2g. Patient Support

From diagnosis to survivorship, a cancer patient will need support in many areas, including important medical decisions. In addition to advocating for the patient and helping the patient make education care decisions, the navigator also involves other cancer care team members to support the patient depending on their need. Other team members that may be included are the social worker, chaplain, dietician, therapy staff, and providers.

For example, if a patient struggles with nausea, the nurse navigator can request an appointment with a dietician. Or if cancer treatment has resulted in difficulty speaking, a patient can be connected with a speech therapist.