With the help of an experienced and professionally trained navigator, patients can deal more easily with the many questions, decisions and challenges that accompany a cancer diagnosis.

“When we see patients, they generally have a lot of questions and are usually overwhelmed with the amount of information they have to process. They can be quite nervous about the road ahead, which is certainly understandable given the circumstances,” says Rebecca Price, RN, the Cancer Program’s Patient Navigator. “But after working with patients and getting to know them and hearing their concerns, we become more than healthcare providers – we become like an extended family. I truly cherish being able to help make a patient’s visit a little more comfortable, be it by discussing their treatment options or plan, coordinating transportation to treatment or simply by sharing a smile.”

Eleanor Baker of Libertytown, Maryland knows firsthand the power that a friendly smile can have.

“Just knowing that Becky is here is enough for me. Her door is always open,” says Mrs. Baker, who’s successfully completed 33 radiation therapy sessions at the Suburban Hospital Radiation Oncology Center following a lumpectomy. “When you’re going through it, it’s really a scary journey. It’s reassuring to know that someone is here to make the journey with you.”

Specifically, the patient navigator can assist with:

• Education and research related to diagnosis and/or treatment options, including clinical trials
• Translating medical terminology
• Communicating with physicians and other members of the healthcare team
• Obtaining referrals to community services for support groups, transportation, financial assistance, and other concerns  
• Arranging palliative care, hospice and home healthcare services
• Listening, caring and helping in a time of need

Ms. Price, a registered nurse for 14 years, has spent much of her career in women’s healthcare and was part of a team that created a breast cancer program during her tenure with Kaiser Permanente. She is a member of the Oncology Nursing Society and is currently pursing certification in Oncology Nursing.

For Mrs. Baker, who lost her grandmother to cancer and whose mother was a cancer survivor, there is much more to “Becky” than her credentials could ever state.

Knowing someone is there to answer questions, to confirm or negate that your feelings are within the norm, is a very good feeling. Becky did that for me,” says Mrs. Baker. “She made me feel comfortable and helped take the edge off.”

Now proudly displaying a pink ribbon on the back of her car, Mrs. Baker’s prognosis is good. She adds that lives can be saved through early detection, which has enabled her to return the smiles she receives with a confident and joyful smile of her own.

Patient navigator services are offered as part of the Suburban Hospital Cancer Program at the Suburban Outpatient Medical Center, 6420 Rockledge Dr., Bethesda, MD. Call (301) 896-3939 for more information.

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