Our team consists of but is not limited to
Patient Navigator
A cancer diagnosis affects not only the patient, but also family members and friends. It raises many emotions – fear, uncertainty, anger, and sadness. Patients often feel a sense of numbness and can be confused trying to sort through all of the information.
To help them through their journey, St. Nicholas Hospital’s team includes caring, oncology-trained registered nurses called patient navigators. These navigators help patients with insurance issues, finding and choosing doctors, coordinating doctor visits, communicating with their health care team, assisting caregivers and managing medical paperwork, among other tasks.
Oncologists
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologists are physicians with advanced training who are key decision makers in choosing whether radiation therapy may be of value and the type of radiation therapy an individual may receive. This physician is the team leader and stays with you from initial consultation all the way through follow-up care.
Medical Oncologists
Medical oncologists care for the patient from the moment of diagnosis throughout the course of treatment and past recovery. The focus of medical oncology is on “systemic therapy”, or providing treatments against cancer that has or could spread to other parts of the body, or in providing treatments to help shrink a cancerous tumor so the surgeon can more effectively remove it. Our experts also coordinate treatment given by other specialists.
Surgeons
Surgery may be a part of your treatment plan. Our expert surgeons are specially-trained to surgically treat cancer and they do it in a caring and healing environment.
Oncology Nurses
An Oncology Nurse is a specially trained registered nurse who specializes in the care of people with cancer. Oncology nurses may prepare and give treatments, monitor patients, side effects, provide supportive care, and teach and counsel patients and their families. They meet with patients each week throughout the radiation therapy treatment course and assist the Radiation Oncologists in consultation and follow-up visits after treatment is completed.
Radiation Therapists
Radiation Therapists work directly with the Radiation Oncologist in simulation and treatment and then run the radiation treatment machines to deliver that treatment to the patient. Radiation therapists also maintain daily records and regularly check the treatment machines to make certain they are performing according to our stringent standards. Our Radiation therapists receive thorough training under a two- to four-year educational program. In addition, all of our Radiation Therapists must pass a rigorous examination and be certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, a standard higher than many other cancer centers. This certification also requires each therapist to meet a required number of hours of continuing education each year.