Some breast-cancer advocates are questioning whether this week’s executive shakeup at Susan G. Komen for the Cure will signal any real change at the organization or undo lingering damage from the Planned Parenthood controversy, according to The New York Times and USA Today.

The world’s largest breast-cancer charity announced Wednesday that founder Nancy Brinker was stepping down as chief executive to assume a new management position. Komen President Elizabeth Thompson and two board members resigned.

Barbara Brenner, former head of Breast Cancer Action, and Eve Ellis, a board member at Komen’s New York affiliate from 2004 to 2010, said Ms. Brinker will retain significant power in the organization as chair of its executive committee. “Komen needs to assure us this is real change,” Ms. Ellis said. “This is an organization that has suffered under [Ms. Brinker's] watch.”

Ms. Brinker faced calls to step down earlier this year after Komen suspended cancer-screening grants to Planned Parenthood, a step that was widely viewed as politicizing women’s health care. Though quickly rescinded, the move shook many activists and volunteers, and Komen chapters have seen fundraising decline this year.