Just Diagnosed

When you’re first diagnosed with cancer, the road ahead can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to. At the Cancer Partnership we'll help you understand your treatment options, while developing a personalized plan that couples state of the art technology with supporting services that enlist body, mind and spirit. You’ll have the attention and expertise of a dedicated care team that answers your questions and creates a clear path forward.

We'll focus on making sure you have the best care supporting you every day so you can focus on what’s most important, getting better.

We're here to help every step of the way



Everyone’s cancer experience is different. That’s why our personalized approach to your treatment plan is so important to ensuring the most effective care. We go above and beyond to know and support you throughout your cancer journey. Here’s what you can expect as a patient at the Cancer Partnership: 

 
You’ll have an initial in-depth appointment with a physician who has deep expertise in your specific form of cancer, along with access to all the information you’ve shared with us to date. If any additional diagnostic tests are needed, your physician will order them at this time.
 
Your physician will work closely with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that follows the latest national guidelines for your type of cancer. If you have several treatment options, we’ll explain them to you clearly and completely so that you can make an informed choice.
 
Throughout your course of treatment, you’ll receive care from a multi-disciplinary, integrated team that may include oncology physicians and specialists, Advanced Care Providers (Physician Assistants and ARNPs), and nurses — all working together to care for you. Our team approach ensures you get access to the combined skills and experience of several healthcare professionals. 
 
Your physician and care team may suggest support services such as acupuncture, counseling, nutrition classes, and support groups. Most of these services are conveniently located at the Cancer Partnership, so they are easy to access. We encourage you to take advantage of any or all of the support services we offer. Life can be a challenge while going through cancer treatment. Our support services can help make it a bit less challenging.
 
Most patients have contact with a financial counselor. Financial counselors verify benefits, help develop a payment plan for treatment, and obtain outside assistance if necessary.
 
When you have completed your treatment, you’ll have access to all of our survivor resources, including our popular Survivorship Program. The Survivor Program focuses around an eight-week seminar series that offers survivors a place to connect with other survivors, share and learn important skills to stay healthy and tackle the physical and emotional challenges that come after treatment.

Personalized treatment just for you



At the Cancer Partnership, every patient has a personalized treatment plan. Our recommendations are based on a thorough process of diagnosis that includes everything we learn about you, your cancer, and everything we know as cancer specialists. Going above and beyond getting to know you and your needs is what allows us to design the best and most complete course of treatment - just for you.

Your personal treatment plan might include medication, radiation, surgery or a combination of them. All of these treatments are available onsite, from your team of specialists at the Cancer Partnership.

Your treatment plan may also include a variety of support services such as acupuncture, nutrition counseling, art therapy, spiritual care and more. We see the positive results of these services every day, and so do our patients.

Find answers to many of your questions


More than one million people in the United States get cancer each year. Whether you have cancer or are close to someone who does, understanding the facts can help you cope. In this section you can find answers to frequently asked questions.


Q. As a patient, what can the Providence Regional Cancer Partnership offer me that I might not find elsewhere?

A. At the Cancer Partnership our sole focus is cancer. Our physicians treat more cancer patients in a year than most doctors treat in a lifetime. For our patients, this specialization and focus translates to world-class medical expertise and patient care that goes beyond the norm. We approach care as an integrated team of experts so you won't have one provider working on your behalf, you'll have an entire team.

The Cancer Partnership is home to state of the art technology delivering the most advanced methods for diagnosis and treatment including cutting edge new therapies. And everything you need to take care of your cancer including diagnosis, treatment and all the support services, are available in one convenient location. 

But aside from our team approach, state of the art facility and treatment options, what really makes the Cancer Partnership different is the people who work here. These people have dedicated their lives to helping treat people with cancer and they go above and beyond to do whatever it takes to help their patients. They get to know their patients, they care about them as if they were their friends and family. Because in a sense, that's what they become. Meet our team.


Q: What is cancer?

A: Cancer is what happens when a group of cells grows uncontrollably and in an abnormal and disorderly way. It's really a result of what happens when, for reasons that are only partly understood, the normal growth-control mechanisms fail. Cancer cells have two properties that make them dangerous: They can invade into neighboring tissues, and they can spread to distant areas of the body, forming secondary tumors or metastases.
 

Q: What causes cancer?

