Navigating the Cancer Journey at Community Memorial

Cancer Nurse Navigators support patients and their families every step of the way

A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming and scary. Suddenly, you have to schedule multiple appointments, learn about treatment options, and make important decisions that impact your long-term health and wellbeing. Where do you start?

It’s a lot to process, but at Community Memorial, patients and their families are not alone on their cancer journey – our Cancer Nurse Navigator is here to help. A Cancer Nurse Navigator is a registered nurse with special training and experience in cancer care who guides patients and their loved ones through every phase – from diagnosis and treatment to recovery and beyond.

With over 27 years of oncology nursing experience, Community Memorial Cancer Nurse Navigator, Cheryl Ryan, is uniquely qualified to advocate for cancer patients. She has held many oncology-related positions during her nursing career, including in oncology patient care, outpatient infusion nursing, as a charge nurse, and in clinical trials.

“I felt a strong calling to oncology patients,” said Cheryl. “They are a very special group of people, and oncology nursing is extremely rewarding.”

A Cancer Nurse Navigator is a registered nurse who helps patients, families, and caregivers with all aspects of cancer care. This includes:

• Coordinating appointments, tests, and treatment plans
• Obtaining medical records and ensuring records are at the doctor’s office when the patient arrives
• Educating patients and facilitating informed decision-making
• Providing emotional support
• Advocating for patients and their families so any barriers to care are identified and overcome
• Working with the Community Memorial team of oncology physicians, radiation oncologists, surgeons, pathologists, dieticians, palliative care team members, and social workers
• Helping patients participate in clinical trials as part of their treatment
• Accessing resources including transportation, home care, and nutritional support

“A patient benefits simply by having someone on their side,” said Cheryl. “It helps to reduce anxiety and stress. My goal is to alleviate patients’ fears and help achieve the best outcomes for them.”

“It’s very important to teach patients to be their own advocates, to empower them to take control of their health and make informed decisions.”

On a typical day, Cheryl might get a referral for a new oncology patient from a physician, a Community Memorial health center, or a social worker. She will call the patient or visit them in the hospital and answer all their questions. She will begin to educate the patient about their cancer diagnosis, treatment options, possible treatment side effects, and how to manage those side effects.

“It’s very important to teach patients to be their own advocates,” said Cheryl. “I try to empower them to take control of their health and make informed decisions.”

Cheryl can accompany a patient to a doctor’s appointment and take notes at the appointment to review with the patient afterward, making sure the patient understands everything from the appointment. She might also refer a patient to Community Memorial’s Cancer Resource Center for a support group, nutrition consultation, Reiki, or other services the center offers.

Community Memorial Cancer Program

As well as offering assistance from a Cancer Nurse Navigator, Community Memorial offers all major diagnostic and treatment modalities for cancer patients, including the latest imaging technology, advanced surgical treatment, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The Cancer Resource Center provides a variety of information and support services for patients and their families. The cancer program is overseen by Community Memorial’s Cancer Committee, a group of dedicated physicians and clinical experts involved in patient care.

Accredited by the Joint Commission on Cancer, Community Memorial’s Cancer Program has received special commendations for providing prevention and early detection programs, submitting data to the National Cancer Database, following best practice patient management and treatment guidelines, and analyzing patient outcomes.

Patients don’t need a referral to visit Cheryl for support. Walk-in visits to her office at 2900 Loma Vista Road are welcome. Cheryl can also be reached at 805-948-5459.