Oncology Patient Navigation Program

Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be a challenging and emotional time for you and your family. In addition to offering state-of-the-art care at the Montefiore St Luke’s Cornwall Littman Cancer Center, our navigators offer supportive service and guidance during your cancer care treatment and survivorship. As skilled and compassionate professionals, our navigators will assist you and your family to identify and overcome potential
physical, financial and social barriers, as well as build lasting relationships to promote community and emotional
well-being. Regardless of where you receive diagnosis and treatment, the Littman Cancer Center navigators are available for appointments to discuss your needs and ease your mind as you and your family move through this journey. Call (845) 458-4444 for more information.

WHAT IS A PATIENT NAVIGATOR?

Patient Navigators are specially-trained individuals that help guide and support you and your family through the
cancer care journey and recovery. Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be a challenging and emotional time for you and your family. As skilled and compassionate professionals, our navigators will assist you and your family to identify and overcome potential physical, financial and social barriers, as well as build lasting relationships to promote community and emotional well-being.

Regardless of where you receive diagnosis and treatment, the Littman Cancer Center navigators are available for appointments to discuss your needs and ease your mind as you and your family move through this journey.

HOW PATIENT NAVIGATORS ASSIST THROUGHOUT YOUR CANCER JOURNEY

In addition to offering state-of-the-art care at the Montefiore St Luke’s Cornwall Littman Cancer Center, our
navigators offer supportive service and guidance during your cancer care treatment and recovery. This individualized approach with our navigators helps us to ensure that you and your family’s concerns are met in
a timely manner. Our navigators are accessible to answer your questions and addressed any fears and anxiety that you may have.

The program assists with obtaining cancer related care and information including:

Community resources and support
Communication with healthcare staff and providers
Scheduling appointments or completing paperwork
Identifying and accessing eligibility for financial services (as applicable)
Emotional support
Referral to social services (as applicable)
Palliative Care support and services
Support groups

CANCER SURVIVORSHIP & SUPPORT

Cancer survivors are often identified as individuals that are cancer free following diagnosis and treatment or
undergoing long-term treatment for disease management. However, survivorship has been acknowledged to begin at diagnosis. Although millions of individuals and families have been impacted by this disease within their lifetime, many continue to struggle with readjusting to their new normal way of life after treatment. These adjustments may include addressing feelings and fears of recurrence as well as acceptance of physical changes to appearance or abilities. Living with a history of cancer is not experienced the same way among individuals and families. Yet, with guidance and support from loved ones and those within the helping profession, survivors and their families can lead a healthy and fulfilling way of life.

THE PHASES OF CANCER SURVIVORSHIP

Cancer survivorship consists of three phases: living through, with and beyond cancer.

Acute or Initial refers to the experience of receiving a cancer diagnosis and any treatment that may follow.
Patients can expect:

Exploring their options and undergoing treatment; this may include clinical trials.
Services and resources available to cope with emotional, psychological and financial concerns.

Extended or Living Through Cancer is the period following treatment in which the risk of cancer recurring
is relatively high. Many patients at this time fell relief that treatment has ended, however, may express worry because they are not visiting their oncologist regularly and feel that the cancer may return now that treatment has stopped. During this time patients usually:
• Visit their oncology physicians multiple times per year depending on their circumstances.
• Have successes and challenges readjusting to their new normal way of life.

Permanent or Living Beyond Cancer is when years have passed since cancer treatment has ended and there is less of a chance of recurrence. Long-term effects from cancer and treatment are the main focus. At this stage, many survivors express that they appreciate life more and are more accepting of themselves. However,
some become more anxious about their health. During this stage survivors:
• Return to the care of their primary physician.
• Develop a long-term health care plan with their cancer doctor and their primary physician.
• Receive survivorship care plan.
• Can always follow up and see their oncology team including their navigators

Survivorship Care Plan

Treatments and diagnoses are unique to each individual currently living with cancer or with a history of cancer.
Towards completion of treatment, patients typically receive a survivorship care plan that has been tailored
to reflect that uniqueness. The survivorship care plan is a detailed summary of the diagnosis, chemotherapy,
radiation, surgery and/or medications that were prescribed while undergoing active treatment. To better support this transition, our Nurse Navigator reviews each patient’s survivorship care plan with them to clarify and address any questions. A copy is sent to your primary care physician as well as your oncologists. Completing treatment does We you and your family to remain in contact with our Patient Navigation Team throughout your journey.

At the Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Littman Cancer Center, we are committed to offering the best available
services for our survivors and their families. We are proud of our affiliation with the American Cancer Society (ACS) which partners with us to provide additional resources to cancer patients such as the Ride to Recovery Program to arrange free rides to and from cancer treatments. In addition to nationally recognized resources, we work closely with community agencies such as Hudson Valley Cancer Resource Center, Friends of Seniors, Miles of Hope and Sparrow’s Nest to support our patients and their families throughout their cancer journey.
Our dedicated team continues to strive for excellence to ensure you and your family receive state of the art medical care, support and compassion.

To Learn more about the oncology navigation program at montefiore st. luke's cornwall, please call 845.458.4444.