For the second year in a row, Tammy Nickles, RN, OCN, the cancer care coordinator for Mercy Cancer Centers, has received the American Cancer Society’s State of Tennessee Volunteer of the Year Award for Patient Support.  This is the first time that the Tennessee chapter has honored the same person in consecutive years with this award.

Nickles has been with Mercy Cancer Centers for four years and with Mercy for 22 years.   As Cancer Care Coordinator, she helps patients with cancer and their families cope with the many issues associated with a cancer diagnosis.

The registered oncology nurse said that, unfortunately, the cancer centers are seeing more young people diagnosed with cancer.  “The good thing is that we are now able to better detect and treat cancer, but now people have to cope with the issues surrounding cancer for many more years than before,” Nickles said.

“I work to help patients find the support services they need while battling cancer,” Nickels said.  “For example, I can help a patient get information about their cancer and their treatment program, connect them with support groups to show them that they are not alone in their battle with cancer, and assist them in finding local resources to help pay for gas to get to and from treatments, and financial assistance with medications.

One of the reasons she was selected as a two-time winner of this ACS award is her work in a number of educational and support groups in the Knoxville area.  “I really enjoy providing support to cancer patients and their families through groups such as I Can Cope, Man to Man, the Cancer Survivor Group and the Cancer Action Network.”

“I try to bring hope into their lives after the cancer diagnosis.  Part of my work is to educate the patients that there is hope and everyone responds to treatment in very different ways.

“Sometimes people can’t believe that I look forward to going to work everyday.  The reward is helping people through difficult situations, for many the most difficult period of their lives.  What motivates me is that call from a patient saying thanks for helping,” Nickles added.

Nickles is part of the Mercy Integrative Medicine Initiative for cancer treatment.  “Mercy physicians and staff do an outstanding job in tackling the physical consequences of a cancer diagnosis.  The goal of the Integrative Medicine Initiative is to care for the mind, body and spirit of the patient and his or her family.  Using some proven techniques, I hope to help the patient learn how to understand the disease and their part in helping to overcome the diagnosis.         

From discovery to recovery, Mercy Cancer Centers offer comprehensive services for cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and recovery.  Adolescents and adults can have all of their cancer needs met close to home, in the hands of the people they know and trust, at their closest Mercy facility.

The Mercy Cancer Centers are affiliated with the Vanderbilt University-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, which can provide patients with new cancer treatments and access to clinical trials.

Mercy Health Partners was formed by the merger of St. Mary’s Health System and Baptist Health System of East Tennessee in 2008.  The new healthcare system operates seven acute-care hospitals and many other healthcare facilities across East Tennessee.  More than 1,000 of the area’s leading physicians on the medical staff at Mercy facilities.  One of East Tennessee’s largest employers, Mercy has 5,700 associates dedicated to providing compassionate care using the latest medical technology.

For physician referral and service information at any Mercy facility, please call the Ask Mercy phone line at 632-5200 (toll-free at 877-368-7362).  A complete list of Mercy physicians, hospitals, other healthcare facilities, services and extensive health information is available online at www.mercy.com.