Eye on Health: Oncology nurse navigators support, guide Beacon cancer patients through their journey

Molly Pottschmidt and Kathy Hawley

A cancer diagnosis can be one of the most overwhelming experiences a person will ever face. But with Beacon Cancer Care, patients don’t have to go through it alone, thanks to our dedicated oncology nurse navigators.

In this month’s Eye on Health, Molly Pottschmidt and Kathy Hawley share how their mission is to ensure no one feels lost in the fight against cancer. From diagnosis to treatment and event into survivorship, Molly and Kathy are there for patients every step of the way.

Appointments. Chemo treatments. Radiation. Side effects. It all can feel overwhelming for a cancer patient, and that’s where nurse navigators come in.

They serve as a liaison between patients and their doctors, while also offering support, guidance and hope.

Beacon oncology patient Katheryn Masten and her nurse navigator, Molly Pottschmidt

“I think so often patients will try to put on an air or a strong sense for their families,” Kathy says. “And with us as the navigators, they can take their guard down a little bit and say, ‘This is how I’m feeling’.”

Molly has her own personal way of getting her patients to let their guard down.

“I tend to have a sense of humor that helps them relax and ease their mind and their stress,” Molly says. “And then they realize that you’re not just looking at them as a patient, you’re looking at them as a person.”

For Kathryn Masten, who was diagnosed with cancer last fall, Molly is more than an advocate. “She’s been my angel since this all started. She’s not just my navigator, she’s my friend.”

Learn much more about our amazing oncology nurse navigators in the segment below.