A: Two types of factors contribute to the cause of cancer. One is a tendency or predisposition to develop cancer; the other is exposure to the triggers that start it off (such as cigarettes, sun exposure, or liver damage, for example).
 

Q: What is cancer staging?

A: Learn what cancer staging is and why it is the single most effective predictor of outcome for all cancer tumors from Dr. Charles Sturgis. Watch New Day Northwest Video

Q: Why do some people get cancer and not others?

A: In a few cancers (such as retinoblastoma) and in a small proportion of the more common cancers (such as a small proportion of breast and ovarian cancers), there seems to be an inherited factor that we can (partly) identify. In most cancers, we assume that a person’s cells have a low threshold for becoming malignant, and thus he or she will develop a cancer with relatively less prompting by a trigger (such as cigarettes or the sun) than another person whose cells have a higher threshold and who may be able to tolerate more exposure to a trigger without developing a cancer.
 

Q: Is there an epidemic of cancer?

A: Not really. An epidemic means a very rapid increase in the amount of the disease, and in most cancers there is no real change. In some cancers (such as stomach) there has been a decrease, and in some cancers (such as breast) there has been a small, steady increase, which may be partly accounted for by better diagnosis. There is an epidemic of discussion and awareness (thank goodness), so that at last people are talking about cancer, whereas until recently it had been a taboo subject.
 

Q: Do we get cancer from what we eat?

A: Yes and no! The high-fat, low-fiber diet common in developed countries may play a role in about a third of all cancers (though we don’t know this for certain yet). There are, however, no toxins or chemicals in modern foods that cause cancer; in fact, the opposite is true. For example, the fact that cancer of the stomach is becoming less common may be because of the way we preserve foods and prevent bacterial decomposition of what we eat.
 

Q: Are chemicals and pollutants causing cancer?

A: In a very small proportion of special cases only. In certain occupations, prolonged exposure to a few identified chemicals may cause certain (rare) kinds of cancers. Nowadays almost all of these substances have been identified and are regulated.
 

Q: Does cigarette smoke really cause cancer?

A: Yes. Cigarettes cause the vast majority of cancers of the lung and are a major factor in cancers of the bladder, pancreas, mouth, larynx, esophagus, and kidney.
 

Q: Can attitudes or stress cause cancer?

A: Not as far as we know. In fact, the idea that the cancer “personality” or a bad attitude contributes to the cause of cancer may be part of the ancient human habit of blaming the patient for the disease.
 

Q: Can a change in diet alter the course of cancer?

A: Again, not as far as we know. Many cancer centers are currently involved in finding out whether a certain diet can alter the course of cancer in some selected early cases. There is no evidence that diet supplements, vitamins, minerals, or special diets actually change the course of a cancer once it has developed.
 

Q: Why does the diagnosis seem to be so delayed in so many cases?

A: Cancer cells can multiply to produce literally billions of cells before a tumor becomes big enough to detect. That is why prevention and some methods of screening are so important.
 

Q: Can cancer be prevented?

A: We think a lot of it can. The established preventive methods (including refraining from smoking, avoiding sun damage, sensible sexual behavior, eating a high-fiber, low-fat diet, having regular Pap tests) would reduce the incidence of cancer dramatically. We could probably prevent more if we knew more, so research is very active in this field.
 

Q: Does treatment work?

A: Yes. Surgery, radiation therapy (after or instead of surgery) and chemotherapy are all forms of treatment that are used to treat cancer. These treatments can produce remissions in a proportion of cases when cure is not possible. Discussions you have with your doctor about your particular case are important, and why the doctors at the Cancer Partnership get to know all they can about your case. Then they create a treatment plan just for you.
 

Q: Why is the treatment so difficult?

A: Treatment is so difficult mostly because cancer cells are only slightly different from normal cells. In this respect, cancers are totally different from, say, bacterial infections such as pneumonia or tuberculosis. Because bacteria are completely different from our body’s cells, antibiotics can kill them and not affect us very much. But because cancer cells are very like our normal cells, in order to kill them we (usually) risk doing considerable damage to normal cells or tissues.
 

Q: I am going to start radiation next week. What should I expect, and what can I do to decrease the fatigue?

A: Fatigue related to radiation treatments usually starts about the second or third week of treatment, and may continue for up to three months or longer afterwards. It is important to take good care of yourself. This means eating a well-balanced diet, drinking lots of fluid, sleeping well at night, and doing exercise as tolerated, such as walking regularly. Once you start feeling fatigued, then you should match your activity level to how you feel. You should identify the activities or tasks that you have to do, and ask someone else to do the other.

