About Us

CANCER NAVIGATORS™

CANCER NAVIGATORS™ Nurse, Service and Education Navigation programs assist anyone who seeks knowledge about cancer or needs to reclaim his or her life before, during and after treatments.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

At the heart of CANCER NAVIGATORS™ is the recognition that the real purpose of medicine lies in service that seeks to heal as well as to cure.

We are creating a sustainable system of services to anyone whose life is touched by cancer. We provide reassurance, resources and renewal to the cancer community of Northwest Georgia.

OUR HISTORY

In 2002, following his Fellowship in Integrative Oncology with Dr. Andrew Weil at the University of Arizona, Dr. Matt Mumber founded Many Streams Healing Systems in Northeast Georgia to provide supportive care that could unite and empower those who were fighting cancer.

Welcoming people of all faiths or no faith, these warm and wonderful retreats and workshops offered people touched by cancer a safe haven for reflection, spirituality, and knowledge. The programs encouraged and empowered those who participated to face their futures with renewed strength.

By 2005, the dream expanded with the realization that people fighting cancer need more than retreats and workshops. They need help at every level to "navigate" the entire spectrum of cancer prevention, treatment and off-therapy care.

CANCER NAVIGATORS™

• Offers patients and caregivers practical resources and guidance
  
• Takes time to consider the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of each person's unique situation
  
• Provides support for groups and individuals who share common challenges
  
• Introduces evidence-based education to patients, families and the community about complementary therapies, prevention, and health maintenance

As of 2008 we currently employ 2 Nurse Navigators to serve patients facing breast and lung cancer. Community programs were developing. And the capital campaign to raise the necessary funds for the future was underway.

THE FUTURE: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Our dreams are big.

By 2010, we expect to serve more than 1,000 cancer patients in Floyd, Polk and Chattooga counties where the cancer statistics are staggering. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 800 people in our service area will be diagnosed with cancer each year and 340 members of our community will die.

Meeting our fundraising goal of $2.2 million before 2010 will enable us to give many additional patients the assistance of Nurse and Service Navigators. It also will help us provide pharmaceuticals and durable medical equipment to those who need supplies they cannot afford to purchase or rent.

Adequate funding will enable us to touch all levels of the healing experience -- body, mind and spirit -- in ways that assists patients' responses to medical therapies. We need your help. Support of CANCER NAVIGATORS™ can take many forms including volunteering, cash donations (including gifts of stock and bonds), estate and in-kind gifts and even establishing annuities.

Only a special community like Northwest Georgia with its highly advanced medical systems could create CANCER NAVIGATORS™.

It will take a humanitarian and dedicated community effort to sustain the CANCER NAVIGATORS™ mission of support, service and education across the continuum of cancer.

You can help. For more information click here.

OUR STAFF

Dan Sweitzer, Acting Executive Director
Cheryl Ranwez, Administrative Director
Ann Hook, R.N., Nurse Navigator
Patty Moran, R.N., Nurse Navigator
Denise Powers, LCSW, Service Navigator

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dee Yancey, Board Chair
Tommy Simpson, Vice Chair, Nurse Navigation Chair
Matt Mumber, Education Navigation Chair
Annette Clairy, Service Navigation Chair
Craig McDaniel, Secretary
Skip Howse, Treasurer
Dan Sweitzer, Acting Executive Director

Reed Biggers
Barritt Gilbert
Bonnie Hammond
Virginia Harman
Wesley Johnson
Kim Mauer
Marlin Payne
Mimi Richards
Kandi Riddle
Nim Russell
Fay Ellen Steelnack
Lee Walburn
Brenda Waltz
Thad Watters
Ann White
Dot Williams