Patient Navigators to Help Breast Cancer Survivors

By PJ Hamel, Health Guide Thursday, November 15, 2007

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Have you heard the term “patient navigator?” In cancer world, a patient navigator is a trained volunteer who helps cancer patients figure out their treatment, particularly those classified as underserved due to socioeconomic status, cultural or language barriers, or lack of health insuran...

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Robyn Goldblatt

11/15/07 9:25pm

What a great idea! I'm glad to see that survivorship issues are coming to light and that the realization that this is just as important to find answers for, as finding a cure.
As a survivor myself, facing many of the issues, 1 of my biggest problems is probably looking at other survivors who appear to be doing well, managing to get on with thier lives, while I am fighting post mastectomy syndrome 3 years out of chemo from a bi-lateral mastectomy and being forced to medically retire, and having to jump thru those hoops. How much easier it would be if I had a navigator to help me thru all of this.

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

11/15/07 10:51pm

Robyn, I'm SO sorry you're having such a struggle. It seems some of us REALLY draw the short straw... I hope you're able to find some physical relief sometime in the near future. Each of us has a different experience; my advice is, try not to judge yourself too much by what others appear to be experiencing. We can never truly see into someone's heart... only our own. My very best wishes for a full recovery ASAP! - PJH

Robyn Goldblatt

11/16/07 9:28am

I try not to measure myself against others, cuz ya never really know what's going on anyway. As I have good days, I have bad days too. I have tendency to hibernate away on bad days, mostly for the relief, so it's also my unfortunate luck that most ppl see me on a good day and probably wonder what the hell is wrong w/me that I'm retiring, I look healthy, yada yada yada. I was talking w/a friend of mine the other day, actually 2 at differant times bt the same day :-) I have decided that I am going back to doing some volunteer work and when it comes to breast cancer, I will only donate my time to ACS & maybe Y-Me. That way I won't disappoint myself either. My goal this year had been split between ACS & Susan G Kohman. I think they should have a program similiar to Reach for Recovery (which I personally hated <g>) for women for before they go under the knife. I was very unprepared for what happened, in a way, both times. Anyway, must run. Friend is enroute to pick me up for some errands. Thanks

Maz

11/16/07 4:28pm

I think this is a fabulous idea PJH. Just within my own experience and experiences that other women have shared with me, it seems like there is a huge loss of "attention" to survivors once their hair grows back and begin to look "normal" again. The general public think that you have finished all treatment and that's it.... You are cured and it's all gone and you do not need support any more. Little do they know... hey!

Which is why I am so grateful that I have been served up "Breast Cancer" because the worldwide support that we have is truly fantastic. We are able to touch base with so many other women. In fact I am in a mothers group of 9, since our little ones started pre-school 5 years ago and I am the 4th to be diagnosed with Breast cancer. So for me, I am extremely lucky to have a sounding board of my ongoing inner journey regarding survivorship. So many do not have that. and what if you hade a rare cancer?

So I think your idea of "Patient Navigators" is super.

Love your work.

Maz.

Patient Navigators to Help Breast Cancer Survivors

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