First, if you are driving yourself to your radiation treatments, see if someone else can drive you when you start feeling tired.

Second, try keeping a diary of how you feel, what makes you feel more energetic, what makes you feel more tired, and avoid the more tiring activities. Rate the activities using a simple scale, such as on a scale of 0(full of energy) to 10 (absolutely exhausted, no energy).

Third, talk with your doctor or nurse about problems that arise, or if your fatigue is severe.

Finally, access the support services the Cancer Partnership offers. There are many resources available to help you manage this difficult process.

Our integrated team approach provides the best care before, during, and after treatment.



Finding a doctor who you can connect with and who understands your individual needs is important. That’s why our doctors go above and beyond in getting to know their patients—because the best care comes from this extra knowledge. 
 
Once you’ve been referred to the Cancer Partnership, we will schedule an initial appointment with an oncologist who specializes in the type of cancer or blood disorder you have. Your oncologist is the core of your integrated team at the Cancer Partnership, joining forces with a dedicated group of specialists to customize and carry out your treatment plan.
 
Click here to meet our team.

Our team is focused on making sure you receive care that goes above and beyond.



At the Cancer Partnership, our integrated team approach ensures that you get access to the combined skills and experience of numerous healthcare professionals focused on one thing: your treatment. Our teams meet regularly, at what we call cancer conferences, where cases are reviewed and discussed. This forum allows for a wide range of experts to be involved in our patients’ treatment process. Which means that you will receive the best possible treatment for your specific needs. By joining forces on your behalf, our team provides a comprehensive, personalized treatment plan that’s right just for you. 

Click here to meet our team.

Getting your initial appointment scheduled



Most patients are referred to the Cancer Partnership through their physician. If you would like information on setting up an appointment, please call 425-297-5500. Once your appointment is scheduled, we’ll take care of getting the medical records we may need. We’ll also make sure your physicians are informed throughout your care.  

Everything you need through the treatment journey

At the Cancer Partnership our sole focus is cancer. Our physicians treat more cancer patients in a year than most doctors treat in a lifetime. For our patients, this specialization and focus translates to world-class medical expertise and patient care that goes beyond the norm. 

The Cancer Partnership is home to state of the art technology delivering the most advanced methods for diagnosis and treatment including cutting edge new therapies. And everything you need to take care of your cancer including diagnosis, treatment and all the support services, are available in one convenient location. 

Virtually all components of your cancer care will be delivered in one location.  

You will have access to:

  • The latest treatments

  • The most advanced medical equipment

  • The newest cancer-fighting and pain-relief drugs

  • Clinical trials

  • Integrative medicine

  • Patient support services
     

Electronic Medical Records

Using an electronic medical record, your providers will have instant, real-time access to your entire medical record, including lab results, diagnostic image scans, chemotherapy regimen information, radiation therapy treatment schedules, etc. 

Cancer Conferences

Every week, various cancer specialists involved in your care will meet weekly to discuss treatments. During these conferences, patient medical information will be reviewed, diagnostic images displayed and discussed, potential courses of treatment are evaluated, and clinical trials considered. Patients presented at conference will get more than a second opinion, they'll get fifteen opinions or more.  

National Standards of Excellence

All of the physicians at the Cancer Partnership follow The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines, further supporting their ability to coordinate patient care with one another. Regardless of which physician a particular patient sees, the patient is assured the same "gold standard" of care set by the NCCN.

State of the art technology



The Providence Regional Cancer Partnership has invested $10.8 million in new state-of-the art technology to treat cancer. Advanced imaging processes combined with targeted radiation delivery systems will result in the most accurate, pinpoint radiation to tumor sites with minimal impact to surrounding healthy tissue.

Certain cancers need special technology

Brachytherapy is a type of radiation therapy used to treat:

  • prostate cancer

  • cervical cancer

  • endometrial cancers

Unlike external beam therapy, in which high-energy x-ray beams generated by a machine are directed at the tumor from outside the body, brachytherapy involves placing a radioactive material directly inside the body. The seeds are carefully placed inside of the cancerous tissue and positioned in a manner that will attack the cancer most efficiently. 

Brachytherapy allows a physician to use a higher total dose of radiation to treat a smaller area and in a shorter time than is possible with external radiation treatment. 

