ST. LOUIS — Like weathering a storm in life, battling a breast cancer diagnosis can be frightening. But Susan G. Komen has patient navigators to help show the way.
Butterfly Beginnings’ mission statement reads, “to provide support and resources to help navigate the journey to wellness for breast cancer patients.” The non-profit helps newly-diagnosed people navigate financial resources, mental health support, and other unanticipated issues.
Nedra McPherson is a patient navigator at that non-profit she founded, and at her day job at Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine.
“So, picture Charlie Brown,” said McPherson, “when you hear the teachers talking, ‘Wah, wah, wah.’ That's what newly-diagnosed cancer patients are hearing, because it’s brand new to them. They need someone by their side to help them to navigate the way, navigate their way through where they are, and be able to understand the terms that the doctor is explaining to them.”
Komen Development Director Dawna Currigan describes the importance of the role.
“Someone who is in active treatment or is newly diagnosed would be assigned a patient navigator who helps that person from the very start of their journey all the way through treatment,” said Currigan. “The are helping navigate insurance, doctor's appointments and other types of support services, like maybe they need lymphedema garments, or a wig, or prosthetics.”
Komen officials say the amount of money they raise for breast cancer research is second only to the federal government. McPherson says Komen stands out when it comes to patient navigation, as well.
“They are a trailblazer,” said McPherson. “When I started my second year here, they were able to pay for me to go to New York to see Dr. Harold Freeman, the navigation guru, who started up patient navigation. So that enabled me to do the best work I can, in my job at BJC, or in nonprofit organization.”
McPherson pointed out that members of Butterfly Beginnings’ board of directors and volunteers go through Komen’s patient navigation program, so they have a sense of what newly-diagnosed breast cancer patients are contending with.
The Susan G. Komen breast cancer fundraising “More Thank Pink Walk” happened in St. Louis, on June 8. Breast cancer survivors and their loved ones and supporters turned out in Tower Grove Park just in time for the rain to quit, and the sun to shine.