Cancer Navigation Services
Have you or a member of your family been diagnosed with cancer?
A cancer diagnosis can be shocking and deeply distressing for patients and their families. We want you to know that the Navigation Service team is here to assist and support you and your family through this journey.
Cancer Navigation Services
- Facilitates timely and appropriate access to the cancer care system
- Guide and support cancer patients and their families through the entire cancer journey
- Works closely with the entire health care team to coordinate care and help patient’s access referrals, resources, and other helpful supports.
- Supports patients to make informed decisions
Each Regional Cancer Program “Hub” has a navigation team, which includes Family Physicians in oncology (FPO), Surgical Lead in Oncology, Nurse Navigators, Oncology Social Worker/Psychosocial Oncology Clinicians and Registered Dietitian. The Hubs in Prairie Mountain Health are located in Brandon at the Western Manitoba Cancer Centre and in Dauphin.
Navigation Team Members
The role of Nurse Navigators is to:
- Work closely with a patient’s health-care team to offer patients and their family members information, guidance and support from the time of a clinical suspicion of cancer through the diagnostic period and treatment.
- Help patients understand their diagnosis and care plan in order to make informed decisions.
- Help co-ordinate and prepare patients for tests and appointments.
The role of the Oncology Social Worker/Psychosocial Oncology Clinician is to assist patients and families in coping with the impact of cancer with:
- Emotional support – explore feelings of fear, worry, anxiety, sadness, stress, anger uncertainty
- Psychological support – impact of of cancer in your life, body image, self esteem
- Social support – talking with family, managing work and/or school
- Providing counselling to patients and their family members
- Providing information on practical issues, financial, resources, transportation, and support programs.
The role of the Registered Dietitian is to assist and provide nutrition education to patients who may:
- Want information on your specific nutritional needs during cancer treatment,
- Experience unwanted weight loss or weight gain,
- Have difficulty with food or fluid intake because of treatment side effects such as poor appetite, taste changes, nausea, dry mouth, swallowing or chewing problems, constipation, diarrhea, etc.
- Want to try commercial nutritional supplements or other specialized nutritional products to improve your nutritional intake,
- Have questions about vitamin and mineral supplements or natural health products,
- Be dealing with other medical conditions that require a special diet (e.g. diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, food allergies, etc.),
- Have general questions about healthy eating or a healthy diet after cancer treatment.
The role of the Community Engagement Liaison (CEL) is to:
- build relationships at the community level, increase awareness about cancer risk reduction and help communities become more knowledgeable about Cancer services and resources.
Patients can be referred to Prairie Mountain Health Cancer Navigation Services by:
- Self-referral or by family members
- Family physicians, surgeons, nurses or other members of the healthcare team
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Cancer Navigation Services, Prairie Mountain Health at 1-855-346-3710 (toll free).