Brachytherapy may be either temporary or permanent.

In temporary brachytherapy, the radioactive material is placed inside or near a tumor for a specific amount of time and then withdrawn. Temporary brachytherapy can be administered at a low-dose rate or high-dose rate. 

Permanent brachytherapy, also called seed implantation, involves placing radioactive seeds or pellets (about the size of a grain of rice) in or near the tumor and leaving them there permanently. After several weeks or months, the radioactivity level of the implants eventually diminishes to nothing. The seeds then remain in the body, with no lasting effect on the patient.

Linear Accelerator, AKA cancer cell zapper



A linear accelerator (LINAC) is the device most commonly used for external beam radiation treatments for patients with cancer. It delivers a uniform dose of high-energy x-ray to the region of the patient's tumor. These x-rays can destroy the cancer cells while sparing the surrounding normal tissue.

The most advanced machine of its type in use today.

The Varian Trilogy is the most advanced, sophisticated radiation machine of its type in use today. It is so precise that it can deliver a beam within one-millimeter accuracy. It is the world's first image-guided radiation therapy system to deliver all forms of external-beam radiation therapy. There are only 54 of these machines in the world, and the Cancer Partnership has one of them.

Benefits

The Trilogy provides physicians with advanced imaging capabilities.  Because the machine is so precise, it allows physicians to deliver very high doses of radiation with precise accuracy, and spare patients' healthy tissue. It is also 60 percent faster than conventional machines, which reduces the effect of tumor motion, shortens treatment times and improves patient comfort. The system can deliver radiation treatment so many different ways that the choice of treatment technique can be customized for each patient.

PET/CT Scanner, AKA fancy tumor camera



Positron emission tomography, also called PET, and computed tomography (CT) are diagnostic imaging methods used to find and assess tumors inside the body, and evaluate how a patient is responding to treatment. The GE Discovery PET/CT scanner blends both into one—a single, full-body scan generates two sets of images, which are fused to show a patient's anatomy and any hot spots of suspected cancer.  It also can be used with radiation therapy equipment for treatments.

Benefits

The GE Discovery PET/CT scanner is a new breakthrough in technology and helps physicians see and treat cancer faster than ever before with increased accuracy. It also provides patients with a more accurate diagnose, reduces exam times—results can be obtained within an hour—and can potential reduce invasive procedures such as biopsies and unnecessary surgeries for detection.

TomoTherapy, AKA everything in one machine

TomoTherapy is a new way to deliver radiation treatment for cancer. It delivers a very sophisticated form of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), and combines treatment planning, CT image-guided patient positioning, and treatment delivery into one integrated system. 

The radiation treatment is delivered similar to the way a CT obtains an image, by continually rotating around a patient. However, it's not only capturing an image, but delivering a highly focused, intense beam of radiation to the cancer target area from multiple angles. TomoTherapy assists physicians in developing highly precise treatment plans with minimized side effects for patients.  

The Cancer Partnership's new TomoTherapy machine is one of only 120 in the world.

Benefits

This new technology is adaptive, and allows physicians to adjust and customize the size, shape, and intensity of the radiation beam to target the radiation to the size, shape, and location of the patient's tumor. This benefits the patient by minimizing radiation exposure to healthy tissue. New images are also created every time the patient is treated to help guide treatment based on patient anatomy for that day, rather than for last week or last month.

VATS, AKA tiny video camera assisted surgery

Patients who need surgery for treatment of lung cancer and other pulmonary diseases now have a minimally invasive alternative to traditional open thoracic surgery called Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) at Providence Regional.

VATS is performed by thoracic surgeons for biopsies and other small procedures, as well as for removing cancer in the lung (lobectomies). Using a tiny camera and surgical instruments inserted through a few small incisions, VATS gives the surgeon a clear view inside the patient's chest.

Because only small incisions are needed, VATS patients typically recover more quickly and with significantly less discomfort and scarring compared to traditional open thoracic surgery. And, since the recovery is less painful and shorter after VATS than traditional surgery, most patients who need chemotherapy can start it sooner.

We follow the National Standards of Excellence Guidelines

All of the physicians at the Cancer Partnership follow The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines, further supporting their ability to coordinate patient care with one another. Regardless of which physician a particular patient sees, the patient is assured the same "gold standard" of care set by the NCCN.

