Association Savoir Patient

What Association Savoir Patient does

Association Savoir Patient (ASAP) is a Geneva-based non-profit association founded on 26 August 2003 to formalize and disseminate the experiential knowledge of people living with disease, primarily breast cancer. It operates the Réseau Cancer du Sein, a working group that coordinates a portfolio of patient-facing programs and clinician-facing tools, including the Carnet de Bord (a registered, trademarked patient journal and self-management tool) and the Observatoire des Effets Adverses (OEA), a database and newsletter series collecting patient-reported adverse-effect data. Supporting programs include the Marrainage peer-mentoring helpline (365/7 across Geneva, Vaud, and an English-language line), Café-Rencontre community meetings, Ateliers Rencontre workshops, Antenne Femmes Jeunes (a young-women support line), Mouvement & Cancer (a physical-activity program), and awareness/educational media including a documentary film, a traveling exhibition, and a co-authored Livre Blanc on intimacy after cancer.

The organization serves breast cancer patients (and increasingly prostate cancer patients), their families and caregivers, healthcare professionals, and academic researchers. Its underlying platform is human-centered rather than technology-centric: the core Carnet de Bord exists in both a physical format and a digital prototype (e-Carnet de Bord) with a self-assessment of pain module, but the association does not publish APIs, mobile apps, or AI-driven features. Distribution runs through direct channels (Geneva office, multi-canton helplines, partner hospitals) and indirect channels (social media, newsletters, the annual Pink Night with Genève-Servette Hockey Club and Dîner de Soutien at Palais Eynard).

Its business model is that of a Swiss non-profit association: all services are provided free of charge, and revenue is generated through individual donations (postal, bank transfer, QR code) and public/institutional funding from bodies such as the Canton of Geneva, with no disclosed product pricing, contract values, or revenue figures. The association is volunteer-driven with a small permanent staff at the Geneva headquarters, governed by its members (patients, professionals, and researchers) and audited financial statements are not published.

Name

Association Savoir Patient

Legal name

Association Savoir Patient

Website

https://savoirpatient.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Association Savoir Patient is a Geneva-based non-profit that develops patient-experiential knowledge tools and programs, primarily for breast cancer patients across Romandy, including the Carnet de Bord journal, the Observatoire des Effets Adverses database, and the Marrainage peer-support helpline.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Patient Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Patient Support Programs & Device/Vaccine Vigilance (PSP/PSUR support) (HLAGALAK)

Keywords

• Patient support services
• Breast cancer care
• Peer mentoring programs
• Patient advocacy nonprofit
• Healthcare education tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization relies on donations from individuals and organizations. Financial support can be made via postal payment, bank transfer (IBAN: CH07 0900 0000 1720 0012 9), or QR code payment.
2. Public/Institutional Funding: Support from public institutions including the Canton of Geneva and other government bodies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Association Savoir Patient (ASAP) is a non-profit association that develops synergies between patients, frontline healthcare professionals, and researchers to improve breast cancer care and quality of life. Its core deliverables are the Carnet de Bord © patient journal and its digital prototype e-Carnet de Bord © (with a pain self-assessment tool), the Observatoire des Effets Adverses (a patient-reported adverse-effects observatory/database and newsletter), and the Marrainage peer-support program pairing newly diagnosed women with trained former patients. These are complemented by community workshops, monthly Café-Rencontre meetings, the Antenne Femmes Jeunes service for women diagnosed before age 40, the Mouvement & Cancer physical-activity program, and educational media (documentary film, traveling exhibition, white paper).

