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In March 2008, Azilee Majett was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. When she came to the emergency room with what she thought was indigestion, it turned out to be an acute pancreatic attack. Majett had to have her gall bladder removed. Two weeks later, she had a double mastectomy. This was the beginning of what would become a year-long journey of hospital visits and treatment.

This jumpstarted a relationship between Majett and Robin Lewis, a patient navigator for Wake Forest Baptist Health who assists women who have breast cancer with everything from health forms to emotional stress. Lewis helped Majett into a program that assisted women without health insurance, getting them Medicaid coverage for breast cancer treatment. Lewis and former navigator Mary Flowers helped Majett arrange rides to the hospital andhelped her start her disability claim. Lewis also helped Majett find Richard McQuellon, PhD, a professor of hematology and oncology, to get her ...
... through the stressful grieving process after her treatment.

“With all the information that was being read to me and handed to me, it was a bit hard to keep up with. And it was mind-boggling to say the least,’’ Majett says. “But Mary and Robin never made me feel like I was just work. I wasn’t just another caseload. And it’s hard not to fall in love with people who treat you that way.’’

In 2007, an Avon Foundation grant enabled Wake Forest Baptist Health to create a navigator program to reduce disparities in access to diagnosis and treatment of cancer among those who are poor or uninsured. Lewis came across a job posting for the program by chance.

“This was a brand new job at the hospital. No one had ever done it before,’’ Lewis says. “It was very important for us to make patients feel … that there is hope. We always say ‘We can’t do it for you, but we’ll be here with you every step of the way.’”

The program is now supported by the Avon Foundation,Wake Forest Baptist Health and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  More than 500 women have enrolled since its foundation in 2007.  While focused towards those without insurance or support, Lewis shares that no one is turned away even while having a difficult time with their diagnosis or having other issues in their lives.

Lewis says that the key to being a good navigator is understanding there is no set program or path to employ on patients.

“Each person that comes along is such an individual. You can’t just put a rubber stamp on, saying ‘You do it this way,’” Lewis said. “The whole idea behind it is to find out what barriers this person is having that may keep them from moving forward, may potentially cause them to get discouraged. And you address those barriers and help support them through that.’’

Interviewed together in the Comprehensive Cancer Center, Majett and Lewis show the affections of having remained close, sharing their story and smiles. They’ve stayed in touch; something Lewis says is typical for patients seen by navigators.

“I know what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger. So I’ve grown a lot,’’ Majett says. “Due to the breast cancer, I’ve met some awesome people. I’m grateful for that. Life doesn’t stop just because bad things happen. Thank God for each day.”

According to Lewis, some women stay in touch with email or calls to report a new baby, job or special moment. Some call later on with questions that she tries to assist them with.

“Some of these days,’’ Lewis said. “Words don’t get it, but a hug does.”