Why patient navigation is crucial for cancer prevention and early detection

While we work to increase cancer screenings and healthy behaviors, we must also address the structural and systemic barriers that keep people from seeking care. These barriers contribute to cancer disparities. In other words, differences in cancer outcomes and access to care among various population groups.

Factors such as lack of access to comprehensive health insurance, unreliable transportation to and from appointments, and the complexity of navigating the health care system are some of the many reasons why these health disparities persist in the United States.

What is patient navigation?

Patient navigation is the process of guiding people through the health care system and services, with the goal of improving a patient’s access, care and outcomes. Patient navigators are trained professionals who can provide personalized assistance through an often complex process. They work within health care systems, community-based organizations or patient advocacy groups to support patients with their individual needs in accessing care. This support can include things like:

•  Arranging transportation for appointments

• Providing a translator who can speak the patient’s native language

• Educating community members about healthy behaviors.

How does patient navigation address health disparities?

You may be surprised to learn there are a lot of non-medical factors that impact your health and well-being.

डॉ. हेरोल्ड फ्रीमैन was one of the first to try addressing these non-medical factors for better health outcomes. He noticed that his patients, who were mostly poor and Black, were not receiving cancer treatment until their cancers were in the late stages because of the barriers they faced in accessing care.

“The principal reason that Black people were dying from cancer was because they were poor,” he said.

Dr. Freeman coined the term “patient navigation” and put it into practice, offering free mammograms and individualized assistance to patients who were majority Black, low-income and uninsured. The result? The five-year survival rate of breast cancer patients in his hospital increased from 39% to 70%.

Today, patient navigation takes place across the United States and around the world. Research shows patient navigation improves cancer screenings rates, reduces the time to discover a diagnosis and helps patients start and stick to treatment, especially among historically marginalized populations.

How is the Prevent Cancer Foundation supporting patient navigation efforts? 

In January 2025, the Foundation awarded $1.3 million to patient navigation programs working at the community-level across the United States. Thirteen projects will receive $100,000 over two years to implement or expand programs for patient navigation in their local communities.

Projects include providing education and support to Navajo members for colorectal, breast and cervical cancer screenings, training patient navigators at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Puerto Rico on delivering cancer screenings and care during severe climate events, and launching a mobile cancer screening program to reach residents living in rural Indiana.

Throughout the year, we are spotlighting each of our 13 grantees and the important work they are doing to increase cancer screenings and prevention methods through patient navigation. Follow along on Linkedin to learn more.

With your support, we can continue to fund organizations in areas of high need across the United States doing important work to prevent cancer or detect it early.