The Biden Cancer Initiative is bringing one of its Biden Cancer Summits to Wilmington Friday.
The summit is one of hundreds being held throughout the country, bringing together those involved in cancer patient support networks to hear their perspectives.
“The Summit is a conference that is being run in conjunction with about 300 other summits across the country and a national summit being held by the Biden Cancer Initiative in Washington, D.C. Our program is geared towards patients , caregivers and survivors,” said Janie Truitt, chair of the planning committee for the Biden Cancer Community Summit.
Truitt says by focusing on these three groups, the summit provides insights into living with cancer and the ripple effects a diagnosis can have on families and communities.
She says the summit will cover how to navigate the current healthcare system with a cancer diagnosis; finding the best treatment options; and what resources are available for patients, caregivers and survivors.
Truitt adds it’s important people know there are resources available to them.
“We are very fortunate in such a small state that we have so many non-profit organizations and a wonderful treatment facility or two wonderful treatment facilities in Nemours Healthcare and the Helen F. Graham Center,” Truitt said.
Truitt notes people from those facilities will be at the event to discuss patient care, nutrition and how to reduce stress while they undergo care.
Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long will kick-off the event. Cancer has had a significant impact on her family. Hall-Long’s father died from colon cancer and her mother and brother are both cancer survivors.
The Summit is Friday at the Siegel Jewish Community Center in Wilmington from noon to 5 p.m. It’s free, but attendees are asked to register online.
