ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED
18 April 2024
More than 2.3 million people are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and in 95% of countries, breast cancer is the first or second leading cause of female cancer deaths.1 However, not all patients have access to optimal breast cancer care, which results in notable disparities in outcomes within, and across countries around the world.2-4
Established in 2024, the Powering Breast Cancer Progress (PBCP) grant programme is an initiative funded by AstraZeneca and supported by Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) to improve health outcomes for underserved patient populations, with a focus on patient navigation. Learn more about the PBCP grant programme and the 2025 and 2024 awardees below.
Recognising inequities in breast cancer care
The introduction of breast cancer screening, earlier diagnosis and innovative therapies, along with increased disease awareness have considerably improved the survival of people living with breast cancer.5-7 However, significant barriers and inequities persist in patient care, and the reduction in breast cancer mortality has not been shared equally among patient populations. Patients often experience differences in their diagnosis, treatment and care based on who they are and where they live, rather than their clinical needs.2-4
These inequities can lead to significant disparities in patient outcomes, for example:
- The decline in breast cancer mortality rates being observed in high-income countries over the past four decades has yet to be achieved in the majority of low- and middle-income countries.5
- Even within countries, inequities of care can be observed based on several factors, such as age, disability, ethnicity, gender, rural and remote communities, sexual orientation and socio-economic status.2-4
Improving access to patient navigation services
The PBCP grant programme, launched in 2024, is an initiative funded by AstraZeneca and supported by CAF. It was established in recognition of the inequities in breast cancer care around the world and the significant barriers to optimal care that are contributing to avoidable breast cancer deaths. The programme aims to fund innovative and inspiring projects that could help transform breast cancer care for underserved populations through improved access to patient navigation services – an integral part of the patient experience that helps individuals navigate their complex care pathway.7,8
Patient navigation has been identified as a critical evidence-based resource for patients with breast cancer, and has been shown to improve patient outcomes, reduce the impact on healthcare systems and help reduce inequities in breast cancer care.3,8-12
However, there are significant barriers to accessing patient navigation services, and these are even more pronounced among underserved populations.7,8,13 These barriers include a lack of recognition, inconsistent care programme models and approaches, and structural barriers, such as limited resources and investment.7 In some countries, training and professionalisation of patient navigators is lacking, and, in most cases, there is no officially recognised oncology patient navigation certification, resulting in a lack of navigators, being reinforced further by the shortage of nurses worldwide.8
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognised patient navigation as an effective, evidence-informed intervention to support the framework of the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI).11 The GCBI framework offers valuable guidance to governments and health systems worldwide on ways to enhance their systems for detecting, diagnosing and treating breast cancer. The GBCI’s primary goal is to reduce cancer mortality through three key pillars: promoting health and early detection, ensuring timely diagnosis and providing comprehensive breast cancer management.11
The PBCP grant programme specifically focuses on improving diagnosis and comprehensive care management.
2025 grant awardees
In its second year, the PBCP grant programme received more than 50 applications across 25 countries, with two initiatives awarded a grant as follows:
Health Systems Trust (South Africa)
Integrating breast cancer patient navigation services to improve diagnosis and access to treatment and care in urban and rural South Africa
This project supports the implementation of patient navigation strategies in urban Johannesburg and rural Zululand districts to help improve the timeliness of breast cancer diagnosis, reduce treatment delays, and improve treatment completion. The initiative will also strengthen data systems and develop context-specific approaches that address the distinct barriers faced in each setting, including high patient volumes in urban areas and infrastructure limitations and cultural stigma in rural communities.
PATH (Rwanda)
Strengthening breast cancer patient navigation to improve timely breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in Rwanda
This project will strengthen breast cancer care across three districts in Rwanda — Gakenke, Gatsibo, and Nyarugenge — by improving diagnostic services, enhancing referral pathways, and deploying patient navigators to support women throughout the care journey. The programme will also enable real-time patient tracking to improve follow-up and continuity of care.
2024 grant awardees
In 2024, its inaugural year, the PBCP grant programme received over 160 applications from 59 countries, with seven initiatives awarded a grant as follows:
Asociación Salvadoreña para la Prevención del Cáncer (El Salvador)
Prioritising Patient Navigation for Patients with Breast Cancer in El Salvador
The grant will enhance the breast cancer patient navigation strategy in El Salvador by training health personnel via a standardised, continuous and evidence-based method to raise community awareness and provide practical assistance to patients, survivors, relatives and caregivers.
