A prostate, kidney, or bladder cancer diagnosis can turn someone’s world upside down. If this weren’t enough, now the patient has an additional burden of coordinating medical appointments, scheduling tests, and gathering biopsy results from other hospitals. At Fox Chase Cancer Center, we alleviate these problems from the start: every patient diagnosed with genitourinary cancer receives a timely phone call from a Genitourinary (GU) Nurse Navigator who acts as a guide to complete, coordinated, and compassionate care at the beginning of a cancer journey.

Peggy McGinn, BSN, RN, OCN, GU Nurse Navigator, knows the drill. Recently, McGinn retired after 50 years of service at Fox Chase, but she still occasionally dips back into the navigation "pool" when help is needed, bringing her vast experience and understanding to every patient. “I’ve worked everywhere in Fox Chase—case management, ostomy, wound care, even marketing, and GU navigation. After all these years, I quickly get a handle on what a patient needs, but I still can be surprised because everyone is different.”

GU Nurse Navigator Trish O'Brien, MSN, RN, agrees that every patient has unique requirements. “I’ve been doing this for nine years, and during that first call, I must quickly figure out the best way to work with someone and meet them where they are: to educate the person about their type and stage of cancer, how it’s treated, and what to expect.”

“Urology at Fox Chase, as part of the GU service line, offers world-class service,” says Anne Shelinsky, GU Patient Care Navigator. “Our physicians are renowned; our volumes are huge; and our patients run the gamut from kidney stones to advanced metastatic cancer. I’ve been at Fox Chase for 15 years, working as a GU Navigator for the past four years. I love that I get to use all my training and skills to plan and manage someone’s cancer treatment and recovery.”

“It is truly a privilege to empower a newly diagnosed patient and their family with clinical education and emotional support,” explains Jill McKenna, BSN, RN, CRN, GU Nurse Navigator. “Patients are more confident knowing a strong team is behind them.”

“A personal experience at Fox Chase helps me better understand and advocate for each patient,” says Alina Steinberg, BSN, RN, GU Nurse Navigator. “Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be earth-shattering. Helping someone organize the where, when, and how of treatment matters. I meet patients at a critical moment as they embark on cancer therapy, and it’s an honor to do so.”

Having worked as a Fox Chase OR nurse for 30 years has given GU Nurse Navigator Monica Scanlan, BSN, RN, a nuanced understanding of what happens to patients before, during, and after cancer surgery. “I bring this knowledge to patients so that every appointment is a ‘good appointment,’ with the doctor and patient having the necessary slides, test results, and imaging studies to transition someone closer to treatment,” Scanlan explains.

“Many of my patients need complex care, especially with a bladder cancer diagnosis, which often involves surgery and chemotherapy. At least 60 percent of my calls are for second opinions—the majority of whom choose Fox Chase. I help them prepare physically and emotionally and let them know my phone line is always open for questions and comfort,” adds Bridget Fonash, BSN, RN, OCN, GU Nurse Navigator.

The Fox Chase GU Nurse Navigators are a world-class team bringing expert skills, generations of experience, and compassionate care into play for every patient, every time.