Sandra Gioia*

Rio de Janeiro State Department of Health, 225 Barão de Itapagipe Street, Rio Comprido, 20261-901, Brazil

*Corresponding Author: Sandra Gioia, Rio de Janeiro State Department of Health, 225 Barão de Itapagipe Street, Rio Comprido, 20261-901, Brazil.

Received: June 19, 2026 Published: June 29, 2026

Abstract

This article presents important dimensions of a Patient Navigation Program (PNP) for breast cancer (BC) based on a diagnostic hub of the Rio de Janeiro State Health Department, Brazil, focusing on access to treatment initiation within 60 days, as required by the “60-Day Law” (Federal Law No. 12,732/2012) of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. This law establishes that treatment for any type of cancer for patients in the public health system must begin within 60 days of definitive diagnosis. The article also examines the patient’s experience throughout the entire navigation process and their satisfaction with the relationship and services provided by the Patient Navigator (PN). I invite all readers to understand that health challenges may deserve “better solutions” through collective production for popula- tions in areas where access to healthcare is fragmented and health systems may be fragile and underfunded. In the Brazilian context, a PNP may represent an opportunity to properly implement existing legislation and, as such, has great potential to favor the function- ing of the health system through a healthcare network, strengthening the oncology care pathway, regulation, and health governance.
Keywords: Patient Navigation; Breast Cancer; 60-Day Law; SUS; Public Health; Health Equity

References

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Citation

Citation: Sandra Gioia. “Between Laws and Struggles: Dimensions of Patient Navigation in Breast Cancer Control in Brazil". Acta Scientific Cancer Biology 10.4 (2026): 03-08.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 Sandra Gioia. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.