A common feeling among patients diagnosed with cancer is a sense of being alone, of not being able to share their concerns, anxieties and fears, even with family and loved ones. That situation and the importance of being empowered through information and common experiences is the basis for the emphasis that Riverside Cancer Care Network places on education and support. This support includes individual and highly personalized assistance with navigating the complexities of the healthcare system, programs that focus on the emotional needs of patients and the people at home who help provide their care, art and expressive therapies, web resources related to cancer care and a number of lung cancer support groups for patients and family members and friends.
The Patient Navigation Program
Riverside Cancer Care’s Patient Navigation program helps guide patients and their families through the health care system in general and the lung cancer experience in particular.
Francie Verniel, BS, RN, OCN Lung Cancer Navigator | 757-298-0704 | [email protected]
Christine Johnson, BSN, RN, OCN Lung Cancer Navigator for Middle Peninsula | 804-791-3298 | [email protected]
Wigs
Hair loss is often the most recognizable side effect of cancer treatments, but it is not experienced by every patient. Most insurance companies help cover the costs of wigs (technically known as “cranial prosthetics”!), but the American Cancer Society and other support organizations can also help you obtain a wig if you need one.