Heartfelt essays from patients honor three extraordinary oncology nurses at a reception featuring Actor, Producer, Director & Bestselling Author, Rob Lowe
Anaheim, Calif. (May 9, 2014) – CURE magazine announced the winner of the 2014 Extraordinary Healer Award for Oncology Nursing during a special award ceremony at the Oncology Nursing Society’s (ONS) 39th Annual Congress. The award, now in its eighth year, was made possible through financial support from Amgen Oncology’s Breakaway from Cancer® and Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company. The winner was one of three nurse finalists, nominated through an essay contest, which asked cancer patients, survivors and caregivers from across the country to nominate oncology nurses who demonstrate exceptional compassion, expertise and commitment in their patients’ fight against cancer.
In front of more than 750 of her peers, Cindi Cantril, RN, OCN, from Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation in Santa Rosa, Calif., was given this year’s Extraordinary Healer Award. Cantril’s extraordinary nursing ability was highlighted in an essay written by Ann Tallman of Windsor, Calif., who is a breast cancer survivor and colleague of Cantril’s.
Tallman described in detail not only the many ways that Cantril cared for her during her diagnosis, surgery and treatment, but also how Cantril went above and beyond to develop programs to support people living with cancer. Cantril developed a peer-to-peer support program called WINGS — Women Inspiring, Nurturing, Giving, Supporting — in which volunteer survivors are paired with newly-diagnosed women for support. The program has been so successful that it has been expanded to help women with other types of cancer, not just breast cancer. A men’s group — called WINGMEN — has also grown from Cantril’s efforts. Cantril is currently developing an equine therapy program for patients to work with the healing power of horses.
“When we read these essays, there are just moments when the visual takes over and you can see the nurse taking part in the patient’s life in a real and tangible way,” says Kathy LaTour, cancer survivor and editor-at-large of CURE. “Tallman described the anxiety before her surgery. But when she felt Cantril take her hand, she knew ‘everything would be all right.’ It was simply a moment that was made a hundred times better because someone cared.”
This year’s guest speaker, Actor, Producer, Director and Bestselling Author Rob Lowe, spoke to the crowd about his family’s experiences with cancer. Lowe joined CURE and the event’s sponsors in thanking the oncology nurses in attendance for all that they do on behalf of their patients.
In addition to Cantril, two other pairs of nurse finalists and essayists were honored at the reception. Noelle Paul, RN, OCN, CAPA, from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, was nominated by caregiver Mary Kay Morelli of Sparta, N.J., and Anne Todd, RN, OCN, from Indiana University Health Southern Indianan Physicians, was nominated by caregiver Chuck Wilson of Bloomington, Ind.
The winning essay will be featured in the summer 2014 issue of CURE, a free, quarterly magazine for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers. All three of the finalist essays, photos and videos from the event, will be featured beginning June 12, 2014. Additionally, the essays, photos and more will be available on CURE’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/curemagazine.
About CURE Magazine
CURE magazine is a free, award-winning publication from Dallas-based CURE Media Group. By combining science and humanity, CURE helps patients, survivors and caregivers navigate the cancer journey and understand their diagnosis and treatment, while providing tools to cope during and after cancer—ultimately helping them to live the life they aspire to live. Through the magazine and its associated website, an annual resource guide for the newly diagnosed, books, and a variety of resources aimed at enhancing communication between healthcare professionals and patients, CURE provides a wealth of resources for everyone on the cancer journey. CURE Media Group is affiliated with McKesson Specialty Health, a division of McKesson Corporation.