Navigating Cancer Treatment: MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Offers Dedicated Support
Portland, ME – A cancer diagnosis is a life-altering event, frequently enough accompanied by fear, confusion, and a deluge of complex medical facts. Making informed decisions about treatment can feel overwhelming.At MaineHealth Maine Medical Center, a dedicated team is working to ease that burden, offering comprehensive support through their Patient Navigator program.
Maine Medical Center understands that exploring all available options is crucial. To that end, they provide dedicated Patient Navigators - specialized oncology nurses and social workers – to individuals diagnosed with a wide range of cancers, including:
* Breast Cancer
* Skin Cancer: Melanoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma
* Gynecologic Cancers: Ovarian, Uterine, Fallopian Tube, Cervical, Endometrial, Vaginal, Vulvar, and Primary Peritoneal
* genitourinary Cancers: Bladder, Kidney, Testicular, Penile, and Prostate
* thoracic Cancers: Lung and Esophageal
* Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers: Biliary, Liver, Pancreas, and Stomach
* Lower Gastrointestinal cancers: Colorectal and Appendix
* Head and Neck cancers: Larynx, Tonsil, Tongue, Lip, Nasopharynx, and Oropharynx
What Does a patient navigator Do?
Patient Navigators serve as a vital link between patients and the complex world of cancer care. They are committed to ensuring patients and their families have the information needed to make confident, timely decisions about their treatment plan - all at no cost.
Specifically, Maine Medical Center’s Patient Navigators will:
* Address Concerns & Answer Questions: Provide a safe space to discuss anxieties and clarify any uncertainties.
* Explain Treatment Options: clearly outline available treatment pathways, grounded in both national and local clinical guidelines.
* Explore Clinical Trial Opportunities: Discuss potential participation in relevant clinical trials.
* Facilitate Specialist Consultations: Arrange appointments with the appropriate specialists for comprehensive care.
* Provide Educational Resources: Offer access to informative materials regarding diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing follow-up care.
Beyond Clinical Guidance: Accessing Community Support
mainehealth Maine Medical Center also offers an American Cancer Society (ACS) Patient Navigator who focuses on connecting patients with essential community resources. This navigator specializes in overcoming barriers to care, including:
* language and cultural differences
* Transportation challenges
* Financial hardship
* Insurance complexities
* Access to support groups, home health services, respite care, and hospice.
For more information about the ACS Patient Navigator program, or to make a referral, please call 207-396-8335.
Source: MaineHealth Maine Medical Center
Keywords: Cancer Treatment, Patient Navigation, Maine Medical Center, Cancer Support, Oncology, Cancer Diagnosis, Clinical Trials, cancer Resources, American Cancer Society.
