No cancer navigator on South Shore means some patients are on their own

Without a cancer navigator in her area, Lunenburg, N.S., resident Jennifer Harrison is on her ownto manage hermany doctors appointments and medications, all while figuring outhow she's going to pay her billswhile off work.

The provincially funded navigator forLunenburgand Queens counties moved to a new position in Octoberand nobody has taken her place. While the Nova Scotia Health Authority says it's actively recruiting,for now, Harrison is finding an already complicated health-care systemeven more opaque.

"When things come up, not knowing which numbers to call, trying to find information on the internetand trying to co-ordinate all the information between various doctors and nurses,it's just been a little bit extra of a challenge,"Harrison told CBC's Information Morning.

Someone to listen

Harrison, a visual artist whose work has been featured on Lunenburg'svisitors guide, wasdiagnosed with breast cancer this past summer.

Since then, she'srelied on the cancer navigator to apply forfinancial assistance and co-ordinate with the many oncology doctors, nurses and surgeons.

The navigators have three main roles, according to the health authority, includingpatient and family education, symptom management and supportive care and co-ordination of care.

Harrison said she saw the cancer navigatoronce every three weeks at her chemotherapy appointments, and called her at least weekly.

She was someone who knew the system inside out, but also someone who listened.

"It's crappy. It's a really horrible process, and just knowing that there's someonethere who would put up with you going on about it in between actual concrete issues was a really good thing to have," she said.

It was Harrison's understanding that the position was a three-month contract.

Looking for specialized nurse

But Rob Zwicker, health services director for oncology for southwestern Nova Scotia, saidit's a full-time position that they'reworking hard to fill.

"We needed it yesterday, and I'd like to say tomorrow but you know, there's no guarantee there," said Zwicker.

He said the specialized positionrequiresyears of experience in oncology.

We needed it yesterday, and I'd like to say tomorrow but you know, there's no guarantee there.- Rob Zwicker, health services director

According to its website, Cancer Care Nova Scotia has nine cancer navigator positions in rural areas of the province.

They were created so people who aren't able to easily access theNova ScotiaCancer Clinic at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax could get the help they need beyond what a doctor provides.

That'swhy there's no singlecancer navigator for the Halifax region, which already has several people who do the work, said aspokespersonfor the health authority.

Not the only one

While the search for a replacement continues, Zwicker saidnurses and managers willhelp patients with any questions they might have.

"The manager, and myself, we understand the emotional support that families and patients need, but we're committed to making sure that we can help bridge that gap until we do recruit into this full-time position," he said.

But Harrison said when she called nurses this week looking for her oncologist's number,she worried she was bugging people who are already incredibly busy providing care to cancer patients.

"There's some people who are in a much harder position than I am who probably need a lot more help that can't be doing very well without someone in that role," said Harrison.