Learning you have cancer changes everything. You may feel scared, confused or unsure where to turn — and that's completely normal. Oncology nurse navigators can walk alongside you during this time. These registered nurses know cancer care inside and out, and their main job is to help you.
Nurse navigators guide you through appointments, tests and treatment decisions. They explain things in plain language, answer your questions and help make sure nothing falls through the cracks. They also talk with your doctors to keep everyone on the same page about your care.
Read on to learn 7 ways nurse navigators help support mesothelioma cancer patients like you.
1. Explain Your Diagnosis and Next Steps
Medical terms can feel like a different language. Nurse navigators translate test results into patient-friendly words and explain key terms at your pace. They can also outline what usually comes after scans, biopsies or lab work.
2. Coordinate Appointments and Referrals
Cancer care often involves multiple specialists. Nurse navigators can help schedule appointments, manage referrals and connect visits so care stays on track.
3. Help You Prepare for Doctor Visits
It’s easy to forget questions once you’re at the doctor’s office. Nurse navigators can help you prepare a short list of questions and topics. They may also suggest simple ways to track symptoms or side effects so you can share clear updates with your care team.
4. Support Treatment Discussions
Choosing a treatment path can feel daunting. Nurse navigators can review the options your doctor discusses and help you understand the basic goals of each approach. They can also support requests for a second opinion when that’s appropriate for your situation.
5. Connect You to Support Services
Cancer affects more than the body. Nurse navigators often connect patients to support services like counseling, support groups, caregiver resources and educational programs. These services can help patients and their families feel less alone.
6. Help Address Practical Barriers
Many patients run into day-to-day obstacles during care. Transportation, travel, time off work and cost concerns are common. Nurse navigators can point you to resources that may help with planning and support, so practical concerns don't become roadblocks.
7. Provide Ongoing Support Through Changes
Care plans can change. Emotions can change, too. Your nurse navigator stays with you as a familiar, trusted contact across your entire care journey. They can help patients keep track of changes, know who to contact for different needs and check in when things get tough.
How to Find a Nurse Navigator
Not every hospital or cancer center advertises nurse navigation, so it helps to ask. These steps can guide you:
- Ask your doctors, cancer center or hospital’s oncology department.
- Check the Patient Services section at major cancer centers.
- Contact local healthcare providers and clinics.
- Look through online directories, including support groups and reputable cancer advocacy organizations.
Sometimes nurse navigators work behind the scenes, so it helps to ask directly. Keep in mind that support can vary by clinic, and navigators may focus on different parts of care.
Why Do Nurse Navigators Matter for Mesothelioma Patients?
Finding the right care can be difficult when you have a rare cancer like mesothelioma. You might need help locating a mesothelioma doctor in your area. Or you may need to travel to a specialized treatment center. Your care plan could include several different treatments, which means more to keep track of.
Nurse navigators can make a real difference here. They help you and your family manage the details so you can put more energy toward your treatment and the people and activities that matter to you.
Studies show that nurse navigators help patients:
- Move through testing, diagnosis and treatment more smoothly
- Understand their care plans better and feel more confident keeping up with appointments
- Make fewer trips for emergency care
If you're starting treatment for mesothelioma, you can ask your care team a simple question: "Do you have a nurse navigator who can work with me?"
Sources
American Cancer Society. Patient Navigation in Cancer Care.
Elizabethtown College. A Nurse Navigator Speaks to the Value of Her Position.
Oncology Nursing Society. Role of the Oncology Nurse Navigator Throughout the Cancer Trajectory.
Together4Cancer. How to Find a Cancer Support Navigator.
Free Mesothelioma Treatment Guide
