Cancer can happen to any one of us whether we are black, aboriginal, immigrant or a member of the gay and lesbian community. Patient Navigation Community Liaison, Donna Smith, works to meet the needs of diverse communities throughout Nova Scotia to ensure that cultural values and beliefs are being factored into cancer services. She opens the door so that all Nova Scotians, regardless of their race and cultural background, have equal access to quality cancer care and treatment.

In 2001 Cancer Care Nova Scotia worked with researchers Winnie Benton and Sandra Loppie to learn about African Nova Scotians’ experience with the cancer system. In their final report, Navigating the Cancer Care System: African Nova Scotians’ Experience, the researchers suggested a number of ways that African Nova Scotians’ journey through the cancer system could be improved. Cancer Care Nova Scotia created the position of Patient Navigation Community Liaison to assist in making these improvements.

Since then, Donna has continued to work with diverse communities throughout the province to help them in accessing and understanding the cancer system.

Click here to read more about how Donna has been helping patients and their families through the cancer system. 

To learn more about the position of Patient Navigation Community Liaison, click here.  

If you live in South Shore Health (District 1), South West Health (District 2), Annapolis Valley Health (District 3), Pictou County Health (District 6), or Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health (District 7), there is a Cancer Patient Navigator in your area. For information on how to contact your Patient Navigator, click here.  

If you would like to receive a copy of Navigating the Cancer System: African Nova Scotians’ Experience, please contact:

Donna Smith
Patient Navigation Community Liaison
Phone: (902) 473-7268
Toll free: 1-866-599-2267
Email: ccns.nshealth.ca