Patients who have been diagnosed with cancer may need to meet with several different Compass cancer care specialists during treatment and recovery. This guide should help make it easier to understand the role that each person may play in cancer care.
Oncology nurse: A nurse who specializes in treating and caring for people who have cancer. An oncology nurse is often the first line of communication for patients to discuss how they’re feeling during treatment and side effects they’re experiencing. Some of their duties include, but are not limited to:
Radiation therapist: A professional who works in the field of radiation oncology. A radiation therapist plans and administers radiation treatments to cancer patients, under the supervision of a doctor.
Nurse practitioner: Also called an advanced practice nurse, APN, or NP, this is a registered nurse who has additional education and training in how to diagnose and treat disease. Nurse practitioners are licensed at the state level and certified by national nursing organizations. Seeing an NP is similar to seeing a doctor in some cases. In cancer care, a nurse practitioner may manage the primary care of patients based on a practice agreement with a doctor.
Physician assistant: Physician assistants, also known as PAs, operate under the supervision of a doctor but share many of the same responsibilities of a medical doctor, with the exception of a few major procedures (including surgery). They practice medicine on teams with physicians, surgeons, and other healthcare workers. They’ll examine, diagnose, and treat patients in the same way a physician would, making them a valuable part of the cancer care team.
Nurse navigator: Sometimes referred to as a patient navigator or a patient advocate, a nurse navigator is a nurse who helps guide cancer patients through the healthcare system. Some of their duties include, but are not limited to:
Genetic counselor: A specialist who assesses individual or family risk for a variety of inherited conditions, such as genetic disorders and birth defects. They provide information and support to other healthcare providers, or to individuals and families concerned with the risk of inherited conditions, such as cancer.
Physical therapist: A physical therapist helps design individual rehabilitation programs that can help cancer patients build strength, reduce stress, regain independence, maintain energy, and improve their overall quality of life.
Social worker: A professional trained in oncology social services and to talk with people and their families about emotional or physical needs, and to find them support services and the appropriate community resources. Some of the needs that social workers will commonly identify and assist with include:
Financial counselor: A person who works with patients and their families to help them reduce stress or hardship related to the cost of cancer treatment. Financial counselors (sometimes called financial navigators) help patients understand their out-of-pocket expenses and what their health insurance plans may cover. Financial counselors may also help patients set up payment plans, find cost-saving methods for treatments, and improve access to healthcare services that the patient needs.
Registered dietitian: A registered dietitian that provides oncology nutrition services is an important part of the cancer care team, helping with cancer treatment and recovery. A dietitian will work with patients, their families, and the rest of the medical team to manage the patient’s diet during and after cancer treatment.