Getting a cancer diagnosis is an overwhelming, life-altering experience that comes with so many unknowns and uncertainties.
“When you’re diagnosed with cancer, the first questions that usually come to mind are ‘how serious is my cancer – and will I recover,’” says Karie Gignac, RN, a nurse navigator at Henry Ford Health. “But there are a multitude of other things to contend with when you’re already grappling with this news.”
Understanding your treatment options, coordinating doctor’s appointments and scans, dealing with side effects from treatment – these factors can be difficult to cope with on your own. That’s where a nurse navigator comes in: they are your first point of contact after a cancer diagnosis and are with you every step of the way – even guiding you through survivorship – to make a difficult experience as smooth as possible.
“As a nurse navigator, I can’t change why someone is coming to me, but I can help alleviate their stressors by being their point person and advocate,” says Gignac. Here, Gignac shares what happens after learning you have cancer.
1. You’ll make your first appointment.
Whether your doctor refers you to an oncologist (that’s a cancer doctor) or you self-refer, the first step is scheduling your first appointment with a cancer specialist. At Henry Ford Health, a nurse navigator will call you to schedule. Plan to share your health history leading up to the referral, discuss any tests you’ve already had, and schedule additional imaging or lab work that needs to be done before a specific diagnosis and treatment plan can be confirmed.
“We try to get you in for testing immediately so you can see your oncologist in a timely matter, because that is your urgency,” says Gignac. “You were fine yesterday and now someone today says you have cancer. You have so many questions. But to get the full picture of your diagnosis and treatment, you have to have all of these tests done, so we try to schedule them quickly so you have answers quickly.”
2. You’ll sort out your health insurance and financial information.
Healthcare systems often have financial coordinators who can help you with insurance and payment issues, including helping to determine out-of-pocket costs. If you need help covering the price of cancer treatment, they may also be able to connect you with financial aid resources.
3. You’ll meet your care team – plan on bringing someone with you.
Your entire cancer team (surgeon, oncologist, nurse navigator, etc.) will be present to discuss your diagnosis and treatment plan in depth.
“I always tell patients to bring a family member or close friend as a second set of ears, because you get a lot of information that day,” says Gignac. “After the doctors leave, I stay back and ask the patient if they understand what the next steps are and review their after-visit summary with them. If at any point they have questions, they’ll have our phone number – they’ll be able to call us.”
Cancer Care At Henry Ford
4. You’ll learn about your cancer.
During your first appointment, your cancer team will answer all of your questions about your type of cancer, diagnosis and treatment options. You might, however, think of more questions later on – and it’s tempting to turn to Google. (Who can blame you?) But it’s better to get accurate information from your care team or trusted web sources. For example: non-profit organizations like the American Cancer Society, government organizations like the National Cancer Institute and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, and websites of healthcare systems.
5. If you’re coming from out of town, you’ll find a place to stay.
Patients sometimes come from a distance and need housing during treatment, tests or appointments. “At Henry Ford Health, we have guest housing available at reduced rate,” says Gignac. “We’ll give patients the contact information to arrange their accommodations, so they don’t have to worry about where to stay.”
6. You’ll begin treatment.
Undergoing cancer treatment can lead to a variety of side effects. For example, chemotherapy can cause nausea, fatigue, brain fog and neuropathy (numbness in the extremities), among other issues. “Don’t hesitate to contact us if you are experiencing uncomfortable side effects,” says Gignac.
“We can work with the rest of your care team to help mitigate pain, discomfort and other issues that may require urgent attention. At Henry Ford Health, the OncoStat Clinic is also a valuable resource: it’s a same-day care clinic for those experiencing side effects from cancer treatment.”
7. You might consider joining a support group and/or going to therapy.
Cancer isn’t just physical: it is also a mental game. It can be incredibly difficult to cope with and takes a toll on your mental health.
“We have health psychologists, art and music therapy classes, support groups, exercise and nutrition counseling,” says Gignac. “Cancer support services are important – they can really make a difference in your cancer journey. We can help get you involved.”
8. You’ll transition from treatment to survivorship.
The day your treatment ends is an exciting one – but it can also be jarring to immediately go from active cancer treatment to survivorship. “You may still experience side effects from treatment for a while, and deal with the anxiety of cancer recurrence,” says Gignac. Depending upon your diagnosis, your follow-up appointments might be scheduled every four to six months, or every year. It will be a new – and sometimes difficult transition – to not see your oncologist as frequently. “If you experience symptoms outside of your norm in between your appointments, you can contact us,” says Gignac. “We know that just because active treatment has ended doesn’t mean you are suddenly snapping back to normal. We’re there to support you even during survivorship.”
Reviewed by Karie Gignac, RN, ONC, a nurse navigator at Henry Ford Cancer – Detroit.
