Cancer doesn’t call for navigation alone. It calls for care.

Cancer is never one-dimensional. Care shouldn’t be, either.

When someone is diagnosed with cancer, it doesn’t just affect their body—it upends their life. Suddenly, they’re facing medical decisions, mental health stress, financial strain, and logistical chaos. In response, many employers and health plans turn to care navigation services, hoping to guide patients through the system with fewer bumps in the road.

But here’s the truth: navigation is a tool, not a solution.

Cancer Care demands more than coordination.

Navigators are incredibly valuable. They help patients understand their insurance, schedule appointments, find local resources, and stay on track during one of the most overwhelming times in their lives. But on their own, navigation isn’t enough.

Most navigators aren’t trained to interpret lab results, review pathology reports, or make clinical recommendations. They don’t oversee treatment protocols or catch signs of recurrence. And they’re not trained to lead care when things get medically complex. 

That’s where Color’s model is different. Our Care Advocates are navigators—but they’re not working alone. They’re embedded in a clinical system, collaborating directly with our oncologists, genetic counselors, PCPs, and nurse specialists. They help patients manage the details and make sure nothing critical slips through the cracks. That’s what makes them so effective, and why our model drives engagement even in hard-to-reach populations. 

When a patient’s life is on the line, we can’t afford to rely on systems that passively route them through care. We need active, clinical engagement at every step. 

What happens without clinical oversight?

Without clinical guidance, care can drift off course. A missed red flag. A treatment plan that doesn’t align with national guidelines. A patient discharged from the hospital without a follow-up plan. Each of these scenarios can lead to worse outcomes for patients and higher costs for employers. 

Cancer isn’t a disease that can be managed by logistics alone. It requires medical expertise—from prevention and early detection through to survivorship and beyond. 

So what does real Cancer Care look like?

It looks like this:

• An oncology nurse reviewing a patient’s symptoms at 10:30PM and flagging a complication before it becomes a crisis
• A genetic counselor helping someone understand their inherited risk, and what to do next
• A Care Advocate tracking down an in-network specialist, scheduling the follow-up, and making sure the patient knows exactly what to expect
• A survivor leading a peer group that helps another patient feel less alone
• A care team that doesn’t just make recommendations, but stays with you to carry them out

That’s not just navigation. That’s actual care. 

Why we built the Virtual Cancer Clinic.

We didn’t build another navigation platform. We built a clinical care model—because cancer demands more than coordination. It demands action, expertise, and a team that shows up when it matters most.

The Virtual Cancer Clinic is designed to deliver true continuity of care, combining 24/7 access to clinicians with proactive, personalized support across every stage of the cancer journey. Here’s who makes that possible:

• Oncologists, spanning medical, radiation, surgical, and hematologic specialties, provide expert oversight and help patients make informed decisions about diagnosis, treatment, and next steps. They coordinate closely with in-person providers—ensuring continuity, not fragmentation.
• Primary Care Providers close a critical gap: patients without a trusted PCP. Our board-certified clinicians also collaborate with existing PCPs and offer integrated primary care, especially for those navigating high-risk or survivorship care, helping maintain whole-person health throughout cancer treatment.
• Oncology Nurses bring hands-on outpatient experience to support day-to-day care. From symptom tracking to treatment follow-through, they make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
• Genetic Counselors identify inherited cancer risks early—helping patients understand their options and take proactive steps before cancer develops or progresses. It’s a frontline defense that too often gets missed.
• Registered Dietitians, certified in oncology nutrition, support treatment recovery and reduce recurrence risk. They help patients regain strength through personalized food and supplement strategies—an often-overlooked but critical piece of whole-person care.
• Survivorship Oncologists fill the void left when treatment ends. They guide patients through the long tail of survivorship, helping manage side effects, monitor for recurrence, and return to life and work with confidence.
• Cancer Connect Coaches offer peer-led emotional support at every stage of the journey. Trained survivors and caregivers facilitate evidence-based mental health groups, helping patients and loved ones feel seen, supported, and connected.
• Care Advocates, certified through the American Cancer Society’s LION program, help guide patients through the practical side of Cancer Care—scheduling, benefits, provider coordination—and much more. Embedded within the clinical team, they help make complex care feel manageable, personal, and connected. 

Together, this team delivers what care navigation alone can’t: clinical depth, emotional support, and hands-on care that adapts to each person’s needs.

For employers, it’s about impact.

This isn’t just about building a better system—it’s about helping real people through the hardest moments of their lives. For employers, that means fewer avoidable hospitalizations, less time spent lost in the system, and a workforce that feels cared for, not just covered. 

Because Cancer Care should do more than guide—it should act.