This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Help on the Breast Cancer Journey

Women facing breast cancer can feel anxious or confused, so it helps to have a personal guide through the complexities of the clinical, emotional and practical aspects of their diagnosis and treatment.

As an oncology nurse navigator, I work closely with North Shore-LIJ Cancer Institute’s multidisciplinary specialists–including breast surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, plastic surgeons, social workers, nutritionists and genetic counselors–to promote communication between patients and their healthcare team. I also serve as a liaison between breast cancer patients and physicians, helping patients to get answers to their questions, including what side effects to expect and how to cope with them.

I am with my breast cancer patients as long as they need my help, providing education and support, coordinating care and advocating for patients along the entire continuum of care. I also put patients in touch with resources to help them find transportation to appointments, childcare assistance and financial and health insurance concerns.

Find out what's happening in Plainviewwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Patients and their lived ones experience emotional hurdles, too, so I help women, their spouses and young children to cope with the stress of the cancer diagnosis. I give them information about additional services like patient and family support groups–and a shoulder to lean on, too.

This post was written by Sarah Parise, RN, oncology nurse navigator for the North Shore-LIJ Cancer Institute.

Find out what's happening in Plainviewwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

For more North Shore-LIJ Health Blog posts, go to http://blog.northshorelij.com/ 

Contents of the health blog are the property of North Shore-LIJ Health System and are provided as a health resource for consumers, health care professionals and members of the media. The medical content on the North Shore-LIJ Health Blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for consultation with your physician regarding diagnosis, treatment or any other form of specific medical advice. These materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "North Shore-LIJ Health System," "North Shore-LIJ," "northshorelij.com," "VivoHealth," their related entities and logos are trademarks of the North Shore-LIJ Health System. Copyright © 2011 North Shore-LIJ Health System. All rights reserved.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?