Cancer Survivor in Green Wig Boosts Delaware Trial Sig...

When Bill Osborne walks into the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center in Newark, Delaware, his shaggy green Hulk wig does exactly what it's supposed to do: it makes people stop and smile. And then he starts a conversation that could change their lives.

Osborne is a prostate cancer survivor and volunteer with ChristianaCare's Oncology Patient Advocates for Clinical Trials, or OPACT. He sits at a lobby table, sometimes in his green wig or other playful costumes, hoping to catch the eye of newly diagnosed patients who might benefit from clinical trials but don't know where to start.

"When they see me in a funny wig, it gets people to stop, and then maybe we can start a conversation about cancer and clinical trials," Osborne said. His approach works: after the last three tabling events, three new patients enrolled in trials.

Clinical trials test whether new treatments work better than current standard care. At the Graham Cancer Center, between 80 and 110 trials run at any given time, giving patients access to cutting-edge treatments without leaving Delaware.

About 20% of Graham Cancer Center patients participate in trials, five times higher than the national average of 4%. Many university programs don't reach that level, according to Dr. Gregory Masters, a principal investigator at the center.

Osborne joined a prostate cancer trial in 2023 after his diagnosis. He and his wife, a nurse, trusted the science. Now he volunteers to help others make that same decision during one of the scariest times of their lives.

The Ripple Effect

The impact of clinical trials extends beyond individual patients. Years ago, another OPACT member participated in a prostate cancer study testing whether fewer radiation treatments could effectively stop cancer growth. The trial succeeded, and when Osborne was diagnosed, he received far fewer radiation doses because of that earlier volunteer's contribution.

"I got far fewer radiation treatments than he did, because his trial showed that fewer doses were effective," Osborne said. "I've personally benefited from one of the guys in our group."

Dr. Thomas Schwaab, medical director of the Graham Cancer Center, calls OPACT volunteers the "secret sauce" behind the center's high enrollment rates. Peer-to-peer conversations reach patients at a deeper level than clinical staff can achieve alone.

The center's participation in the National Cancer Institute's Community Oncology Research Program connects Delaware patients to national trials happening across the country. It means patients get the most current cancer care and treatments without traveling to major cities.

OPACT started in 2011 based on a National Cancer Institute concept: cancer survivors speaking about their experiences spread education and awareness when patients need it most. For newly diagnosed patients facing overwhelming decisions, hearing from someone who has been through it provides comfort and clarity.

Now Osborne talks to patients about participating in something that could benefit them personally or help someone following behind them. He's paying forward the gift another volunteer gave him.