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As healthcare professionals who work with people living with cancer, we often see patients when they are most vulnerable.

The American Cancer Society estimates that over 1.6 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2012.

Boston Medical Center (BMC) is a private, not-for-profit academic medical center and the primary teaching affiliate for Boston University School of Medicine.

Patient navigation (PN) in cancer care refers to the individualized care provided to the breast cancer patients, families, and caregivers to ease multiple barriers and facilitate timely access to qualified medical and psychosocial care.

As the growing scope and importance of patient navigation evolves, core principles remain at the heart of each program. Dr Harold Freeman has identified and practiced these principles over the last 20 years.

Patient navigation in cancer care refers to the individualized care provided to breast cancer patients, families, and caregivers to ease multiple barriers and facilitate timely access to qualified medical and psychosocial care.

A collaborative approach to patient navigation that involves both clinical and community navigators can ensure that the final navigation program reflects the needs of your particular institution, according to Linda Fleisher, PhD, MPH, assistant vice president of Health Communications and Health Disparities at Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia.

Tarrant, Denton, Wise, Parker, Hood, and Johnson counties have a higher incidence of invasive breast cancer than any other part of Texas.