Receiving a cancer diagnosis is life-changing, for both the patient and their family – suddenly there are doctor appointments, fear, uncertainty and questions. In the midst of the chaos, someone can easily feel lost.
That’s when support professionals like Anna, a navigator with Komen’s Helpline, and Melinda, a care navigator with the J&J withMe program, step in and help bring calm to the process. Cancer is complex, but navigators can help someone make sense of the process.
Patient Navigators
Anna is a navigator with Komen’s Helpline. “The goal of our program is to remove barriers and increase access to care, with the aim of hopefully increasing health equity,” Anna explained. “Sometimes that’s removing financial assistance barriers by navigating resources or providing emotional support. I wish more people connected with us before they reach a crisis. We can do so much to lighten their load.”
Melinda is an oncology nurse navigator who offers patient support for multiple myeloma, prostate, lung and bladder cancers. She supports patients throughout their treatment and helps provide continuity during an uncertain time.
“We provide resources and help remove barriers. I teach patients about their disease and medications, help them understand genetic risks, connect them to financial and practical support and help caregivers manage their own fear and burnout,” Melinda said. “Just having one person they can call makes all the difference in the world.”
Removing Barriers
Among the work navigators do is help patients navigate insurance lapses and denials, high medication costs, work challenges and difficulty filling out paperwork. “We know that transportation, childcare and insurance denials are things that can completely stop care,” Anna said. “We help break those barriers down.”
Low health literacy and poor communication are also barriers to care. “There can be a lack of understanding about medications or their disease state,” Melinda said. “A single confusing detail can cause enormous anxiety, but we can help with these things.”
Preparing for Appointments
A patient may be uncomfortable reaching out to their care teams because they’re embarrassed or feel rushed or are unsure which questions are ‘worth asking.’ With Anna and Melinda, there are no bad questions and there is no time limit.
“People often don’t feel comfortable asking their doctors questions, so we help them figure out what to say,” Melinda explained.
Navigators prepare patients for appointments, helping them script questions and build confidence when speaking with their care teams. They can explain genetic testing and results that may affect other family members.
“Patients get so much information so fast that it goes in one ear and out the other,” Anna said. “We help them slow down and understand.” J& J nurse navigators and Komen patient navigators help patients understand their diagnosis, explain what to expect during treatment and connect them to the resources they need. As cancer care becomes more complex, navigators can help discuss topics like genetic mutations related to risk and/or treatment so patients can feel empowered to make health care decisions with their doctor.
Supporting Caregivers
Navigators can also help caregivers, who want to help but don’t always know how and who also face their own barriers. “Oftentimes, the caretaker is the only one working, so they’re worried about financial strain; they may not have time to ask the doctor questions,” Anna said. “Often, they’re looking for practical ‘how can I help’ tips.”
“Care partners have their own needs, including fear, burnout, isolation. We support them, too,” Melinda said. Navigators can offer emotional support, tips for day-to-day caregiving and mental health and social support needs.
The Importance of Navigation
Talking with a patient and determining the type of navigation they need is crucial. When Melinda is first assigned a patient, her initial conversation with them is about how she can support them.
“I let them know I can help them understand their disease, help navigate cost support if they’re having trouble paying for medication or health care,” Melinda said. “I help them understand that we’re also here to just listen, help with coping skills or provide social support.”
Reaching out to a navigator can happen at any time during treatment – not just during a crisis, and in a perfect world, patients would be connected to a navigator proactively.
“We see people when they’re in crisis,” Anna said. “But being connected at the beginning of treatment can help alleviate some of the stress, it can give them the ability to focus on treatment and their healing.”
The Komen Patient Care Center is your trusted, go-to source for timely, accurate breast health and breast cancer information, services and resources. Our navigators offer free, personalized navigation services to patients, caregivers, and family members.
Call 1-877-465-6636 or email helpline@komen.org to get started. The Helpline is available Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. (ET) and Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (ET). Se habla español.