Product overview

The Association Savoir Patient (ASAP) is a non-profit patient-knowledge organization founded in Geneva in 2003. It operates primarily through its Réseau Cancer du Sein (Breast Cancer Network), which coordinates a portfolio of programs and tools for breast cancer patients and healthcare professionals. The core products are the Carnet de Bord © (a comprehensive patient logbook, also available in digital form as the e-Carnet de Bord ©) and the Observatoire des Effets Adverses (OEA, a patient-reported outcomes database and newsletter series). These are supported by peer-support services (Marrainage Parrainage), community gatherings (Café-Rencontre, Ateliers Rencontre), educational media (Film documentary, Exposition Témoignages, the Livre Blanc publication), a young women's antenna (Antenne Femmes Jeunes), and a physical activity program (Mouvement & Cancer). Awareness is amplified through flagship annual events — Pink Night and the Dîner de Soutien — organized under the Octobre Rose campaign. The organization does not offer a technology product with AI capabilities or a public API; its focus is on human-centered care coordination, patient education, and collective expertise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Le Carnet de Bord ©: A patient journal/tool to help navigate and maintain direction while facing breast cancer
• L'Observatoire des Effets Adverses
• Marrainage Cancer du Sein
• Comité Qualité de Vie et Cancer du Sein
• Antenne Femmes Jeunes

Products and services

• Carnet de Bord © (Patient Journal) A registered-trademark patient logbook (journal de bord) designed to help breast cancer patients navigate their care journey, track treatments, symptoms, and quality of life, and maintain orientation throughout the disease process. It serves as a self-management and communication tool between patients and healthcare providers.
• e-Carnet de Bord © (Digital Patient Journal) The digital/electronic version of the Carnet de Bord © logbook, featuring a prototype e-tool for self-assessment of pain. Designed for breast cancer patients to track and self-assess symptoms digitally.
• Observatoire des Effets Adverses (OEA) An observatory initiative that collects and studies adverse effects experienced by breast cancer patients during and after treatment. It maintains a database of patient-reported outcomes to feed research and improve care quality, and publishes thematic newsletters on specific side-effect topics (cognitive effects, weight, intimacy, early detection).
• Marrainage Parrainage (Peer Support Program) A peer-support mentoring program connecting women diagnosed with breast cancer to trained former patients (marraines) who provide listening, companionship, and practical information from diagnosis through and after treatment. Available 365 days a year via dedicated helplines in Geneva, Vaud, and English.
• Café-Rencontre "Entre Nous" Monthly social meetings for women affected by breast cancer, held on the first Thursday of each month, providing a space for sharing experiences and mutual support. Also extended to a 'Tout Cancer' format hosted at Clinique Générale-Beaulieu.
• Réseau Cancer du Sein (Breast Cancer Network) A working group bringing together patients and healthcare professionals to develop innovative projects aimed at improving breast cancer care and patient quality of life. It coordinates flagship projects including the Carnet de Bord ©, Marrainage, the OEA, and awareness events.
• Antenne Femmes Jeunes A dedicated support service for young women (under 40) affected by breast cancer, providing tailored resources and a community for patients diagnosed before the age of 40.
• Mouvement & Cancer A physical activity program for cancer patients, promoting movement to maintain mobility, strength, and endurance, reduce treatment side effects, and foster social connections through group activities.
• Ateliers Rencontre (Workshops) Facilitated workshops on topics such as communication, pain management, and fatigue, run by OEA professionals. They allow women to share experiences and learn to use the Carnet de Bord © tools, and are open to women without the logbook.
• Film "Cancer du sein: Parole de Femmes ©" A documentary film in which women and their families share their experience of navigating breast cancer, used as an educational and awareness-raising tool.
• Exposition Témoignages A traveling exhibition organized into five modules covering five key themes related to breast cancer, presenting patient testimonies to raise awareness and educate the public.
• Livre Blanc — Vie intime et sexuelle (White Paper) A white paper on intimate and sexual life after breast and prostate cancer, co-written by patients, partners, and healthcare professionals, published by Médecine et Hygiène in 2012.
• Newsletter de l'OEA A periodic newsletter published by the Observatoire des Effets Adverses covering specific themes such as cognitive effects, weight changes, intimacy, and early detection, featuring patient testimonies, expert interviews, and scientific literature reviews.

