Supporting Young Breast Cancer Survivors, Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients, and their Families (DP-24-0061)

Overview

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Division of Cancer Prevention and Control announces the availability of fiscal year 2024 funds for Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) CDC-RFA-DP-24-0061: Supporting Young Breast Cancer Survivors, Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients, and their Families.

Early-onset breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States. Breast cancer diagnosed in women younger than 45, called early-onset breast cancer, is often more aggressive than breast cancers found in older women and found at an advanced stage. Early-onset breast cancer is more likely to reduce the patient’s life expectancy and cause physical, psychosocial, and financial challenges.

Metastatic breast cancer

Many young women diagnosed with breast cancer develop metastatic breast cancer (mBC). Metastatic, or stage IV, breast cancer is when cancer cells have spread from the breast to distant parts of the body. About 30% of women with mBC live 5 years or fewer after diagnosis. A study reported that the incidence of mBC in young women increased by more than 2% each year from 1976 to 2017. The intensity of care for mBC is significant and expensive, particularly in younger women with tumors that are more aggressive and harder to treat.

Support services

Psychosocial and structural support services help meet the mental, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of survivors and their families. These services can help survivors express and manage disease-related emotions and social concerns, thus improving their quality of life. Psychological and behavioral resources may not be included in survivorship care due to complex billing requirements, minimally qualified staff, complex care settings, and the wide variety of patient needs.

Priority populations

Some groups of young breast cancer survivors (YBCS) and mBC patients would benefit from additional support. These priority populations include, but are not limited to:

• Members of racial and ethnic groups (African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native).
• Young women facing breast cancer with high risk (such as women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent).
• Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) community.
• People with low incomes.
• People with disabilities.

Purpose

This NOFO seeks to provide support to entities that improve the quality of life among YBCS and young mBC patients. The outcomes of this NOFO are to increase equitable access and availability of psychosocial and structural support services for YBCS, mBC patients, and their families, and improve patient-provider interactions during follow-up care.

This NOFO focuses on fostering collaborative relationships with organizations that serve priority populations and comprehensive cancer control coalitions. This NOFO will:

• Provide equitable access to psychosocial and structural support for YBCS, young mBC patients, and their families.
• Provide educational opportunities to YBCS, mBC patients, their families, health care providers, community health workers, and patient navigators.
• Support implementation of strategies to increase equity in cancer care.
• Leverage the collaborative power of organizations serving YBCS and mBC patients to increase the availability of psychosocial support services.
• Facilitate more meaningful patient-provider interactions.

Program history

In March 2010, Congress passed the Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act. It directed CDC to educate young women (particularly those at increased risk) and health care providers about breast cancer risk and breast health, and implement programs to support young women living with a breast cancer diagnosis. In response, CDC developed a portfolio that included science, a health promotion campaign, and traditional public health programs.

This NOFO marks the fourth cycle of the YBCS support program. It is built on the successes and lessons learned from the previous cycles. Findings from previous program evaluations showed that meaningful collaborative relationships with organizations aided in the implementation of interventions that supported policy, systems, and environmental changes. Other findings underscored the importance of educating YBCS, mBC patients, and their loved ones and providing access to psychosocial support resources to manage disease-related emotions, enhance relationships with family and health care providers, and control symptoms. This NOFO seeks to use both proven and new program strategies to achieve program goals.

Eligibility

This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by CDC. If research is proposed, the application will not be considered. This NOFO is unrestricted and open to any type of entity including, but not limited to, the following organizations:

• State, county, city or township, and special district governments.
• Federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native tribal governments.
• American Indian/Alaska Native tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments).
• Independent school districts.
• Public, state-controlled, and private institutions of higher education.
• Public and American Indian housing authorities.
• Nonprofit organizations with or without a 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service.
• For-profit organizations, including small businesses.

Technical assistance mailbox

Potential applicants may direct questions about the funding opportunity and application process to the email address DP24-0061@cdc.gov. CDC staff will respond to all questions within 3 business days. As appropriate, applicant questions and CDC responses will be posted below.

Resources

• Workplan Guidance [PDF-29KB]
• Coalition Involvement Table [PDF-151KB]
• SMARTIE Objective Fact Sheet [PDF-161KB]
• Health Equity Guide [PDF-232KB]
• Comprehensive Cancer Control Branch Program Evaluation Toolkit [PDF-3MB]

Frequently asked questions

Answers to questions will be posted here as they are received.