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Delaware Cancer Patients Among Nation's First to Benefit From Expansion of the American Cancer Society's 'Patient Navigator Program'

Posted on: Wednesday, 4 April 2007, 09:00 CDT

WILMINGTON, Del., April 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the American Cancer Society and AstraZeneca announced their support for the American Cancer Society Patient Navigator Program at the Christiana Care Health System's Helen F. Graham Cancer Center in Newark, Del. The center is the first site in a strategic nationwide effort to significantly extend the reach of the American Cancer Society's innovative Patient Navigator Program, a comprehensive initiative designed to assist individual cancer patients in negotiating the health care system. AstraZeneca has pledged USD$10 million to the American Cancer Society to accelerate development of at least 50 new Patient Navigator Program sites over the next five years in communities throughout the United States.

AstraZeneca's support will permit the American Cancer Society Patient Navigator Program at Christiana Care to offer its services full-time, expanding the resources and reach of the program. According to American Cancer Society estimates, 4,530 Delawareans will be diagnosed with cancer in 2007.

"A cancer diagnosis can be a life-changing experience for patients, their families and their caregivers," said Lynn Jones, American Cancer Society Patient Navigator. "I'm here to provide support every step of the way, from explaining what to expect with chemotherapy, to making sure patients have transportation to and from appointments. Fighting cancer is a difficult, challenging journey; with the help of trained navigators, patients don't have to go through it alone."

The American Cancer Society's Patient Navigator Program directly connects cancer patients to local education and support specialists - known as "navigators" - who, through one-on-one relationships, serve as personal guides to patients as they face the psychological, emotional and financial challenges of their cancer experience. The initiative is free and confidential, and places an emphasis on assisting the medically underserved.

"AstraZeneca will help the American Cancer Society, South Atlantic Division, reach 75,000 cancer patients by 2010 in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia," said Jack Shipkoski, chief executive officer of the South Atlantic Division of the American Cancer Society. "The AstraZeneca-funded Patient Navigator programs in our division will enable us to assist an additional 7,500 patients, 10% of our overall goal, with community resources and support. This program proactively reaches those patients who otherwise could go lacking in receiving the critical link to resources in their communities."

Navigators for the American Cancer Society's Patient Navigator Program provide patients, survivors, and caregivers with social services and programs, as well as resources tailored to the local community. As no cancer experience is the same, navigators also are equipped to provide patients with customized, high-quality, current, easy-to-understand cancer-related information. Navigators seek to improve quality of life for cancer patients, families and caregivers throughout the continuum - from time of diagnosis, through treatment, into survivorship. Furthermore, navigators are able to increase treatment compliance and follow-up care through a greater understanding of issues.

"AstraZeneca is thrilled to be the first corporation to give nationwide, large-scale support to the American Cancer Society's Patient Navigator Program. Expanding the Patient Navigator Program in Wilmington, where our employees live and work, is the perfect way to kick off our collaboration," said Lisa Schoenberg, vice president of Specialty Care, AstraZeneca LP. "This is the beginning of a new chapter in AstraZeneca's commitment to personalized cancer care. We are proud to support the American Cancer Society's Patient Navigator Program in its mission of improving patient outcomes, not only in Delaware, but in communities throughout the country."

About the American Cancer Society Patient Navigator Program

The American Cancer Society Patient Navigator Program provides guidance for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers to help them navigate the cancer experience, with a focus on eliminating barriers to cancer care for the medically underserved. Formally launched in 2005, the Society's Patient Navigator Program, in collaboration with community-based hospitals and cancer centers, links those affected by cancer to patient navigators who serve as personal guides for patients as they face the psychological, emotional and financial aspects of their unique cancer experience. Patient navigators receive national-level training through the American Cancer Society, in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute Patient Navigation Research Program navigators, as well as localized training and opportunities for ongoing education.

There are currently 60 American Cancer Society Patient Navigator program sites across the U.S. The American Cancer Society Patient Navigator Program is a component of the American Cancer Society Cancer Resource Network, a free, comprehensive resource to help patients and their caregivers manage the impact of cancer on their lives through up-to-date cancer information and referrals to Society programs and other community resources. For more information about how the American Cancer Society helps patients and caregivers, call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit http://www.cancer.org/.

About The American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States. For more information anytime, call toll free 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit http://www.cancer.org/.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of $26.47 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infection products. In the United States, AstraZeneca is a $12.44 billion healthcare business with more than 12,000 employees. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index. For more information about AstraZeneca, please visit: http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/

About Christiana Care Health System

Christiana Care Health System, which dates back to 1888, is one of the region's largest not-for profit health care providers, serving the people of Delaware as well as neighboring areas of Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. A teaching hospital, Christiana Care is recognized as a regional center for excellence in cardiology, cancer and women's health services, as well as Level-I trauma care and Level-3 neonatal intensive care (both highest intensity). Christiana Care operates two hospitals, transitional care services, preventive medicine and rehabilitation services, a network of primary care physician offices and an extensive range of outpatient and home health services. Christiana Care provided $ 32.4 million of charity care last year. For more information, please visit http://www.christianacare.org/.

CONTACT: Donna Huang AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals 302-885-6396 donna.huang@astrazeneca.com Dawn Ward American Cancer Society 302-324-4227 dawn.ward@cancer.org Spiros Mantzavinos Christiana Care 302-327-3344 smantzavinos@christianacare.org

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals; American Cancer Society

CONTACT: Donna Huang of AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, 302-885-6396,donna.huang@astrazeneca.com; or Dawn Ward of American Cancer Society,302-324-4227, dawn.ward@cancer.org; or Spiros Mantzavinos of Christiana Care,302-327-3344, smantzavinos@christianacare.org

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

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