Quantifiable outcome

• Peer support available 365 days/year, 7 days/week through Marrainage program

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Ville de GenèveflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the City of Geneva for organizing support events including the annual Dîner de Soutien at Palais Eynard.
• Genève-Servette Hockey Club (GSHC)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration for the annual Pink Night event at Patinoire des Vernets, combining sports and breast cancer awareness during October Rose.
• Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (OSR)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMusical performances at support events including concerts benefiting the breast cancer network.
• Canton de GenèveflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial support from the Canton of Geneva for organizational activities and mission.
• Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève (HUG)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research with HUG including studies on neurocognitive effects, physiotherapy programs, and patient partner involvement at the hospital.
• Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois (CHUV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for breast center activities including Forums, research collaboration, and weight management programs for cancer patients.
• Swiss Cancer League / Ligue suisse contre le cancerflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational cancer organization providing support, certification for breast centers, and collaborative programs.
• Geneva Breast Cancer Screening Program / Fondation genevoise pour le dépistage du cancer du seincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on breast cancer screening awareness and early detection initiatives.
• Canton Cancer Ligues (Romandy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partnerships with cancer leagues in Vaud, Valais, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Jura, and Geneva for patient support services.
• Clinique Générale-BeaulieuminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCafé-Rencontre Entre Nous sessions hosted at the clinic, animated by trained marraines from the association.
• Hôpital de La TourminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarraine presence at the oncology department and partnership for patient support services.
• Centre hospitalier de RennazminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCafé-Rencontres organized in collaboration with the medical oncology service for cancer patients.
• Centre du Sein, RHNe La Chaux-de-FondscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertified breast center partnership for patient care and professional collaboration.
• Global Health ForumflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecognition as key projects (projets-phares) at the 6th Geneva Global Health Forum in 2016 for innovative patient-centered healthcare approaches.
• Swiss Cancer ScreeningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on organized screening programs across Swiss cantons and breast center accreditation.
• Haute école de santé (HES-SO Genève)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for physiotherapy research and student involvement in cancer care studies.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cancer Support Community: US-based non-profit providing social and emotional support, including peer-led programs for cancer patients. Directly comparable in offering community-based, peer-driven support and patient empowerment tools.
• Pink Ribbon Switzerland: Swiss breast cancer awareness and fundraising organization. Comparable to ASAP in its breast cancer focus, awareness campaigns (Octobre Rose), and donor-supported non-profit model.
• Ligue suisse contre le cancer / Swiss Cancer League: Switzerland's national cancer non-profit and a current flagship partner of ASAP. Operates across all cancer types with patient support, information, and advocacy services, directly overlapping with ASAP's Réseau Cancer du Sein in scope and audience.
• Europa Donna Switzerland: Swiss branch of the European breast cancer advocacy coalition. Focused specifically on breast cancer patient advocacy, screening, and policy, directly comparable to ASAP's breast cancer mission and advocacy posture.

Broad incumbents

• Macmillan Cancer Support: Leading UK cancer support charity offering peer support, information, and practical services to people affected by cancer. Closely comparable community-led, donation-funded model with a strong peer-support and information ethos.
• Susan G. Komen: Large global breast cancer non-profit combining research funding, patient support, and awareness. Comparable mission and patient-support philosophy, with analogous flagship products such as patient navigation and educational resources.
• Livestrong Foundation: US cancer survivorship non-profit known for patient navigation, survivorship resources, and quality-of-life programs. Comparable to ASAP in elevating patient expertise and offering self-management tools across the cancer journey.
• Breast Cancer Now: Major UK breast cancer research and support charity. Comparable to ASAP in combining patient support, peer connection, and information tools specifically for breast cancer patients, though at much greater scale.

Emerging players

• Young Survival Coalition: US non-profit focused specifically on young women diagnosed with breast cancer. Directly analogous to ASAP's Antenne Femmes Jeunes sub-program in targeting the under-40 breast cancer population.

Regional players

• Ligue contre le cancer (France): France's principal cancer non-profit, offering patient support, research funding, and advocacy. Comparable mission and structure to ASAP and its Swiss partners, operating in the adjacent French-speaking market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/100064825835991
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-savoir-patient
• Instagraminstagram.com/reseau_cancerdusein

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Association Savoir Patient