Interview with Candace Cox, El Presidente (Just My Working Title)

Interview with Candace Cox, President Elect – March, 2008 By Kristi Sanborn I sat down to interview Candace Cox, and learned a lot about our new Carolina Blueridge ONS Chapter President. The first surprise is that she was president in 2002. I was amazed she would come back for more! When asked why she wanted the position, Candace replied that she loves working with great people, “You go beyond the boundaries of your office and get involved in this community of great people. It helps us achieve the best care for our patients.” Candace mentioned she has been a nurse for 21 years and an oncology nurse for 13, so the idea of giving back is important to her. “I’ve had incredible mentors over the years, so its nice to work with new graduates and students on oncology rotations, the whole process is great.”

Candace went on to discuss why she loves oncology. She feels it is the most professional area of nursing. When I asked why, she gave as evidence the quality and involvement of our national ONS & chapter. In addition, she discussed the way oncology is constantly improving. “There are always new therapies, new info, and the oncologists value nursing, because we help so much with symptom management”. She mentioned the excitement of seeing a drug in a clinical trial become standard of care. She told a story of giving her first vesicant to a patient under the mentorship of Diana Wortham &Leah Yeip ,and how satisfying it is to see that patient still coming to her office 13 years later.

Candace got her start in nursing after she finished a degree in biology. She initially worked in a research lab. I can really identify with this, because I took a similar path. As she observed what was happening at the medical school, she became interested in nursing. She attended Macon College in Georgia for her ADN, while working at Mercer Univ Med school.

When I asked what her goals are, she mentioned she would like to pursue her BSN/MSN when her girls are both away at school and plans to test for research certification when eligible next year. Right now Candace is the Clinical Research Coordinator at Cancer Care of Western North Carolina, where she has worked since 2001. She was an easy target for the interview; because her office is on the first floor of the building we call 445 Biltmore (and I was only 2 flights up!). Her work involves screening patients for eligibility in trials, providing education to patients, consenting and following them through the process of the study. When I asked her about specifics on trials she is most excited about, she mentioned colorectal and lung studies, as well as breast cancer studies that are all making such a difference in so many lives.

I asked Candace what led her from the chemotherapy clinic to being a research nurse (also a similar path to mine!). She said she had always enjoyed working with patients on study, reviewing schemas, and tracking side effects. “Not everyone likes that sort of thing”. And I agree, some of us just really like research. Candace also mentioned the future of cancer studies. We discussed how we are both really interested to see the outcomes of studies looking at targeted therapies for oncotyping. As the survival rates for lung and colon cancer increase, we can only hope all cancers will benefit from the discovery of oncogenes specific to each cancer, and drugs that can target those genotypes. In her spare time, Candace likes to garden and travel. She and her family traveled in Italy last summer. When I asked Candace if there was anything else she would like for people to know about her, she gave us all a nice compliment, “This is a pretty consistent group, so many of us have been around a long time, and they know me.” So let’s keep coming back!