Nurse Navigators are a single point of contact for our cancer patients, helping them manage and understand the complex treatment and side effects of cancer diagnosises. Areas of support include help with understanding your illness, managing complicated treatment schedules, and coping with multiple side effects. Our oncology nurse navigators work with cancer patients by joining patients and their families at appointments, helping them overcome logistical issues with treatment, managing side effects, and keeping communication open with the entire team.

Since October 2025, there were 143 new patients assigned to a navigator: 

• 29 breast cancer patients
• 9 brain cancer patients
• 55 lung cancer patients
• 20 head & neck cancer patients
• 12 esophagea cancer patients
• 8 anal/rectal cancer patients
• 10 other disease sites

Navigators tracked approximatley 2,122 encounters including office visits, hospital visits, and care coordination.

Sarah grew up in Illinois but spent every summer vacationing in New Hampshire with family. In 2018, she and her husband made New Hampshire their permanent home. Today, Sarah works at the Cardiovascular Institute at Concord Hospital and enjoys life with her husband, two cats, and their dog.

When Sarah was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was introduced to Kristen, a nurse navigator at the Payson Center for Cancer Care. At the time, Sarah hoped to have a knowledgeable point of contact to help guide her through an unfamiliar and overwhelming experience. Kristen quickly became that trusted resource.

“It's nice to have someone there who is clinical and understands everything the doctor is saying,” Sarah shared.

Even though Sarah works in healthcare herself, navigating a cancer diagnosis felt overwhelming. Having a nurse navigator by her side helped her better understand her diagnosis, treatment options, and next steps throughout her journey.

“Kristen is awesome. I can call her whenever I have questions, and no matter what the question is, she always makes sure I get the answers I need.”

Most recently, Kristen accompanied Sarah to a radiation oncology consultation. Nurse navigators serve as an extra set of eyes and ears, helping patients process information, ask questions, and understand their treatment plans. For Sarah, having that consistent support has made a tremendous difference.

One particularly impactful moment came when Sarah developed a blood clot in her arm. She called Kristen to discuss her symptoms, and within a short time, Kristen had arranged an ultrasound appointment. Following the scan, Sarah met with both a physician assistant and Kristen to review the results and discuss next steps.

“The coordination was incredibly helpful,” Sarah said. “If I had to manage all of that on my own, it would have taken much longer.”

Experiences like these demonstrate the vital role nurse navigators play in the lives of patients facing cancer. Their guidance, advocacy, and support help patients feel informed, cared for, and less alone during a difficult time.

“Kristen is very caring,” Sarah shared. “It's so impactful for patients to have someone in their corner, helping to make the experience a little less scary and more manageable.”