| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010 2:35 pm |
ADVERTISEMENT |
|||||||||
 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
Local News 
|
||||||||||||
Patients, doctors sold on value of similar navigator programs Providence Regional Cancer Partnership is joining a growing national movement to add one-on-one services to help guide patients through diagnosis and treatment.Nationally, more than 300 cancer treatment programs now have patient navigators, said Dr. Roland Garcia, a program director at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md. "The reason it's popping up so fast is that doctors and patients love it," Garcia said. "What the navigator does is reduce or eliminate the barriers. It helps you navigate the cancer care system." The American Cancer Society administers 84 of these patient navigator programs. Other groups sponsoring similar programs include the Lance Armstrong Foundation and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, he said. Still more programs are being funded through two federal studies now under way to determine how valuable these programs are in patient care. The American Cancer Society's first patient navigator program in the Puget Sound region was launched two years ago at the Swedish Cancer Institute, said Rachel Kirk, a regional executive program director for the organization. Since then, programs have been added at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Harborview Medical Center in Seattle is adding the program and Seattle's Virginia Mason is considering it, she said. With a cancer diagnosis "there is so much to navigate," Kirk said. Where do you go to the next doctor's appointment? Where are they located? There's a lot of information that needs to be processed." A cancer diagnosis isn't just emotionally overwhelming, Garcia said. It can also be confusing. "You'll meet three to four doctors in one day. You won't remember their names. You'll remember one guy with a beard, another guy has bad breath and a third person for some other reason. But you will not know what they're doing or what advice they're giving you or who they are," he said. Navigators try to eliminate a wide range of barriers for cancer patients, Garcia said, such as how to pay for the treatments. They explain medical jargon and sometimes coordinate transportation to medical appointments. "It's not the silver bullet; it doesn't cure cancer," he said. "But it goes a long way to reducing the pain and suffering … due to cancer." Herald reporter Sharon Salyer at 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com. |
- A revolutionary 747
- Fire breaks out at Everett car dealer
- Everett rethinks boutique wineries
- A tidy lawn could be law in Lynnwood
- Snohomish County's bargain housing won't last
- Boeing's 747-8 takes off after weather delay
- Plan for I-5 closures this week
- A new bowling alley for Monroe?
- Lake Stevens man homeless after fire
- I-5 bridge joint may give you a jolt, but it isn't damaged
- Vote on school levies by Tuesday
(11) - A tidy lawn could be law in Lynnwood (10)
- Everett police officers cleared in 2008 shooting death (5)
- 1949 travel aid shows how few places blacks were welcome in Washington (4)
- I-5 bridge joint may give you a jolt, but it isn't damaged (4)
- Everett rethinks boutique wineries (4)
- County archive software paid for but waiting for set-up (3)
- Three politicians who want Gregoire's job in 2012 (3)
- Toyota has powerful D.C. friends (3)
- Snohomish County's bargain housing won't last (3)
- Edmonds educator, famous announcer dies
- Mill Creek to appeal ruling on annexation
- Through the air, with the greatest of ease
- E-W thriving under new coach
- The path to citizenship
- EUUC puts on ‘Pants & Shoes’
- Wolfpack wins the ‘Battle'
- Lynnwood’s annexation plans OK’d
- Arlington's Cascade Valley Hospital celebrates expansion, national award and 100 years of service
- Business Licences Feb. 2010
- Technology tips for launching your own business
- Business Events Feb. 2010
- Tech Talk: No excuse today for going without a Web site
- State already raising fees and rates that restrict business growth
- Some legislators again targeting people’s initiative petition rights
|
 
|
|
|
|
| TODAY'S TOP JOBS |
| View All Top Jobs |
| Top Cars |
|
| Top Homes |
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT |
|
|
|Contact Us
|Advertiser Services
|Home Delivery
|Newsstand Locations
|Classifieds
|Feedback
|About the Company
|Work@the Herald
|Site Map |
|