Has anyone worked with a breast cancer nurse navigator?

My nurse navigator is not at all helpful. She is slow to return calls and is ineffective. I have had to anticipate what appointments I need (mammograms, echo cardiograms, follow-ups, etc.) and make all arrangements myself. I don't mind doing this, but then I wonder what purpose the nurse navigator serves

At first I did not but when I needed answeres found she could get through to the DR a lot faster them me...my email is enary61@hotmail.com..due to have my surgery on the 24th so hope nothing comes in the way of it again..DR now can't decide when to stop the blood thinners surgery say now heart DR say 1day always was told 3 days....nurse is out of office until Monday...

Yes, I have one and didn't realize everyone else didn't have the benefit of one until I read other people's experiences. I first met her when I went back to find out the results of the stereotactic breast biopsy. She was right there in the room when the doctor came in to tell me the bad news. Just as my mind was reeling with "OMG, what do I do now?" she handed me a folder with information on my particular kind of breast cancer, info on how the breast care team could help me (including phone numbers and names) and a list of appointments already made for me. I didn't have to call anyone. She had already contacted the surgeon, radiologist, and oncologist. I could ask her to change the appointment day/time and she would have but I was happy with the plan since the appointment was in 3 days. It was one long 2 hour appointment - they came to me, I didn't have to wander all around the hospital. The nurse was there with me before, during, and after each doctor came to go over what was said and answer questions. She's been great in the 3 months since my diagnosis. I can call her any time. I had surgery 2 months ago and have enjoyed the breast cancer support group meetings she runs.

I had one but I only saw her when my surgeon was too busy for a follow up apt. (finally saw doc 5 weeks post op) and she was very rushed and was basically giving "there there" pat on the head type responses to my concerns and said everything was fine. I will likely miss out on chemo thanks to her and the doctor's neglect.

When I was first diagnosed and told I would have a "nurse navigator" I was relieved but I am wondering whether it was a way for the clinic to get more money from the government since there was certainly no navigating happening there.

My help came from this site.

I had one, but didn't really need much from her. She was very nice though, and the one time I had a question about something she got back to me immediately. I think had I needed more from her, she would have been there.

i rely on my doctors to provide correct information. My thought is the purpose of the navigator is to help you "navigate" the system and ease the administrative/scheduling burden. Perhaps there is a misunderstanding in what role these nurses are to be accessed for to provide support.

I was supposed to have one who's on staff at the local Kaiser Breast Care Center, but she managed to make me so angry (by ignoring my request to be notified as soon as my pathology report came in) that I stopped communicating with her entirely. I now email my providers directly, but I do miss the convenience of having one person who I could go to for answers. She's the only one there, unfortunately, too, so I have no alternative.

But Kaiser does have a good secure email system and as long as I'm willing to be proactive and pursue issues myself, things go well. I just wish she hadn't fallen down so badly on the single most important request I made...don't know why and at this stage I'm still very annoyed with her, so I probably won't find out why she didn't do as I'd asked. And my husband asked her too--IOW she knew how important it was to us to have time to study and research the report before we went into conferences with the doctors.

The minute my first biopsy came back positive, I was assigned to the Nurse Navigator. She was present at my follow-up meeting with the breast surgeon, equipped with a bunch of handouts and information. I asked the surgeon a lot of questions, the majority of which she deferred to the nurse (regarding care, etc.).

The NN was there in PreOp to see me the morning of my BMX; she came in to visit me the morning after my surgery, and I did see her again when I attended ONE breast cancer support group meeting. (She was the Facilitator.)

Months later, she was there in PreOp when I had my Exchange. Besides that, she has been helpful as an intermediary when dealing with other departments and specialists, and sending me printed reports when I requested them. I can call her or email her.