Walking with You as a Partner in Cancer Care

“You have cancer” might be the scariest sentence in the English language.

Fortunately, medicine has advanced so that many cancers that were seemingly impossible to treat even twenty years ago are now very survivable. That doesn’t make a diagnosis less scary, but it’s not just medicine that has advanced. The cancer treatment world has advanced to understand that while treating the disease itself is crucial, attending to the non-medical needs of the patient are equally important. Often, diagnosis of a disease is confusing, anxiety-inducing, and isolating.

As October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Tanglewood Moms is thrilled to introduce our readers to the Joan Katz Cancer Resource Center at Baylor Scott & White – Fort Worth. This amazing center exists to help alleviate the emotional trauma of a cancer diagnosis through education and support. From diagnosis to wellness, the Joan Katz Cancer Resource Center offers a multitude of programs designed to help patients throughout their entire cancer journey. That journey begins with the assignment of a patient navigator who will help steer the patient through all of the resource offerings, ensuring the best possible care and support.

Photo courtesy of Baylor Scott & White

These navigators, often survivors themselves, are personal guides who help patients coordinate medical appointments and access all of the resources the center offers, like yoga classes, art therapy sessions, weekly and monthly support group gatherings like the October Social Hours hosted each Thursday at different Fuzzy’s Tacos locations. They also provide the experience and sympathy of someone who knows what it’s like to walk the path to cancer recovery.

To truly understand the positive impact the center has on its patients, we asked breast cancer survivor and Patient Navigator Kristi Evans her thoughts on having and being a navigator. “As a breast cancer patient who was navigated through the Joan Katz Cancer Resource Center, I know the huge impact navigators have during a very vulnerable and scary time. My navigators provided me with personalized guidance, emotional support, and expert knowledge that helped me focus on healing with confidence while empowering me to make informed decisions. Now, as a Certified Breast Cancer Patient Navigator myself, I am able to use my past experience to continue to provide compassionate advocacy for others dealing with breast cancer. It is my goal that every patient feels cared for and loved throughout their entire journey and beyond into survivorship.”

Photo courtesy of Baylor Scott & White

It’s not just the patients and former patients-turned-navigators who understand the unparalleled value the center offers. The doctors and nurses charged with the medical care and treatment of cancer patients praise th center’s offerings. Perhaps Dr. Vaishali Kent puts it best when she says, “The Joan Katz Cancer Resource Center is an invaluable resource to our community. The navigators and counselors go above and beyond to make sure the needs of all their patients are met. The extensive number of services they offer, not just to educate patients but also to support patients are incredible. The staff is always available to help patients, whether they have just been diagnosed or are a 10-year survivor. I truly consider them a partner in the care for our patients.”

The Joan Katz Cancer Resource Center at Baylor Scott & White – Fort Worth is a godsend for cancer patients. The services and support they provide are exactly what a cancer patient needs when facing a scary diagnosis. The best part is all of these services and resources are provided free of charge regardless of where a patient receives their direct medical care. To learn more about how they can help you or a loved one, please visit www.BSWHealth.com or call 817.922.2223.

Photo courtesy of Baylor Scott & White