Pediatric Oncology Navigator

Does your child or teen have cancer? The Pediatric Oncology (children’s cancer) Navigator may be able to help!

Having a child/teen diagnosed with cancer turns your family’s world upside down overnight. Suddenly, your life is filled with decisions and concerns about treatments and trips to cancer treatment centers in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec.

You may have concerns about trying to secure financial resources for travel and medications. A Paediatric Cancer Patient Navigator can help your family with these issues.

Who is the Pediatric Oncology Patient Navigator?

This navigator is a nurse with education and expertise in children and adolescents’ cancer. The navigator works closely with your child or teen’s health-care team in and outside of New Brunswick during the cancer treatment to make the journey easier. The navigator can help you and your family understand the many challenges you may face and questions you may have about your child’s cancer.

This service is free and available through Horizon Health Network or Vitalité Health Network from day one of the diagnosis. You may request a referral to see the navigator or contact the navigator directly at any point during the course of your child’s cancer care (diagnosis, treatment, follow up, or palliation etc.).

The navigator does not provide direct medical care to your child. If your child or teen requires medical attention, please call their pediatrician or go directly to your local emergency department or clinic.

Why should you call the navigator?

Every child or adolescent with cancer and their family have different needs, and will cope with having cancer in different ways. Your culture and beliefs could a effect treatment decisions. You may be a single parent. The resources available to your family will vary depending on where you live and the existing family supports you have. The navigator can help you access resources and supports for -finances, travel, treatment and transition of care, according to what your family’s needs are.

The navigator can:

• Remain a constant source of support for you and your family here in New Brunswick during your child’s journey with cancer.
• Link you with supports and other professionals.
• Ensure your family has all of the information available about your child’s cancer and treatment options.
• Help you find resources to help with travel expenses during the treatment.
• Help your family understand your child’s or teen’s cancer by providing you with access to books, videos, online resources and other materials and reviewing them with you.
• Coordinate with the health-care team to transition your child back to your home community.
• Help with your child or teen’s parent-school meetings, doing classroom visits and staff education on childhood cancer.