Bridging the Gap

Sarcomas are rare cancers that pose complex treatment and psychosocial challenges, particularly in resource-constrained settings like the Philippines. Navigation plays a vital role in bridging gaps in care delivery. This article aims to define and describe the roles of a Sarcoma Nurse Navigator in a Philippine tertiary referral hospital and evaluate how these roles align with existing global literature. Using personal narrative and experience-based reflection, the authors identified seven core roles performed by the Sarcoma Nurse Navigator. The identified roles include: (1) Advocacy and Assessment, (2) Bridge to the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), (3) Care Coordination, (4) Data Management, (5) Emotional Support, (6) Follow-up Care, and (7) Guidance for Resource Mobilization and Access Support. These roles reflect the different challenges cancer patients face in the Philippine setting and may serve as a template for other navigation programs in the country.