Durham, NC – June 22, 2012 – Valarie C. Worthy, R.N., B.S.N., treatment navigator, Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, is one of 11 outstanding cancer care providers including several oncologists, nurses and a hospice volunteer, who has been chosen to receive the 2012 American Cancer Society Lane W. Adams Quality of Life Award, a prestigious national prize for cancer caregiving. The award recognizes individuals who have made a difference through innovation, leadership and consistent excellence in providing compassionate, skilled care and counsel to persons living with cancer and their families.
A 13-year breast cancer survivor herself, Worthy understands the importance of good health. In 2003, along with five breast cancer survivors, she organized the local chapter of Sisters Network, Inc., a survivorship organization for African American women with breast cancer. Additionally, Worthy is an active member of the American Cancer Society’s Leadership Council and Road To Recovery Project Team in Durham.
“Valarie Worthy goes above and beyond both professionally and personally,” said Anna Jones, community manager for the American Cancer Society. “She is an empathetic and effective healthcare professional who takes her talents and extends them to the patients she touches on a daily basis, as well as the many people she touches in our community.”
The Society has recognized cancer caregivers through the Lane Adams Quality of Life Award since 1988. Others receiving the award this year were:
- Denise Braden, Mercy Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation Center, Monroe, Mich.
- Jose A. Cangiano, M.D., Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Frannie B. Concaugh, Tampa General Hospital, Tampa, Fla.
- Nancy Daley, Emanuel Cancer Center, Turlock, Calif.
- Susan R. Glaser, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, N.Y.
- Warner K. Huh, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Ala.
- Tricia Julian, Fairmont General Hospital, Fairmont, W. Va.
- Eric S. Sandler, Nemours Children’s Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla.
- Gloria Lita Smith, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, Mich.
- Angela Plette Taber, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, R.I.
About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.5 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in Americawho have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org. For cancer news in your community, visit sacancernews.org.
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Photo available of Valarie C. Worthy receiving award at American Cancer Society awards ceremony in Dallas, Texas, on Thursday, May 3, 2012. Photo Credit: American Cancer Society.
Caption: Valarie C. Worthy, R.N., B.S.N., receives the 2012 American Cancer Society Lane W. Adams Quality of Life Award from volunteer leaders, Cynthia LeBlanc (left) and Susan Henry (right).