Nurse Navigator Helps Patients Navigate Cancer Journey

Adventist Health St. Helena is known for offering exceptional cancer treatment, and a recent enhancement has elevated the patient experience to a new level. With the addition of a nurse navigator, breast and lung cancer patients now have an advocate to support them through this difficult and often confusing journey.

“I like to say that I am the ‘megaphone’ for the patient’s concerns,” shared Karisse Lee, RN, BSN. As the nurse navigator for breast and lung cancer patients, Karisse is in a unique position to provide primary, consistent communication to reduce confusion and stress. “We know that stress impacts our ability to heal,” she said. “I’m here to translate the medical jargon into language they can understand at a pace they can absorb it. Even with my healthcare knowledge, this support would have been extremely helpful to me when I was caring for my husband during his cancer journey a decade ago.”

Karisse brings a calm and focused manner to her patient interactions, offering appointment coordination, answering questions, and facilitating communication between the patient and family with the entire healthcare team. Her role is to honor the individual’s experience with cancer treatment with respect and dignity. And her extensive nursing experience for more than 20 years enables her to bring confidence and comfort to the patients she supports.

“I’m following patients from our women’s center as well as patients through our healthy lung program, who receive a low-dose CT exam annually,” she noted. “I also work with new referrals from other sources outside of our clinics.” Focusing specifically on breast and lung cancer patients enables her to provide an expertise in care that can reduce barriers and streamline appointments and treatment options, every step of the way.

For more information about how a nurse navigator can support you through your breast or lung cancer journey, visit our cancer care page.