By Alan Lytle
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wuky/local-wuky-957762.mp3
Lexington, KY – The University of Kentucky's Markey Cancer Center is teaming up with the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca, to offer patients something they can't find anywhere else in the Commonwealth. Center Director Dr. Mark Evers says Markey is now home to the only ACS Patient Navigator Program.
"When patients are dropped off at the door and they have a slip of paper that says they need to see doctor x and then go see doctor y now someone's really helping them navigate through that process. It's scary enough to have cancer but then to come to a place that you don't know that's big and looks quite large and a maze sometimes, to have those types of services are really important."
Melanie Wilson has been Markey's ACS patient navigator for a little over three months.
"Just the other day I talked to a lady I let her know that she could come to the American Cancer Society and get a wig free of charge, as well as a prosthetic and a turban or a scarf and she was just overwhelmed. She couldn't believe that that was actually available to her."
In addition to providing one on one support, Wilson says the program allows patients, their families, even caregivers, to focus more of their energies on healing.