Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
The start of a new year is an excellent opportunity to take advantage of a fresh chapter in time for your health and well-being. This chapter is
also a time to create a preventative care plan tailored to you or a loved one with cancer, at risk of cancer, or for general wellness.
Naples Cancer Advisors (NCA) is a unique nonprofit practice in the area that takes preventative care measures seriously. NCA provides platinum-level consultative oncology services such as secondary case review, care coordination, referrals, clinical trial navigation, financial navigation, and precision oncology services such as genetic testing and counseling. “The NCA Difference” sets this group apart from other practices.
Naples Cancer Advisors’ services are provided at no cost to the patient, thanks to private donors in the community. These consultations are also thorough and immersive, lasting as long as comfortably needed and affording each patient ample opportunity to understand their diagnosis and treatment options. Preventative care measures and recommendations are discussed during the consultation with the patient, and afterward with their treating physician.
If you or your loved one chooses to move forward with a consultation, the Naples Cancer Advisors will actively listen to your concerns and carefully study your diagnosis. Then, they will design a clearly communicated cancer second opinion, which will include:
. Connection to trials or other treatment options, if warranted
. Important primary data, treatment options, and research options
. Direct, rapid communication with you and your existing physician team
. NCA’s suggestions to get you the best care options in the world.
The set of discussed recommendations includes but is not limited to the following:
Clinical Trials: The Naples Cancer Advisors team offers assistance in clinical trial navigation, especially after other recommendations are performed. Evaluating the safety and effectiveness of new medical interventions, such as drugs, treatments, or medical devices is essential in identifying the best plan of care moving forward.
Medical Problems: Review any current or pre-existing medical problems that should be addressed in the plan of care.
Preventative Measures: Patients should take proactive steps to avoid or minimize the risk of illness or adverse scenarios, including having age and gender cancer screening tests, up-to-date vaccinations, avoiding alcohol and all tobacco products, adequate sleep and more listed below.
Mental Health: The days following a cancer diagnosis can stir feelings of uncertainty, urgency, and apprehension. Naples Cancer Advisors exists to improve the care of cancer patients seeking a second opinion so that they walk away with a thorough understanding of their diagnosis and confidence in their plan of care. We are here to help patients find support when needed and address mental health concerns proactively with them, their treating physician, and the caregivers or family members who need help.
Exercise: Patients are advised on the importance of physical activity and regular exercise which can be modified based on physical abilities. Walking is usually a feasible form of exercise for all patients.
Diet: Patients are counseled about having a balanced diet with an emphasis on fruits and vegetables and avoiding unconventional or strict dietary plans. They should also avoid a weight loss diet during cancer treatment. Taking any over-the- counter medications, including vitamins or herbs, should be done only after consultation with physicians. The use of dietary supplements is discouraged.
Financial Navigation: NCA provides free consultive oncology services to cancer patients in the Southwest Florida area and to assist with financial needs, we have partnered with the Patient Advocate Foundation to offer a unique financial assistance service.
Patient Education: During the consult, the NCA expert team discusses the patient’s disease status, test results, further work-up needed, and treatment options. NCA also provides the patients with relevant educational materials, such as an episodic list of the Medical Minute video podcast. This series of short video vignettes simplifies otherwise complicated topics into easy-to-understand explanations designed to enable better treatment choices and improve outcomes. (Scan the QR code to tune in to previous episodes).
Follow-up Visit: Patients can schedule follow-up visits on an as-needed basis and the NCA team will coordinate with the patient and their care team. Patients are informed of the nature of the consultation, which is to provide information and guidance to the patient, and all recommendations should be implemented by their treating physician.
Naples Cancer Advisor’s services extend beyond the initial consultation, as well as before the patient arrives. Cancer does not wait, and neither does the NCA team. They understand the urgency of seeking an oncology second opinion for your cancer diagnosis, which is why you can expect to receive a same-day or next-business-day invitation for a consultation.
Southwest Florida residents with a current or past cancer diagnosis are eligible for a no-cost consultation at Naples Cancer Advisors. The world-class team of experts works directly with your treating physician to help improve your outcome. For more information, call 239.846.2273 (CARE) or visit naplescanceradvisors.org.
239-846-2273 (CARE)
3201 Tamiami Trail N, Suite 112, Naples, FL 34103
naplescanceradvisors.org