Oncology Nurse Navigator Jenny Marais Answers Questions You Didn't Know to Ask With New Book, "Navigating Your Cancer Journey"

SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- "Overwhelmed" is how Nurse Navigator Jenny Marais describes the experience of patients and caregivers dealing with a cancer diagnosis. Particularly in the first few days and weeks, patients have far more questions than answers. To address this longstanding issue, Marais has recently published "Navigating Your Cancer Journey: A Handbook for Cancer Patients and Caregivers by an Oncology Nurse Navigator."

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"Empowered, informed patients generally have a better experience and better outcomes," says Marais. "Nurse navigators are sharing information with patients every day, and advocating for patients with their healthcare team. I decided to bring together the most important pieces of wisdom, so patients and caregivers can have a single resource to answer the basic questions about living with cancer. After all, every choice a cancer patient makes, matters"

"Navigating Your Cancer Journey" covers all aspects of the cancer experience in an approachable, conversational way. From nutrition to insurance to dealing with life as a cancer survivor, Marais has called upon her own experience as a nurse navigator to create this important and useful handbook.

A diagnosis of cancer is virtually unlike any other; cancer patients typically must be in touch with 5 or more different providers, each representing a different specialty. These providers may not even be based in the same facility. This complexity puts cancer patients – who are already struggling with a scary disease – at a big disadvantage. Patients go home from appointments with lots of paper, but perhaps little understanding. The job of oncology nurse navigators is to coordinate care; empower patients with information and reminders; and give patients and caregivers more peace of mind.

"Navigating Your Cancer Journey" has already earned distinction – the book won the Dog Ear Publishing Award of Literary Excellence. "The compassion and understanding with which Marais writes feels like a warm, calming hug from a beloved best friend," remarks Angela Wade, Editor at Dog Ear Publishing. "Her obvious and refreshing belief in the power of the patient takes center stage and is solidified through eloquently penned patient stories that bring home the message: YOU are not alone. Marais is a natural born writer whose descriptions gently move the reader from one vivid landscape to another with ease and grace. We sincerely hope she continues to put pen to paper!"

About the Author

Jenny Marais RN, BN, OCN obtained her Associate of Nursing Degree in South Africa in 1988 at the age of 21. She has years of experience working with cancer patients. She has a Bachelor's of Nursing Degree through a distance learning program from the University of Dundee in Scotland, and is Oncology Nurse Certified in the USA. She has applied her 27-plus years of nursing experience to the world of Oncology nursing, where she shares her insight into the complexity of cancer care in the USA.

Contact:

Jenny Marais
(530) 632-5965
Email

SOURCE Jenny Marais