Cancer Navigation and Survivorship Network

The Cancer Navigation and Survivorship Network (CaNSuN) facilitates the dissemination and implementation of patient-centered navigation across the cancer control continuum, from cancer prevention to survivorship, in Pennsylvania.

What is Patient Navigation?

Patient navigation is when someone - a patient navigator - guides patients at risk for or suspected to have cancer around barriers in the cancer-care system to help ensure timely diagnosis and treatment. Learn more about patient navigation in cancer care.

Why CaNSuN?

Based upon evaluation and discussions during trainings of Pennsylvania navigators in 2016 and 2017, Penn State Cancer Institute's Community Sciences and Health Outcomes shared resource learned that there was a need for a central source of navigation materials, resources, and communication for the community of cancer navigators, both professional and lay, in Pennsylvania.

With funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, in 2017, Penn State Cancer Institute began development of the Cancer Navigation and Survivorship Network (CaNSuN) and its related website.

What CaNSuN Provides

CaNSuN provides various navigation resources and services, including:

• Comprehensive resource guide including information on local transportation, emergency housing, financial help and healthcare assistance
• Links to evidence-based interventions as well as sources of data that may be used in community assessments and applications for funding
• A password-protected Community Discussion Area in which navigators can share resources, ideas, intervention strategies and success stories
• A Twitter account that provides navigation-related news, articles, and data information that Penn State Cancer Institute has sourced

Navigators who registered for one of the Community Sciences and Health Outcomes shared resource trainings in 2016 or 2017 were notified of the website and invited to become active members of the CaNSuN Community Discussion Area.

Interactive Geospatial Map

Penn State created an interactive geospatial map that illustrates the extent of cancer cases in central Pennsylvania. The Story of Cancer in central Pennsylvania highlights patient navigators who help people overcome barriers to cancer care and action steps to help address cancer in the community.

Contact Us

For details on CaNSuN, contact:

• Eugene J. Lengerich, VMD, MS, Faculty Director, Community Sciences and Health Outcomes shared resource, and Associate Director, Health Disparities and Engagement, Penn State Cancer Institute: elengerich@psu.edu or 717-531-7178