Actors Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker Speak Before 1,100 Nurses at Medline Industries, Inc.'s Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Forum

MUNDELEIN, IL--(Marketwire - March 21, 2011) -

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It's not surprising that the majority of the 1,100 operating room nurses attending Medline Industries, Inc.'s morning breakfast forum "Together We Can Save Lives Through Early Detection" are big fans of the event's featured speakers, actors Jill Eikenberry and husband Michael Tucker. Both were stars of the TV hit L.A. Law, and Eikenberry and Tucker talked about her ongoing battle with breast cancer, which resonated with the nurses. The big surprise occurred at the end of their talk when Eikenberry was greeted by the nurse that cared for her during her initial bout with breast cancer almost 25 years ago and again during her recurrence two years ago.

"I took care of her both times and gave her extra care," said Rubita Conception, a perioperative registered nurse at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. "I am a regular at Medline's annual breast cancer awareness breakfast but when I saw that Jill and Michael were speaking, I had to make sure I came today. I told her I remember that she was scared when she came to the hospital and at that time no one really talked about breast cancer. But our staff took good care of her."

Eikenberry, who starred with Tucker in L.A. Law from 1986 - 1994, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1986, soon after she had landed her role on the hit show. She had a recurrence of the disease two years ago and is now cancer free.

"I didn't expect their talk to have such an impact on me but it really did," said Kathleen Clutcher, a recent breast cancer survivor herself and a registered nurse and Senior HR Recruiter at Geisenger Health System in Danville, PA. "I can really relate to what she said about Michael supporting her throughout her illness because my husband and family have been so important to me in my illness and recovery."

At the event, Medline Chief Marketing Officer Sue MacInnes presented National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) President Janelle Hail with a check for $242,606 to help fund mammograms for underserved women. Over the past five years, Medline has donated more than three quarters of a million dollars to the NBCF as part of its campaign to promote early detection and awareness of breast cancer. Early detection (mammography is among the best forms of screening for breast cancer) can increase the five-year survival rate by more than 95 percent.

About Medline Industries, Inc.

Medline, the nation's largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare products, manufactures and distributes more than 100,000 products to hospitals, extended-care facilities, surgery centers, home care dealers and agencies and other markets. Headquartered in Mundelein, Ill., Medline has more than 900 dedicated sales representatives nationwide to support its broad product line and cost management services.

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