The Journey is personal “I was a bit shaken,” says Charles. “You never think cancer will happen to you. Dr. Graham also explained that my Gleason score was on the high end, above 9, which means an aggressive cancer. Before I left the office, Dr. Graham was on the phone with Dr. (Robert) Kyler to set up an appointment.” Dr. Kyler is a radiation oncologist in the Augusta Health Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. Charles was understandably anxious about his diagnosis. “My first appointment with Dr. Kyler was a week later,” he explains. “I really couldn’t eat or sleep, and I was losing weight. Then, while checking in for my appointment, Angie came up and introduced herself to me.” Angie Shy, RN, is Charles’ navigator. “Angie gave me a good feeling right away. She was positive and encouraging, and she gave me the impression that we were going to lick this thing,” says Charles. “She went with me to my appointment with Dr. Kyler and took very detailed notes. And thank goodness she was there. I couldn’t remember much of what Dr. Kyler said, but her notes laid everything out clearly.” He left the appointment feeling encouraged. A bone scan was ordered to be sure the cancer was contained within the prostate. Angie helped make arrangements for the scan and even showed up to be support during the imaging procedure. Since Dr. Graham had retired, Charles was now a patient of urologist Dr. Brian Stisser. Angie would also accompany him to those appointments to take notes. “No matter how long the process or appointment, and some were two hours long, she was always there. She was always upbeat and she was always positive,” says Charles. “I can tell Angie really loves what she does, and that she really does care about me.” Charles began radiation treatments on September 9. He was initially scheduled for 40 treatments, but after the second week, the number of treatments was reduced to 28 because more intense, exact radiation could be used. He appreciated that because the journey from Covington to Fishersville for treatments is 80 miles one-way, a four hour drive for a 15 minute radiation treatment. The last radiation treatment was October 16. “I really haven’t been to too many hospitals,” says Charles, “But I don’t see how the care could be better anywhere else.” After a two month wait, as the year comes to an end, Charles will repeat his blood work. If his PSA is below 1, he will have licked this thing. AUGUSTA HEALTH • CANCER PROGRAM ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Angie Shy, RN, is Charles’ navigator. “It takes time for many of us to understand and process new information, and the word cancer can cause someone to completely shut down,” says Angie. “Having a navigator in the room during appointments can be really vital for a lot of people experiencing a new cancer diagnosis because we as navigators already have a foundation of knowledge about the cancer diagnosis and treatment. We also take notes and are available through a phone call or email with any other questions or clarifications that come up. It is important as a navigator to understand how our patients are feeling and how they are processing. Navigators can be a single point person for the patient and the other staff members involved in their treatment.” Angie explains, “I like to enter the room before meeting a new patient a few minutes before the doctor and get to know the person I am meeting a little more. This helps me to understand their personal background and empower them to ask questions that are pertinent to their lifestyle. Every experience is different for cancer patients. I enjoy personalizing the patient’s experience so that they don’t completely dread the process and give them the confidence to see the journey through.” 7
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