Patients are often confused about steps following a diagnosis. So CRMC added a cancer resource center.

By Michelle Dynes
mdynes@wyomingnews.com


CHEYENNE - Cancer patients will have a new resource for information next Monday.

Cheyenne Regional Medical Center and the Wyoming chapter of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation created a resource library and boutique to assist patients, families and caretakers after a doctor says, "You have cancer."

The diagnosis is overwhelming, said Leonard Geringer, manager for radiation therapy at CRMC and co--chair for the 2008 Komen Wyoming Race for the Cure. He added that it's often difficult for patients to find credible information. But the next steps are crucial.

Patients must select a treatment option, whether it is surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or a combination of treatments. Women with breast cancer who have chosen surgery must decide between a lumpectomy and a mastectomy.

Geringer said the goal for the resource center is to give patients a place to begin. The idea isn't anything new. Hospitals across the country host similar offices, sometimes within a larger comprehensive cancer care center, where patients also can get radiation therapy and visit with medical oncologists.

Cheyenne's boutique features free wigs, scarves, hats and turbans for those undergoing cancer treatments. The resource library contains books on a variety of cancers, computers and a breast health navigator to help with the search.

Geringer said breast, prostate and lung cancer are the most common forms of the disease within his department. He added that hiring a breast cancer specialist is a good place to start. Two grants from the Komen Foundation paid for the library and the staff position.

Dani Best said her role as navigator is to explain the process. While eight out of 10 patients will discover that their suspicious lumps are not cancerous, they may still have questions about a biopsy or other medical test. She coordinates a continuum of care between physicians, radiologists and other providers. She also helps patients locate financial assistance and counseling.

"I think what many patients appreciate is the support of another person, to have a woman by their side as they go through the process, whether (the tumor) is benign or not," Best said.

Carol Green agrees.

She said she would have benefited from similar assistance when she was diagnosed with breast cancer eight years ago. She sat on the floor of bookstores, pouring through volumes to learn more about the disease. And while her family members were supportive, they didn't know how to describe an upcoming procedure or test.

"When I went through it, no one was there," Green said. "Dani goes (to doctor's visits) with patients. (The resource center) is a tremendous thing for cancer patients."