Despite her second bout with breast cancer, Heather Gideon fights back. 

"I don't have many down days," she says.

Every step of the way, Heather has Eileen Van Pelt -- her personal nurse navigator.

Van Pelt, an RN said, "I take on cancer patients the first time they're diagnosed and I see them through any treatment they have all the way through survivorship. I'm their best friend. I'm the person they go to if they have questions, problems."

At 34, Heather's one of Eileen's youngest patients. Van Pelt said, "She's a fighter."

Breast cancer tends to be especially aggressive in women her age. The nurse navigator is there when questions arise. 

Gideon said, "I've got her on speed dial on my cell phone when I have a question."

St. Francis Medical Center is one of 16 pilot sites for the National Cancer Institute's nurse navigator program. 

Heather said "She knows everything about me and everything about my treatment and cancer and everything when I call her she can answer questions right away because she knows what I'm talking about."

Van Pelt said she shares a bond with patients like Heather that make her job worthwhile. Van Pelt said, "Everyone asks me how can you be in the field of cancer when you know people will die and the thing is with cancer patients they give back as much as you give to them. They're courageous, awesome people and Heather's just one of those people."

Heather remembers her fear at being diagnosed two years ago. "It's scary at the beginning."

But now she's fighting back, enlisting support wherever she can get it. 

"Doing everything I can on my end to make this work and get through it best I can and be as
healthy as I can."

Heather said the fatigue is the biggest thing, but with the help of her doctor and nurse navigator this wife and mother of four presses on. 

Heather's also thankful for the community support she's gotten in Wood River. She also appreciates her anonymous hope angels who leave gifts at the hospital to encourage her.

Reporter's Notes by Steve White:
St. Francis started its nurse navigator program about a year ago. Van Pelt said she answers questions, like the side effects of treatment. She mostly works with breast cancer patients. She said women often want to know if what they're going through is normal, especially as they lose their hair or deal with fatigue or nausea.

Gideon and her husband have four children, two boys and two girls. She was first diagnosed in May 2007 and again in September 2008. She has just completed 11 rounds of chemo in an IV form, and is also taking chemo in pill form. She said her family, friends, and community have been a great support.