04/09/2020
American Cancer Society Patient Navigators Continue to Help Cancer Patients on the Front Line
“You have cancer,” are perhaps the most paralyzing words anyone can hear, producing sheer panic on many levels as thoughts of our future, our family and our treatment cloud our minds. The maze can seem overwhelming, trying to figure out where we will find the best care for our specific type of cancer, and how we will get to those treatments, often times in locations far from our own home. That’s where American Cancer Society Patient Navigators like Finly Perdomo come in, quickly becoming invaluable resources during a patient’s cancer journey.
It’s all in days’ work for Perdomo, who works jointly for the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the Levine Cancer Institute (LCI) in Charlotte, NC. She operates out of Levine where she can be close to the patients who have just received a cancer diagnosis. These days, she is working remotely from her home due to COVID-19 precautions, but she has never been busier. “Just as before the Coronavirus outbreak, patients are looking for answers, they really just want to feel understood and supported,” says Perdomo.
Time is of the essence when someone receives a cancer diagnosis. Wendy Bissette, RN, BS, BSN, who works with Perdomo on a daily basis says, “Finly is passionate about her job and cares deeply for the patients we serve. This is evidenced by her determination, promptness and dedication in finding our patients both lodging, and transportation required for medical care without treatment delays. Any delay of treatment could negatively impact our patients’ survival.”
Clinical social worker, Veronica Kenny-Macpherson, MSW, LCSWA, shares that the services of the ACS patient navigator have been critical for the care of her patients in the Head & Neck clinic, many of whom face enormous barriers to care and travel from great distances to see specialists at Levine Cancer Institute. “One patient recently had to travel from South Carolina, and Finly worked tirelessly to help the patient with arrangements for bus and volunteer drivers to get to Charlotte and hotel accommodations for a series of appointments over several weeks. Finly called the patient regularly to make sure he understood what the arrangements were and how to reach her if there were any issues. The patient expressed his gratitude for the American Cancer Society’s help on every visit.”
During these stressful and uncertain times, Perdomo works hard to put her patients at ease, she adds, “Cancer hasn’t stopped, so neither have we.”
