Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be life-changing and overwhelming for patients and families, bringing emotional and financial strain in addition to medical challenges.
Mary Garcia, a patient at OhioHealth, is living with three cancers at once: thyroid cancer, lung cancer and melanoma. She was first diagnosed with thyroid cancer at 41, received a lung cancer diagnosis a few years later, and learned this spring, at 59, that melanoma had spread to her lymph nodes. “I was hoping to subtract. Let’s get something off the table here. But, no,” Garcia told Zach Tuggle at Mansfield News Journal.
To help patients navigate care, OhioHealth has prioritized a team of oncology navigators who coordinate medical, social and financial support. Gillian Garverick, a social work navigator, addresses patients’ social and emotional needs and connects them with local resources.
“If a patient were to come and say, ‘I can’t afford rent, I can’t get groceries, I can’t get to my appointments,’ I’d be the go-to to help them get connected with local resources,” Garverick said.
Financial strain is a common concern. “It does get expensive,” Garcia said. “I have no income other than very minimal, which is not even enough to pay the bills.”
Tammy McChristy-Weaver, an oncology nurse navigator, helps patients understand medical terminology and treatment steps while providing support. “One of those barriers is health literacy,” McChristy-Weaver said. “They know the word ‘cancer,’ but what does that look like for me? How do I go from point A to point B?”
Support needs vary by patient, and navigators often help those who struggle to move past the initial diagnosis. OhioHealth also provides financial assistance, including gas gift cards, to reduce barriers to care. Garcia said the gift cards have been a meaningful help and a reminder of support. “This is a path that I have to walk, and I don’t have a choice, but there are people out there willing to help,” she said. “I’ve always been told God sends somebody to your door for a reason, and I believe that. He sent me my angels, that’s for sure.”
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