Kol docs’ breast cancer ‘navigator’ model features in global journal
Times of India | 30 August 2025
Kolkata: A cancer care model, where breast cancer survivors are deployed as "navigation support" for breast cancer patients in Bengal, has been published in international medical journal The Lancet.
The model, conceptualised by a group of like-minded doctors, is now being implemented in two city hospitals — Institute of Breast Diseases at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Cancer Research Institute and S H Binayak Hospital — as a pilot project.
Titled ‘Jiboner Sathi', the project involves engaging breast cancer survivors as navigators for patients undergoing treatment for the same disease. The cancer "winners" play the role of a friend, guide and mentor throughout the treatment course, giving patients confidence they themselves gained during treatment.
They are trained using a pre-tested curriculum focusing on breast cancer education, communication skills, treatment literacy and psychosocial support. Their skills are tested on dummy cases under supervision. They help patients understand the kind of tests and treatment procedures they need to undergo, in addition to giving their examples of winning cancer. A WhatsApp group has been created for each case, with the patient, navigator, a member of treating team and optionally, a caregiver.
Navigators from one hospital were assigned patients from the other and vice versa, ensuring neutrality and avoiding direct institutional overlap.
They are also remunerated for their voluntary service after completion of at least three months of active support. So far, approximately 15 navigators are active, each catering to three patients at a time in the two hospitals.
‘Developing a sustainable patient navigation model for breast cancer care in India: a survivor-led pilot project', authored by doctors Soumen Das from the Institute of Breast Disease, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Cancer Hospital, Kolkata, Tanmoy Kumar Mandal, medical oncologist at the Institute of Breast Disease and Manipal Hospital, and Anowar Ali Mallick from IPGMER's department of surgery, summarised the need for further research and multi-stakeholder dialogue to determine its wider applicability and integration into routine care.
To ensure sustainability, the authors have launched ‘Nirnay Mitra — Adopt a Cancer Patient' initiative. This community-led micro-donation model enables supporters to fund navigator services through small monthly contributions.