Cancer can be a lonely experience. Full of questions, new terminology and conversations people feel afraid to have; it can feel a little like being thrown in at the deep end without a clue how to swim. With so many people impacted by cancer reporting a decline in their mental health due to their diagnosis, War On Cancer is the app looking turn things around.
What is War On Cancer?
Founded in 2017, War On Cancer is the app looking to radically improve the lives of everyone impacted by cancer. Created by friends, Fabian Bolin and Sebastian Hermelin following Fabian’s diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, when they realised the huge need for mental health support during and after cancer treatment – for people who’ve been diagnosed and their loved ones. The app has members in more than 20 countries and is one of the largest social cancer platforms in the world.
Besides being a community that makes it possible for people going through cancer to connect with others with similar experiences, the War On Cancer app also improves mental health by empowering members of the app to contribute to advancing cancer research and care through in-app surveys, called Health Studies. By amplifying the patient voice and empowering everyone impacted by cancer to contribute to research through sharing their own lived experiences, War On Cancer bridges the gap between the patient’s lived experiences and cancer research and care.
Health Studies
Participation is voluntary and often done in partnership with research institutes and companies. In 2022, War On Cancer is releasing a series of 10 health studies to help better understand and gain insight into what it’s like to experience cancer, what can be improved, and ultimately amplify the patient’s voice and needs to improve cancer care.
War On Cancer’s latest health study, titled ‘Having Children After Cancer’ aims to explore how going through cancer treatment affects attitudes towards people’s wishes to have children, as well as their fertility. By focusing on studies that are currently grey areas in cancer research, War On Cancer hopes to provide deeper insights into the realities of having cancer and allow cancer care to better adhere to people’s needs. By amplifying the patient voice, War On Cancer improves the wellbeing of people during and after cancer and aims to make the future of cancer care truly patient-driven.
The in-app surveys are open to everyone impacted by cancer; patients, survivors, friends and family, and healthcare professionals.
To join the War On Cancer community, connect with others who know what cancer is like, and make your voice heard, download the app here today.
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