Insights into Navigation

Every member of a patient’s treatment team hopes their patient is in a clean, safe environment that enables them to stay on treatment and promote general well-being. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Home healthcare nurses can see things that patients didn’t reveal themselves—maybe they simply forgot to mention something, or they were embarrassed to do so. Read on to learn the value of partnering with home healthcare nurses to best address your patient’s unmet needs.

The decisions our patients make about their treatment are deeply personal. They might select one treatment plan over another based on how they process information, their experiences with cancer, and their life goals. Lillie shares a few recent examples of the decisions her patients have made that are both in line with and against their treatment team’s suggestion.

Summer is here! With warm weather comes an increase in outdoor activities. Because we know that more than 90% of skin cancers are caused by sun exposure, we need to be mindful of wearing sunblock and encourage our patients to do the same. Read on for points to bring up with your patients.

Navigators caring for cancer patients know that cancer doesn’t just affect patients’ bodies, but also their minds. Navigators can only help ensure patients receive the support they need if they know their patients are struggling. In this month’s Insights into Navigation, Lillie provides some tips on how to determine the mental health status, potential needs, and supports for both patients and their caregivers.

We all know that screening tests can detect some cancers early (when treatment works best), but do our patients know that? We can help educate our patients on the importance of early cancer detection and where they should inquire for screenings related to women’s health, head and neck cancer, skin cancer, colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer.

Women are living far longer than ever before thanks to the evolution of CDK 4/6 inhibitors. While most of the patients in this prognostically favorable group are postmenopausal, certainly not all are. Some patients might be considering having a baby, and with that possibility, several things need to be considered. Read on for a list of considerations that’ll help you support your patients as best you can.

Are you confident that you and your oncology navigation peers will be factored into next year’s fiscal budget? Learn how to play an active role in solidifying your budget for the coming fiscal year by preparing both verbal and written resources packed with quality metrics that demonstrate your value.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, patients often find treatment options dauntingly confusing. Just like a bra, there is no “one size fits all.” We’ve compiled a list of considerations to share with patients debating options to help them confidently make informed decisions.

Many assume that when a person is approaching the end of life, their family members will set aside their differences and come together in a loving way. Sadly, this doesn’t always happen…and you, as their navigator or nurse, are likely to get caught in the fray. In her latest column, Lillie provides some ground rules and tips to help you advocate for your patient in these situations.