GALLATIN NEWS EXAMINER
THE ROLE OF THE BREAST HEALTH NAVIGATOR » Understanding diagnosis and available treatment options » Understanding what resources are available » Overcoming barriers and coordinating care with the entire health-care team, including surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, plastic surgeons, genetic counselors, support groups, dieticians, physical/lymphedema therapists and radiologists » Understanding medications » Connecting patients with outside resource centers such as the American Cancer Society, PearlPoint cancer support, YMCA ABC program, Susan G. Komen, and Gilda’s Club for group support and breast cancer-related products —Source: Sarah Cannon TriStar HCA
THE BATTLE AGAINST BREAST CANCER
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2013 •
Navigator aids breast cancer patients Hospital aims to provide a guide through each step By Hollie Deese For Sumner County Publications
When women are expecting a baby, there is no shortage of help, guidance and advice to get them through each and every step, from conception to birth. In many cases, they have been planning for this moment. But for women who receive an abnormal reading on a mammogram or are stopped in their tracks by an unusual self-exam, there is no plan. TriStar, which operates Hendersonville Medical Center, is aiming to change all of that by moving toward having a breast health navigator on site at all of its facilities. Sarah Cannon, the oncology service line for Tri-
Star, is implementing navigators in the Nashville area and across all of their hospitals to help breast cancer patients from discovery to recovery. Trained in breast cancer care, navigators guide and support patients and their loved ones through it all, bringing together all multidisciplinary team members involved in a patient’s care. Mary Visceglia, the breast health navigator at the Hendersonville hospital, wants people to know right from the start that she is there to help. “I want someone not to be afraid of coming in for mammograms because of what the might find,” she said. “They will have a tremendous amount of support, regardless of the results, and someone is going to be with them every step of the way. My patients are extremely strong. And that’s probably the hardest part — you’re taking
any sort of decision-making out of this, and that’s what really throws them off.” Duties that fall into Visceglia’s day-to-day job can be anything from helping patients get their insurance pre-certified, helping them find a support group, talking with scared family members and even going with patients to follow-up appointments. Basically, anything they need. “The navigation part is quite literal,” Visceglia says. “I capture people when they are recommended for biopsies. I help them make the appointments. I find out if they are anxious and talk them through it, and let them know to expect. I want there to be no surprises.” If a patient’s biopsy is indeed cancer, Visceglia helps pair them with a surgeon. “Most of the referrals come from the primary care physician, but I will touch base with
Sumner woman fights cancer »INSPIRATION FROM 1C was diagnosed. Her colleagues at the Twice Daily store off New Shackle Island Road said they hope to end up sharing shifts with her each week. “She’s amazing,” coworker Jennifer Ferrell said. “Even before she got sick, you’d always want to be here working with Janice. She dances around, speaks in different accents and makes work fun. She’ll do anything for you. She’ll do anything for anybody.”
‘Best news’ Before she was diagnosed with breast cancer, the most serious medical condition Smith had endured was a benign cyst that was removed from her ovary in 2012. Still, the news wasn’t that surprising to her. “Both sides of my family are loaded with pretty much every kind of cancer,” she said. Pancreatic cancer killed her father in 2006. Her mother battled breast cancer in 2009,
though she died the next year from heart failure. Cousins, uncles, aunts and a grandfather have also faced the disease. Because of its prevalence in her life, Smith does not fear the word “cancer.” “I’ve heard cancer so much in my life, I said, ‘Oh well, let’s kick its butt,’ ” she said. Despite her family history, Smith said tests showed her cancer was not genetic, a revelation she referred to as “wild.” She thought of her daughter and granddaughter, and was ecstatic that they might avoid enduring the same hardship. “That’s about the best news I heard from all of it,” she said.
Chemotherapy Doctors removed a tumor in June and tests showed the cancerous cells had not spread. They also removed three lymph nodes under her right arm, where one cancerous microcell was detected. As a precaution, Smith began four rounds of chemotherapy in July. The procedures have
them either before or during that first appointment if they need any MRIs,” she said. “The physician’s office will often ask me to help facilitate scheduling those.” If patients need chemo, she spends time talking with them about the side effects and helps them find an understanding place to get a wig. Post-mastectomy, Visceglia helps them find the right place to get the necessary undergarments. “I go to at least a couple of their first follow-ups with the surgeon just to see if there’s anything I can help with,” she said. “Back in the day, there would be one or two doctors who would be involved. Now, even under the best of circumstances, you are talking about up to five if you go to the plastic surgeon at some point. I am someone they can always call with a question.”
ONLINE See video of Janice Smith at HendersonvilleStarNews and GallatinNewsExaminer.com.
anice Smith, who is battling breast cancer, often jokes with her supervisor Jim Fitzgerald that he’s no longer winning “the sexiest bald head contest.” DESSISLAVA YANKOVA/SUMNER COUNTY PUBLICATIONS
drained her energy and appetite. “Right when you start feeling good again and get your appetite back, they zap you back down,” Smith said. “Everything would smell good, and I’d want to eat, but as soon as I put it in my mouth, it tastes like sour glue. ... It’s like trying to get rid of the worst flu you’ve ever
A new provider for our community Jennifer B. Fowler, ANP-BC,MSN
had.” She drinks a lot of liquids to supplement her diet, has lost feeling in her fingertips and might lose her nails soon. In general, she feels like “crud,” she said. “My colleagues help me a lot because I have to sit down a few times a day,” Smith said. “(My energy) is slowly coming back.”
But colleague Heather Hesson said rather than being a burden, Smith has energized her coworkers. “She’s one of the most uplifting persons I know,” she said. “Even while she’s going through it, she says, ‘Is there anything I can do to help you?’ ” Working with Smith is “like being on a trip to Disneyland” because she is so fun to be around, and the support from customers has been “absolutely amazing,” said her supervisor Jim Fitzgerald. “You’d have to see it to believe it,” he said. “She hasn’t changed a bit. The illness has not affected her mind, personality and sense of humor one bit. She’s a fun, loving, optimistic, charismatic individual.” Reach Dessislava Yankova at 575-7170 or dyankova@mtcngroup.com.
TriStar Medical Group Hendersonville Medicine Associates is pleased to announce the addition of Jennifer B. Fowler, ANP-BC, MSN,
to its team of qualified medical providers. With a passion for Women’s Health, Jennifer is focused on preventative health screenings for women starting at age 16. Call today to set up an appointment! 615-822-6701
TN-0000938882
3C
TriStarMedGroup.com