DBCC Launches Clinical Trial Initiative
| Contact: |
Caitlin Dalik, Public Affairs Coordinator |
WILMINGTON, DE (April 26, 2011)—The Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition (DBCC) recently launched its Clinical Trials Initiative as a continuation of the state-wide Peer Mentor program that was started at DBCC in 2006. The Peer Mentor Support Program was created to provide free one-on-one support and education to those newly diagnosed with breast cancer. The Clinical Trials Initiative was started by DBCC to help increase patient awareness, understanding, and enrollment in clinical trials to advance breast cancer treatment and care.
The Clinical Trial Peer Mentor Training Program was developed by Nanci Mayer-Mihalski, Chair of Research and Mentoring Committee and Board Member at DBCC, Kandie Dempsey, Director of Clinical Research at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center, and Cathy Holloway, DBCC Program Director. In September of 2010, DBCC was presented with the prestigious Community Excellence Service Award as part of Christiana Care’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center’s Annual Community Clinical Oncology Awards for its support of clinical trials in the community.
In November of 2010, DBCC trained its first group of Clinical Trial Peer Mentors which included seven survivors representing all three Delaware counties. Four DBCC staff members/breast cancer survivors have also been trained. According to Holloway, the Clinical Trial Peer Mentor Program “is designed to dispel myths and misconceptions associated with research and clinical trials. The goal of the program is not to tell breast cancer patients to say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to clinical trials but to educate them about clinical trials and give them more information so they can make informed decisions.” Clinical Trial Peer Mentors are survivors who have attended peer mentor training, have participated in clinical trials, and have completed the comprehensive, in-depth Clinical Trial Peer Mentor Training. As the program expands, DBCC hopes to have three to five Clinical Trial Peer Mentors trained in each county.
DBCC Board Member, Beth Selsor, attended the first Clinical Trial Peer Mentor training. Beth explained that she was involved in two clinical trials. “I was fortunate to have good counseling and advice through my trials and wanted to be able to help other women after me. I want to be able to answer questions for them and be a good resource,” she said.
Clinical Trial Peer Mentors assist patients with deciphering details and complex paperwork associated with clinical trials, answer questions about how patients are protected and any other questions those considering clinical trials have. “I think one of the most important things people need to know is that a clinical trial is real medicine,” Beth explained. “I know something I was worried about was that I’d be given a placebo, but this medicine is real and it is going to help them. Health care professionals are just trying to figure out what the best treatment for people is.”
The Clinical Trial Peer Mentor Training has been approved for 3.0 Contact Hours for nurses through Corexcel. The accredited training has been named “Cancer Clinical Trials: Exploring the Mysteries and Myths.” Corexcel is accredited as a provider of Continuing Nursing Education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. The “Cancer Clinical Trials” Training was offered at DBCC’s 14th Annual Breast Cancer Update on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in Dover. The special afternoon sessions was attended by 35 participants.
For more information on the Peer Mentor Support Program and the Clinical Trials Initiative, please visit www.debreastcancer.org. If you are a breast cancer survivor who has completed your treatment and are interested in becoming a Peer Mentor, please call Program Manager Cathy Holloway at 302-778-1102 ext. 13.
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