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Special Advertising Section Nurse Navigators Help Patients Understand Their Choices www.horsesandhope.org To be understood and to understand — that's a basic need for breast cancer patients. They want to understand their choices — and select the options which are best for them — and to have someone understand their fear and emotional pain. At Baptist Health Louisville, nurse navigators serve as a bridge between the physician and the patient, helping to sort through the treatment choices: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy and breast reconstruction. After treatment options include support groups and exercise rehabilitation. For the newly diagnosed, this range of choices can be overwhelming at a time when they are under a great deal of stress. Ideally, the nurse navigator sits in with the patient and physician as treatment is discussed. This way, the navigator can record what's said, and help the patient know what to expect. At Baptist Health Louisville, all breast cancer patients are offered the services of a nurse navigator as soon as biopsy results are in. For those opting for a mastectomy, a separate educational session is offered to prepare for their postoperative care. Interested patients can take advantage of free counseling from a licensed marriage & family therapist. The nurse navigator stays in contact with the patient before, during and after treatment and informs them of valuable resources including support groups such as Sharing Our Stories and Living Beyond. Additional referrals may be needed to help with fnancial or transportation concerns, dietary issues or other matters. Other benefts of Baptist Health's cancer program: • A specially trained dietitian teaches Breast Cancer Nutrition classes on the last Monday of each month from 2-3 p.m. in the hospital's Education Center. • Access to leading edge diagnostics, treatment and research through clinical trials. The program is fully accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), administered by the American College of Surgeons. Baptist Health's cancer program is also accredited through the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. • The Breast Care Center, designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by www.makingstrideslouisville.org 10 2013 Breast Health Section