Real people, living beyond cancer

These are just some of the men and woman who have faced cancer and, with the help of Providence Regional Cancer Partnership, won. Read their stories to find out how they did it.

Are you a cancer survivor? Share your story with us.












By choosing to submit your story, you agree that any information you provide will be considered for viewing by the general public. If your patient story is selected, you will be contacted in advance and asked for written and verbal permission to use your story before we will make any of your information public. If selected, we will notify you by e-mail or phone. Not all stories submitted will be published.

Dana Carney, Skin Cancer



Ever wonder what a doctor or nurse would do if they were given a cancer diagnosis? Ask Dana Carney. After 24 years of practicing nursing at Seattle’s VA Medical Center, this retired grandmother of two was diagnosed with Intransit melenoma in 2008. So Dana turned to Providence Regional Cancer Partnership and Dr. Luke Walker to design a customized chemotherapy treatment path for her. 
 
By choosing to administer her chemotherapy through self-injections at home, Dana is able to take care of her grandsons, Jacob and Tommy, as often as she wants. And whether it’s trips to the park or Mariner’s games, every moment she spends with them is a gift.
 
You see, this isn’t Dana’s first cancer diagnosis—as a young mom more than two decades ago, Dana battled skin cancer for the first time. Fifteen years later, it was breast cancer. Back then, Dana wasn’t sure if she would be around to see her daughter grow up. Today, thanks to the partnership, she’s teaching her grandkids what it means to be strong (not to mention how to climb the monkey bars).

Julie Jewell, Breast Cancer



“Well, at least I won’t have to shave my legs” isn’t normally the first thought that goes through the mind of a new chemotherapy patient. But don’t tell that to Julie Jewell. When this local credit union employee and avid cyclist was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, she focused on staying positive and doing everything in her power to beat it.
 
That’s why Julie chose oncology expert Dr. Peter Jiang of Providence Regional Cancer Partnership to guide her down a personalized treatment path complete with the right balance of radiation and chemotherapy for her.
 
Julie completed her chemotherapy treatment in March of this year and is officially cancer-free. Today, if she’s not out on the trails, you can find her volunteering in the partnership’s resource center—helping newly diagnosed cancer patients and their families navigate the rocky road ahead.

Nancy Bono, Breast Cancer



In 1997, this Marysville elementary school teacher’s world turned upside down—twice. Earlier that year, Nancy happily learned she was pregnant with her first child. But this expectant mother never could have guessed what would happen next: a stage-two breast cancer diagnosis.
 
Six months into the pregnancy, Nancy’s top priority was her unborn daughter’s health. After undergoing surgery to remove her T2 tumor, Nancy relied on Dr. Mark Coughenour of Providence Regional Cancer Partnership to develop a carefully selected chemotherapy plan that would eradicate the cancer while keeping her baby safe.
 
On Nancy’s 33rd birthday, after three months of treatment, a risky but necessary C-section paid off and she got her miracle: a healthy baby girl. Today, this proud mom is cancer free and continues to turn to the partnership and Dr. Coughenour for all of her regular follow-ups.

John Wolcott, Prostate Cancer



John Wolcott, editor of the Snohomish County Business Journal, has been a journalist for 45 years. You could say writing is in his blood. But in 2006 something troubling showed up there, too. A simple blood test revealed alarmingly high rates of prostate-specific antigens, and a biopsy showed nearly 70% of his prostate was filled with a very aggressive form of cancer.
 
John was scared. His life had changed in an instant. He underwent bone scans, CT scans and, eventually, prostate surgery. Six months later, at Providence Regional Cancer Partnership, under the guidance of radiation oncologist Dr. William Wisbeck, John spent his lunch breaks back at the partnership, undergoing radiation treatments five days a week for two months straight.
 
Today, John’s cancer is undetectable. And he has written about his experience for the SCBJ in the hopes that sharing his story with others will raise awareness about the importance of early cancer detection.

Tony Ventura, Lung Cancer



If you’ve ever been to #1 N.Y. Pizza, you’ve tasted a little bit of The Old Country. That’s because, after 22 years in the business, Tony Ventura has perfected the secret recipes to his tempting doughs and sauces. But a stage-one lung cancer diagnosis at the beginning of 2008 threatened to turn his kitchen, and his life, upside down.
 
