathy. Naturopathy, also known as naturopathic or natural medicine, is a complementary and alternative medicine which emphasizes the body's intrinsic ability to heal and maintain itself. All topics were presented from the African-American perspective and geared toward the African-American experience.

Ruben Gonzalez-Crespo and Charlotte Peace, Recruitment Specialists, were on hand as exhibitors, representing UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Overall, they provided the audience with valuable information about the role of clinical trials in cancer treatment and the importance of diversity in patient enrollment in clinical trials. The duo also presented a more formal overview of clinical trials to the members of the Sister's Network of the Triangle during its monthly breast cancer support group held in Durham, NC on Thursday, February 26, 2009.