Cancer patients in rural Alberta are getting personalized help to cope with their diagnosis and the challenges they face while recovering.
Jane Verot was diagnosed with breast cancer last November and says the experience was life changing.
“Your journey is a different one now, in terms of everything in what you eat, even your career,” said Verot.
Arlene Throness is Verot’s cancer navigator.
Throness is a registered nurse and guides patients through everything from treatment to finding drug coverage.
She even helps them find convenient parking and says for many a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming.
“We basically seem to take over their lives. We tell them where to go, what to do and they just go with the flow. This way we can involved them in their care and make sure that they’re getting their questions answered and try and bring some clarity to the confusion,” said Throness.
“I know she geniunely cares. I hear that in her voice and I just know she's there. I can pick up the phone any time and it feels like she’s just, she’s kind of like my personal nurse,” said Verot.
Fifteeen rural cancer centres now have patient navigators.
Similiar programs have been available in Calgary for a number of years.
(With files from Karen Owen)
