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It doesn’t matter if you are new at navigation or a seasoned navigator, we each need to invest in our careers.

With the latest Commission on Cancer (CoC) standards taking effect in January 2015, cancer centers across the United States are in various stages of compliance. Altogether, the commission has accredited approximately 1500 cancer programs and more than 70% of patients with cancer are being treated at a CoC-accredited program.

Just like many other nurse navigators, there was a pivotal time in my life when I knew I wanted to dedicate my career to cancer. As a young, altruistic senior in college, I was set to attend medical school, become a surgeon (yes, this is what I really wanted to do) and save the world. Unfortunately, life does not always go as planned and you have to take these as opportunities to truly define who you are and what path you will follow.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) provides clinical practice guidelines in oncology for all types and stages of cancer as well as areas of supportive care.

In preparation for the new American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) standards, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center focused on having an oncology nurse navigation program in place to support patients by January 2014.

Currently, 2.9 million women in the United States are breast cancer survivors, and this number is expected to increase to 3.4 million by 2015.

As a 7-year breast cancer survivor, my primary feeling most of the time is awe and gratitude that I’m still here. I can savor life’s small moments and big events, from sipping a piping hot tall dark roast to celebrating my dear friend’s 50th by dancing my you-know-what off!

The following clinical trials are currently recruiting patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) for inclusion in several investigations. Each trial description includes the NLM Identifier to use as reference with ClinicalTrials.gov.

This article is the first in a series of 5 articles to run in The Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship on patient assistance programs. The information below—highlighting an assistance program for patients who are prescribed Imbruvica—was provided by Pharmacyclics, Inc, and Janssen Biotech, Inc.