SERVICE NAVIGATORS

Everyone reacts differently to cancer therapy. While some people continue their work and home routines on a fairly normal schedule during treatment, others may experience surprising or debilitating side effects. You or your loved one may fall somewhere in-between.

Service Navigator social workers help connect patients who have non-medical problems with solutions.

For example, chemotherapy can change your appearance. Sometimes, the solution is as simple as learning how to apply make-up to improve skin tone and apply eyebrows and blush to lift your spirit and restore your confidence. Hair loss is a major issue for most people. If your insurance doesn't cover the cost of a wig, we can help you find sources that may offer free or low-cost wigs and turbans.



Transportation to and from treatment may be difficult for some patients. Our social workers will help connect those who need a ride with volunteers who are happy to drive.

It's hard enough to fight cancer without having to worry about expenses and fight your insurance company, too. Or for the uninsured, Service Navigator social workers can help tap into resources that offer low-cost or no-cost medications. They'll also provide information about Medicaid and other state aid programs.




Keeping your strength up when nothing tastes good can be a challenge. We assist in identifying services like Meals on Wheels and other community food programs to be sure you have a balanced diet. And we'll introduce you to exercises you can do – even simple things like stretching or lifting small weights while watching television that can restore strength.

Service Navigator also offers patients and caregivers a list of agencies, community resources and non-governmental services that complement our services with additional resources for cancer patients.

SERVICE NAVIGATOR LINKS

To avoid duplication of services, we partner with other area groups to help patients find what they need. Some of those groups and a summary of their services follow:

Cancer Hope Network CancerHopeNetwork.org
Matches patients with trained volunteers who have undergone and recovered from a similar experience

American Cancer Society Cancer.org
Provides a variety of services to patients and families. Programs include: Cancer Survivors Network, Look Good. Feel Better in English and Spanish as well as Reach to Recovery, a rehabilitation program for men and women who have or had breast cancer.

ENCORE YWCA.org
Offers exercise programs and discussion to restore physical strength and emotional well-being to women who have had breast cancer surgery.

Fertile Hope FertileHope.org
Provides reproductive information, support and hope to cancer patients whose treatments present the risk of infertility.

Hospice Education Institute HospiceWorld.org
Serves those who are interested in improving and expanding hospice and palliative care by educating and informing.

It's The Journey ItsTheJourney.org
Strengthens Atlanta's breast cancer community by raising money and awareness for local organizations that focus on breast cancer education, research, early detection, awareness and support services, as well as the unmet needs in the breast cancer community.

Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) LiveStrong.org
Provides resources and support services to cancer patients and their families including the Cancer Profile, a free interactive treatment decision support tool. The LAF also provides research grants for increased understanding of cancer and cancer survivorship.

Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) LBBC.org
Aims to empower women living with breast cancer to live as long as possible with the best quality of life. The LBBC offers an interactive message board and information about upcoming conferences and teleconferences on its website. LBBC also offers a quarterly newsletter, a book for African American women living with breast cancer, a toll-free Survivors' Helpline and the Young Survivors' Network for women age 45 or younger.

National Breast Cancer Coalition StopBreastCancer.org
Educates and trains individual to become advocates who can effectively influence state and federal policies that affect breast cancer research and treatment.

National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) CancerAdvocacy.org
Offers support to survivors and their loved ones through information on cancer support, advocacy and quality-of-life issues. Some of the website and publications are available in Spanish.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) NHPCO.org
Increases awareness about hospice services and champions the rights and issues of terminally ill patients and their family members through discussion groups, publications and information about how to find a hospice as well as the financial aspects. Some Spanish-language publications and Spanish-speaking staff are available.

National Patient Travel Center (NPTC) PatientTravel.org
Facilitates patient access to charitable medical air transportation resources in the United States. Also offers information about commercial airline discounts for patients and escorts, operates Special-Lift and Child-Lift programs and brings ambulatory patients to the United States from many overseas locations.

Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) PatientAdvocate.org
Provides education, legal counseling and referrals to cancer patients and survivors regarding managed care, insurance, financial issues, job discrimination and debt crisis matters. Call toll-free: 1-866-512-3861.

Sisters Network, Inc. SistersNetworkInc.org
Seeks to increase local and national attention to the impact that breast cancer has in the African American community. All chapters are run by breast cancer survivors with volunteer support from community leaders and associate members.

The Wellness Community TheWellnessCommunity.org
Provides free psychological and emotional support to cancer patients and their families through support groups with licensed therapists, stress reduction and cancer education workshops, nutrition guidance, exercise sessions and social events.

Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization™, Inc. Y-ME.org
Provides information and support to anyone who has been touched by breast cancer with local chapters throughout the United States. National hotline available 24/7: 1-800-221-2141 (English) or 1-800-986-9505 (Spanish).