Strengthening Bridges: A Navigation program for survivors of breast and gynecological cancers post treatment

Patient navigation supports patients during cancer treatment. However, once patients complete their treatment, family and healthcare system support ceases despite patients experiencing a variety of health challenges associated with post cancer treatment. 

The Strengthening Bridges program was a 15 month hospital based pilot study combining a survivorship care plan, nurse patient navigation, lay patient navigation, and monthly educational support groups for breast and cervical cancer survivors post-treatment. Data were collected at three time points.

Participants were on average 54.6 years old; mostly African American (91.5%); almost half having no post high school education and two-thirds receiving Medicaid. At baseline, patients reported the need to talk to others to share their experiences, especially other women. Many more of the women reported a lack of knowledge of late effects at baseline than post intervention. Late effects reported most often were fatigue, chest pain, and neuropathy. Lay patient navigators made many referrals, mostly to the hospital’s social worker , a nurse, and a doctor. Focus group interviews revealed that some patients struggled with using the survivorship care plan while others made full use of it. The support groups were well received, especially session on legal aid, late effects and yoga. The patients praised their navigators highly, especially for having useful knowledge and emotional support.

This pilot study demonstrates that breast and gynecological patients need continued support to obtain quality of life post treatment.  Findings from this study helped develop a comprehensive post treatment cancer survivorship program at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.