Dana-Farber/Brigham & Women’s Cancer Center Patient Navigator Program
The Dana-Farber/Brigham & Women’s Cancer Center Patient Navigator Program was developed to provide patient navigation to women with a high-risk breast, or cervical finding, or a diagnosis of breast or cervical cancer.
The Patient Navigators, who are bilingual in Spanish, work with women by assisting with identifying barriers to care and provide resources that promote access to diagnostic services, ongoing treatment and follow-up care. Such barriers could be cultural or language-related, a physical or mental disability, or other situation that could limit access to care.
The Patient Navigators provide culturally competent outreach, relationship building, service coordination and advocacy.
A referral can be made to the program by calling the Patient Navigator, Rina Bernardez at 617-632-5230. For additional information about the program you may contact Katy Cushing, LICSW, 617-632-5491, or Elizabeth Binari RN, Program Manager, 617-632-5734.
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Interpreter Services
Please visit the Interpreter Services homepage for additional service and contact information.
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Emotional Support
We understand that recovery from breast surgery can be a very emotional time with many feelings of fear and loss. These feelings can influence social relationships and even your physical recovery.
At Brigham and Women’s Hospital, social workers are available who have experience with the emotional impact of breast surgery. If you would like to talk with someone, ask your nurse or doctor to help you arrange for a visit.
For women who find they have breast cancer there is a special volunteer support network serving the Dana-Farber/ Brigham 
and Women’s Cancer Center (DF/BWCC). One-to-One: The Cancer Connection includes cancer survivors and their family members who have volunteered to listen and to share their own experiences with others whose lives are affected by cancer and other related diseases. All One-to-One volunteers have completed a special training program. They can help allay people’s fears and concerns, provide information, guide patients through the DF/BWCC system, and discuss available resources. Most importantly, they provide support and reassurance over the course of one’s illness and treatment.
Referrals can be made by any member of your health care team. Just inform any team member that you want to speak with a One-to-One volunteer, or call the Eleanor and Maxwell Blum Patient and Family Resource Center at (617) 632-4020. A One-to-One coordinator will contact the volunteer who will be most helpful to you. The volunteer will then call you to schedule a time to talk or meet.
We want you to know that we are here to help you throughout recovery. You also may wish to join a support group with other women recovering from breast surgery.
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Recovery and Breast-Fitting Services
The BWH Breast Center is pleased to provide patients with The Original Jacki® product, from An Easier Recovery. The Jacki® is a comfortable alternative to the standard hospital gown and is complimentary to our patients.
If you had a mastectomy without reconstruction or a mastectomy with a temporary tissue expander, you will be given a gift pack from the Friend’s Boutique of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Gillette Center for Women’s Cancers. The kit contains a temporary breast form and a bra. You can be fitted for a permanent breast form after the swelling is gone, generally four to six weeks after surgery. If you had a lumpectomy with a noticeable loss of breast tissue, you may also want to contact this or another breast-fitting service. Fitters have breast forms especially designed for women who have had either a mastectomy or a lumpectomy. You can call the Friends Boutique at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, (617) 632-2211.
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Friends Boutique at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
In addition to the temporary breast form and bra, the gift pack includes a copy of Seated Yoga as well as several other products and pamphlets designed to educate and support patients, friends and families. Click here for more information on the services and products, such as the Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster program, provided by the Friend’s Boutique at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
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