The nurse navigator at my hospital (the neighborhood hospital I've had plenty of "opportunities" to use) is a delightful person. She took my bp one day that I was due to see the oncologist during the radiation sequence. And I saw her again accidentally in the surgeon's waiting room.
The surprise is that I didn't know at first she was a cancer navigator, and the cancer center didn't mention that someone like her was available. I've already blogged here about my experience with cancer center social worker, so we won't go into that again.
This morning, one medical news service I subscribe to used the word "Navigators." I finally deduced they were talking about "navigation" advisory companies.
But of course, I had to look up hospital navigators, including at my hospital's local branch, and find out what they do. I was amazed and a little annoyed that our cancer center never mentioned her.
I learned that Cancer Nurse Navigators can help with decisions as well as logistics and coordination and that wonderful component - support. I had simply gone to "meet" the radiation oncologist my surgeon respects, and was presented with the decision at that first meeting.
Of course, my DCIS was not life-threatening. Because of that, the cancer center did not seem to realize I was new to Texas and overwhelmed by the diagnosis and meeting all the new doctors.
Since then I've talked to this woman several times about the education classes she organizes, and various other matters, without ever knowing that she might have been available to help with the radiation decision and might have been a very welcome source of support.
I did meet some wonderful people - techs, doctors, and a couple of the radiation therapists. I don't mean to claim that my life was unbearable without knowing a Nurse Navigator.
I'm just thinking there is an information gap there that kept me from knowing about her, and perhaps kept other women from knowing how much she can help.
Does your hospital cancer center have a nurse navigator? Were you told about her?
I salute our Nurse Navigator.
And I wish you health.
Yesterday, I focused on a cancer survivor. Well, two female cancer survivors.
Today, more from The Immune Power Personality. Henry Dreher met Michael Callen in 1984, when Callen had already had AIDS for three years. Dreher described him as "energetic, robust, and upbeat," and without visible symptoms.
Callen was giving a talk at conference on psychological factors in AIDS. He described his fight against prognosis that AIDS patients would die quickly, calling it "'the propaganda of hopelessness.'" And he spoke about his fight against the medical community's lack of effort to beat AIDS.
Later Callen described his life: a good doctor, acceptance of the seriousness of his disease, and a refusal to accept a death sentence. Dreher describes him as "motivated by love and a search for meaning in his life work and relationships." He was inspired by Callen's ongoing exploration of "the role of personality in recovering from illness."
Callen went on with his singing career. And he went on with his polite but determined war against medical and lay people's ignorance and apathy regarding AIDS.
And he challenged the gay community to give up their denial of the dangers of common sex practices. In short, he basically created what we now refer to as "safe sex."
He traveled extensively to talk with other AIDS patients. He did an end run around government stalling by creating and initiating localized research funding.
Later he continued his personal passions, spent time cooking, and even wrote a book about his and other patients' lives. Oh, and recorded a solo album of his songs.
Service. But without abandoning his own abilities and joys.
