YORK, Pa. — Cancer navigators play a crucial role in supporting patients from diagnosis through treatment.
WellSpan Health is one of many hospital systems in the country that uses the role to help its patients.
"I was a hair stylist without any hair," said Tracey Covert.
She was diagnosed with stage four triple negative breast cancer in 2019.
"I have to have humor with it because you either laugh or cry. All in all, I've had 10 surgeries and I'm pretty much back together. It's been quite a journey," Covert said.
A journey made a little less daunting thanks to WellSpan Health's Nurse Navigator Melanie Thorne.
"Breast cancer and all cancers are complicated. They have tests, treatments, changed appointments, so to have somebody coordinate their care is just vital so they don't get lost in the system," said Thorne.
It's quite a system, too. She says WellSpan's York Cancer Center is on track to have 500 new breast cancer patients this year.
"They act as a patient advocate, patient educator, emotional support, just someone to be there and kind of their primary contact person through their whole journey," Thorne added.
"At the beginning, she would sit in on the meetings, taking notes, she'd call in and check up on me," said Covert about Thorne.
These days though, Thorne calls Covert for a different reason: to have her help other patients, especially with wigs.
"She's not afraid to let herself come through, so that's why everyone who knows Tracey, loves her," said Thorne.
A friendship formed over information and reassurance, helping to navigate life's new normal.
"We're here to help them. Don't be afraid to ask your navigator questions. Don't think you're bothering your nurse navigator because that's what we're here for - that's our job and we love to help them," Thorne said.
Since 2013, WellSpan breast cancer navigators have helped more than 7,000 breast cancer patients. For more information on WellSpan Health, click here.