A Cancer Navigator’s Guide to Diagnosis, Treatment, and Beyond

A cancer diagnosis brings not only physical and emotional challenges but also financial, logistical, and legal complexities. Navigating cancer treatment can feel overwhelming, from understanding insurance coverage to managing time off work and coordinating care. That’s why having a strong support system—whether through medical professionals, financial advisors,  loved ones, or a cancer sherpa—is essential. 

In this guide, we’ll explore the key types of support available to help patients and caregivers through every step of the journey. 

1. Medical Support

• Initial Cancer Care Evaluation (Visit Our Initial Cancer Care Evaluation Page)

• • An oncology navigator can explain the significance of a thorough initial evaluation to chart the treatment course and highlight services that assist in understanding diagnoses and planning treatments
    • Preliminary Diagnosis to Confirmed Diagnosis
      • Review of preliminary diagnosis/prognosis
      • Do you need a second opinion(s)? 
      • Do you need additional tests or scans to get a confirmed diagnosis?
    • Provider/Hospital/Medical Center
      • Evaluation of your current cancer provider/care team
      • Evaluation of your current hospital/medical center
      • Treatment and trial options at your current hospital/medical center

• Specialist and Treatment Recommendations (Visit Our Services Page)

• • Emphasize the need for personalized treatment plans and illustrate the role of cancer navigators in connecting patients with appropriate specialists, hospitals, etc.
    • Locate, discuss, and facilitate care from the oncologist, oncological surgeons, and transplant units that only treat patients and conduct research on your type of cancer
    • Locate, discuss, and facilitate treatment at one of seventy-two National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers that offer 
      • Cutting-edge treatment
      • Extensive trial options
      • Conduct laboratory and clinical research especially for complex cancer cases
    • Locate, discuss, and facilitate all treatment and trial options
      • There are ten different ways to treat cancer, and more are being developed and tested in clinical trials daily
      • The most cutting-edge and effective treatments for your type of cancer may not be available to you unless you are at a Cancer Center with an oncologist, oncological surgeon, or transplant unit that can perform that specific surgery/treatment or administer the trial treatment/drug to you

2. Insurance, Financial, and Legal Support 

• Insurance Planning: Assessing current insurance coverage, identifying potential gaps, and explore options for additional coverage if necessary
• Financial Assistance: Understanding the financial burdens of treatment and available resources to alleviate costs and best use of current assets
• Legal Planning: Highlighting the importance of legal documents like medical power of attorney, wills, and financial power of attorney, etc., as well as providing resources for legal assistance during treatment
• Visit Our Insurance, Financial & Legal Planning Page 

3. Health, Wellness, and Logistical Support

• Mental Health Services: Discussing the role of individual and family therapy in coping with emotional and physical challenges and showcasing the benefits of joining survivor support groups for shared experiences
  • Telling friends and family about cancer diagnosis
  • Establishing boundaries around treatment decisions and navigating response from friends and family
  • Daily coping mechanisms for living with cancer
• Physical Health and Wellness: Importance of nutrition and fitness during treatment and how services like physical and occupational therapy help maintain function and quality of life
• Logistical Services: An oncology navigator provides assistance with scheduling and managing appointments, support with daily tasks, meal/grocery delivery, and transportation to treatment, etc.
• Visit Our Health, Wellness & Logistical Services Page 

4. In-Home and Palliative Care

• In-Home Care
  • Locating an in-home caretaker to provide relief from side effects of cancer and cancer treatment that are physically or mentally overwhelming
• Palliative Care
  • Locating and managing an additional layer of comfort and support to manage pain during the healing process after surgery, certain cancer treatments, and advanced disease
• Visit Our In-Home & Palliative Care Page 

5. After Treatment Support

• Transitioning to Post-Treatment Life
  • Guidance on lifestyle adjustments and building new routines, scheduling and managing follow-up appointments
• Ongoing Health and Wellness
  • Continued mental health support and participation in survivor groups; maintaining physical health through nutrition, fitness, and other therapies
• Visit Out After Treatment Support Page

A comprehensive support system—whether through medical guidance, financial planning, mental health resources, or logistical assistance—can make all the difference in easing the burdens of cancer treatment. Help is here–don’t hesitate to contact us for the support you need to confidently navigate your journey.