Pediatric Oncology Patient Navigation
A pediatric oncology patient 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 New Brunswick during the cancer treatment to make the journey easier. The navigator can help you and your family understand challenges and answer questions about your child’s cancer.
This service is available through Horizon Health Network (1-506-432-3262) or Vitalité Health Network (1-506-862-7516). You can request a referral to see the navigator or contact the navigator directly at any point during your child’s cancer care.
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.
The navigator can:
- remain a constant source of support for you and your family during your child’s journey with cancer
- link you with supports and other professionals
- ensure your family has all 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 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’s parent-school meetings, do classroom visits and educate staff on childhood cancer
Pediatric oncology centres in other provinces
Some cancer treatments are available for children in New Brunswick, but pediatric oncology patients are diagnosed and receive much of their care at specialized centres outside the province. Most of these patients are referred to the IWK Health Centre , or the Centre Hospitalier de l’Université Laval and the Sainte-Justine University Children’s Hospital .