Associazione Nazionale Donne Operate Al Seno - A.N.D.O.S. (Italy)
Screening Help Initiative for Empowerment and Learning in Disadvantaged Women (S.H.I.E.L.D. Women)
The grant will support a new programme to train volunteers as patient navigators, empowering them to guide and support disadvantaged patients throughout their breast cancer diagnosis and care journey, emphasising the importance of early detection and treatment.
Project PINK BLUE - Health & Psychological Trust Centre (Nigeria)
Women Empowering Women: Breast Cancer Navigation and Technology Programme (WEW-BCNAP)
The grant will help train and empower 60 breast cancer survivors and retired nurses as patient navigators, utilising mobile technology to overcome barriers to care in hard-to-reach communities to ensure timely access to evidence-based breast cancer treatment.
IECS - Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria Asociación Civil (Argentina)
Establishing improved patient navigation services for patients with breast cancer across Argentina
The grant will enhance an existing patient navigator programme in Mendoza, Argentina to improve the early and ongoing management of breast cancer, and to serve as a proof of concept for expansion of similar programmes throughout Argentina.
Nueva Vida, Inc. (United States)
Enabling Culturally Sensitive Patient Navigation for Underserved Immigrant Latinas
The grant will support patient navigation services specifically tailored to the underserved immigrant Latina community, leveraging culturally sensitive language and practices to improve the patient experience and access to breast cancer care.
The Aga Khan University (Kenya)
Patient Navigation to Achieve Timely and Efficient Breast Cancer Care in an Under-Resourced Setting
Demonstrating patient navigation as a critical investment to improve outcomes for individual patients and healthcare systems by comparing data between patients who received navigation support and those who did not, focusing on timely diagnosis, treatment adherence and completion of care.
Tigerlily Foundation (United States)
Increasing Access to Patient Navigation for Black Breast Cancer Patients Using Peer Support & Navigation
The grant will help enhance trusted and authentic peer support and navigation services for black breast cancer patients and their families, with a particular focus on those who are economically and socially marginalised. This critical intervention aims to promote equitable care and reduce disparities in outcomes.
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References
- World Health Organisation. WHO launches new roadmap on breast cancer. Available at: https://www.who.int/news/item/03-02-2023-who-launches-new-roadmap-on-breast-cancer. Accessed June 2026.
- Siegel RL, Miller KD, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2018. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians. 2018 Jan;68(1):7-30.
- Brawley OW, Berger MZ. Cancer and disparities in health: perspectives on health statistics and research questions. Cancer. 2008 Oct 1;113(S7):1744-54.
- Byers T. Two decades of declining cancer mortality: progress with disparity. Annual review of public health. 2010 Apr 21;31(1):121-32.
- World Health Organisation. Breast cancer inequities. Available at: https://www.who.int/initiatives/global-breast-cancer-initiative/breast-cancer-inequities. Accessed June 2026.
- Freeman HP, Rodriguez RL. The history and principles of patient navigation. Cancer. 2011 Aug;117(15 0):3539.
- Baik SH, Gallo LC, Wells KJ. Patient navigation in breast cancer treatment and survivorship: a systematic review. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2016 Oct 20;34(30):3686-96.
- AstraZeneca. Patient Navigation Report, 2023. (Z4-58313).
- AstraZeneca. Patient Navigation Report, 2023. (Z4-60834).
- Natale‐Pereira A, Enard KR, Nevarez L, Jones LA. The role of patient navigators in eliminating health disparities. Cancer. 2011 Aug 1;117(S15):3541-50.
- World Health Organisation. Patient navigation for early detection, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Available at: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/379225/9789240100954-eng.pdf?sequence=1. Accessed June 2026.
- Kline RM, Rocque GB, Rohan EA, et al., Patient navigation in cancer: the business case to support clinical needs. Journal of oncology practice. 2019 Nov;15(11):585-90.
- Chan RJ, Milch VE, Crawford‐Williams F, et al., Patient navigation across the cancer care continuum: an overview of systematic reviews and emerging literature. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians. 2023 Nov;73(6):565-89.
Veeva ID: Z4-84102
Date of preparation: June 2026