People living in rural areas with certain cancers may experience delays in care. This study wants to see if a case management program that gives added support during cancer treatment through patient navigation and counseling prevents delays in care. If you are interested, you will have a visit to see if you are a good fit for the study. At this visit, you will fill out a survey about your health and how you are feeling. If you qualify, you will be randomly placed, like flipping a coin, into either the case management program or usual care at your hospital. If you are placed in the case management program, you will get 10 patient navigation and 10 counseling sessions by telehealth during your cancer treatment. These sessions help with care planning and emotional support. Counseling sessions are available only if you live in Colorado. If you live outside of Colorado, we will work with you to find the best way to support you. The sessions will focus on stress, anxiety, and depression. You will fill out surveys at the start of the program and again at 3 to 6 months. If you are placed in the usual care group, you will continue to get your regular care at your hospital. You will fill out surveys at the start of the study and again at 3 months and 6 months. It will take you about 30 minutes to fill out the surveys at each timepoint. You may complete surveys online, by phone, by mail, or by video visit. If you are in the usual care group and show signs of stress, anxiety, or depression, you will be referred to mental health services at your hospital or in your community. You will get $25 each time you answer a survey. The study will last about 6 months.

Who can Participate

You may be able to join this study if you are at least 18 years old and have been diagnosed with lung (small cell or non-small cell), head-and-neck, (mouth, throat, voice box, salivary glands, or thyroids), breast, cervical, colon or rectum, and/or bladder cancers. Your cancer can be at any stage. You must be willing to get treatment for your cancer. You need to speak and read in English or Spanish. You must live in a rural county, come from an area that does not have enough doctors or is medically underserved. You must get cancer care at one of the following locations: UCHealth Metro Denver, UCHealth Highlands Ranch, UCHealth North (includes Greeley Hospital, Medical Center for the Rockies, Poudre Valley Hospital, and Yampa Valley Hospital), UCHealth Memorial, Montrose Regional Health – San Juan Cancer Center, Parkview Medical Center, Saint Mary’s Hospital and Medical Center, or Rocky Mountain Cancer Center in Pueblo, CO.

Study ID

More information available at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04916990