Since no one else could replicate his recipes, it was important for Tony to have as little downtime as possible. Enter thoracic surgeon Dr. Kimberly Costas of Providence Regional Cancer Partnership. She didn’t waste any time formulating a surgical strategy to safely and quickly remove the tumor from Tony’s lungs.
 
In no time flat, Tony went from prepping for surgery to prepping for the lunch rush. Ask Tony, and he’ll not only tell you Dr. Costas and the partnership saved his life, he’ll show you: simply check out his new tattoo with the words “Thank you Dr. Costas” and the date of his surgery below.

Dana Carney,

Skin Cancer Survivor
View Survivor Story

Julie Jewell,

Breast Cancer Survivor
View Survivor Story

Nancy Bono,

Breast Cancer Survivor
View Survivor Story

John Wolcott,

Prostate Cancer Survivor
View Survivor Story

Tony Ventura,

Lung Cancer Survivor
View Survivor Story

Support services for you and your family



Our team approach to cancer treatment brings you the benefits of support services for you and your family. We provide most of these services in-house so there is no need for you to get referrals or run around to other locations. This makes it easy to get the support you want and need, whether it’s pain management, an oncology massage, acupuncture, a nutritional consultation or some time to talk with a counselor.
 
For more information on all the support services available to you, contact the Patient Navigator or any member of your care team.

Resources to access for your journey and beyond


In addition to the support services we provide, we also serve as your guide to an entire community of excellent resources all around you. They provide accurate information, caring support, other local referrals, and you can connect with them online.

For our complete list of Community Resources, click here.

Emotional support for the cancer journey



When you receive a cancer diagnosis, it’s natural to have questions and concerns. You may also need some extra support for yourself and your loved ones. After all, a cancer diagnosis affects everyone in the family in many ways.

Members of our Patient Support Services Team are available by appointment to provide one-to-one counseling and help you address any of the following concerns:
  • Coping with a new diagnosis, treatment or recurrence
  • Creating a care team at home
  • Family communication
  • Support in making difficult treatment decisions
  • Self-care for patients and caregivers
  • Stress management
  • Identifying resources
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Grief and loss
  • Survivorship concerns
  • End of life concerns
Individual, group, and family counseling services are also available at no cost to Cancer Partnership patients and family members. Counseling services are provided by Masters-level trained clinicians working closely with cancer patients and their families. They’re good listeners and problem-solvers who are here to address the psychological, social, cultural, financial and continuing care needs of you and your family. 

For more information or to make an appointment, call 425-297-5500.


Support for Children & Teens

Children and teens who are dealing with a loved one's cancer diagnosis or the loss of a family member have many concerns and questions. We offer services through patient support that provide compassionate support during a difficult time.


Youth Programs Offered by Providence Hospice & Home Care

For more information on the programs below, please call 425-261-4800, or click here.

Our classes are open to you, your family and friends

Classes at the Cancer Partnership are open to all patients, family members, friends and caregivers. They’re a great way to build your support network and engage in the healing process with others who understand.

For a complete list of the classes available at the Cancer Partnership, click here.

Note: Classes are also open to the general public and to cancer patients who are not patients of the Cancer Partnership.

Services to help your body, mind and soul

Our team approach to cancer treatment brings you the benefits of support services for you and your family. We provide most of these services in-house so there is no need for you to get referrals or run around to other locations. This makes it easy to get the support you want and need, whether it’s pain management, an oncology massage, acupuncture, a nutritional consultation or some time to talk with a counselor.
 
For more information on all the support services available to you, contact the Patient Navigator or any member of your care team, or click here.

 

Our Patient Navigator is here to help during treatment and beyond

At the Cancer Partnership, you’ll have a Patient Navigator who is dedicated to answering questions, providing resources and suggesting support services throughout your treatment and beyond. This highly-trained cancer expert is part of the American Cancer Society Patient Navigator Program, a respected network that follows national standards, offers extensive training, and serves patients at more than 60 sites around the country.
 
The Patient Navigator is here to listen, care and help, so you never have to wonder where to turn. You can count on your Patient Navigator to:
 
  • Provide information on what to expect during chemotherapy and radiation, and on dealing with any side effects of treatment.
  • Share resources with you for financial assistance, medication needs, home health care, insurance, transportation and other concerns.
  • Refer you to groups, classes and support programs.
  • Connect you with helpful resources in your community.
  • Suggest activities that can help ensure a better quality of life both during and after treatment.