National Cancer Prevention Month
No one likes to talk about cancer, but because it’s such a big topic, it’s important not to shy away from the subject. This is why National Cancer Prevention Month exists, to help raise awareness on preventing cancer. According to the American Association for Cancer Research, more than 40% of cancers in the U.S. are due to preventable actions, such as smoking, obesity, physical inactivity and excessive exposure to the sun. Community Care Physician’s wants to work with you on preventing cancer!
What is Cancer?
Cancer is a disease that is a dysfunction of the cells when cells grow out of control and crowd out normal, healthy cells. It can start anywhere in the body and most cancers will form a lump called a tumor or growth, but not all tumors are cancerous. If you notice a lump, contact your doctor so they may examine the growth and determine if it is benign or cancerous. All cancers are different, but most can be treated well for many people. Some grow quicker than others, which is why it is important to keep your primary doctor informed of any abnormalities.
What Can Community Care Physicians Do for You?
Regular health exams and tests can help find problems before they start. They also can help find problems early, when your chances for treatment and cure are better. It’s important to visit your primary care practitioner regularly for your regular health check-ups. If you need cancer screening, experience a cancer diagnosis or suspicion of cancer, Community Care Physicians is here to help.
At Community Care Physicians, our practitioners and their healthcare teams work with you to provide comprehensive, diligent, and more personal cancer care. Community Care Physicians delivers the most advanced treatment options, diagnostic testing, medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical specialists, and supportive care programs in a safe and comfortable setting.
The world of cancer can be overwhelming; you have to schedule screenings and exams, understand your options, schedule several tests and screenings, and then make important decisions. We understand the process can be daunting, even frightening at times, but you can rest assured knowing that Community Care Physicians’ Nurse Navigator can help you through the entire process. Our Nurse Navigator is part of our Cancer Care Program and is here to help patients and their families through their cancer diagnosis and follow-up care.
Our Nurse Navigator provides:
• Educational and emotional support through face to face contact with patients and families before and after diagnosis.
• Rapid scheduling and coordination of consultations with Surgery, Medical Oncology, and Radiation Oncology.
• Assistance in reviewing the advice of the patient’s doctor.
• Helpful information to patients about their specific cancer and treatment options.
• Assistance in linking patients to support services offered through the American Cancer Society and other agencies, financial assistance programs, home health agencies, hospice and support groups.
• Access to oncology literature.
How our Cancer Care Services Can Help
Everything the Nurse Navigator does is under the guidance of your primary care practitioner and they remain in constant communication with the practitioners involved in your care.
Here is the typical process we follow:
1. Your primary care practitioner will contact our Nurse Navigator on your behalf to help facilitate your care.
2. The Nurse Navigator will schedule your tests, specialist and surgical appointments as directed by your primary care practitioner.
3. The Nurse Navigator will contact you within 24-48 hours to introduce herself, review your appointments, and answer any questions that you have. The Nurse Navigator will be your primary point of contact throughout your appointments.
4. All notes regarding appointments and conversations are kept in your central Community Care Physicians electronic health record.
5. If any tests are needed, the Nurse Navigator will meet you at ImageCare Medical Imaging if her schedule allows.
6. The Nurse Navigator will follow your test results or consult appointment notes and obtain any outside documentation for you and your primary care practitioner.
7. If cancer is confirmed, you are not alone. Our Nurse Navigator will collaborate with your primary care practitioner on referrals to surgery, medical oncology, and/or radiation oncology. You will hear directly from your primary care practitioner regarding your test results and our Nurse Navigator will help you with next steps and any appointments you need, as directed by your primary care practitioner.
We can help you determine which doctor or services you need, both within CCP and outside of our organization, if needed. For more information about our oncology services, please call our Oncology Nurse Navigator at (518) 213-0308.
Want to get to know our Nurse Navigator? Her name is Karen Houston and you can learn more about her by visiting our website here.
Sources:
https://www.aacrfoundation.org/Pages/february-is-national-cancer-prevention-month.aspx
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-basics/what-is-cancer.html