Empowering cancer patients through CancerAid

Drawing on results and learnings from its highly successful app, CancerAid has recently developed a new six-week coaching program that empowers members living with cancer to get greater control over their disease. The CancerAid Health Coach Program includes:

• Weekly evidence-based educational modules.
• Self-management tools and techniques.
• A personal coach who regularly checks in to provide help and wellbeing support.
• Motivation to keep cancer patients active and engaged in their own care.

At the start of each week, patients are given an evidence-based educational module that can help them organise their care. The importance of these activities, including symptom tracking and maintaining physical exercise and activity, is explained to patients and they’re given tools within the CancerAid app to manage them. In addition, a personal health coach regularly checks in to ensure patients are engaged by providing support and motivation. With the CancerAid Coach Program, members who are undergoing cancer treatment are active participants engaged in their care.

The CancerAid Coach program represents a combined digital and personalised approach, helping patients to navigate their care and achieve improved health outcomes. The initiative is in line with the latest evidence put forward by integrative oncology and has been developed in partnership with leading cancer support health professionals, marking a significant step forward in the long-pursued industry goal of providing personalised and patient-centric support.

The pilot program consisted of 50 customers, educating them on how to better manage their care while empowering them to actively participate in decisions around their health management. After completion of the pilot, there was a 39 per cent improvement in the number of patients actively managing their health by tracking their symptoms via the app.

“We are extremely excited to partner with AIA Australia to be able to bring our innovative program to even more patients” says Dr Raghav Murali-Ganesh, CancerAid co-founder. “The program is based on the concept of participatory health, whereby we empower patients and caregivers to make behavioural changes to drive improved clinical outcomes with access to evidence-based tools and support for patients who are in need of this.”

CancerAid is a signatory to both the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (AFOEM) and the Health Benefits of Good Work Charter by the Royal Australian College of Physicians (RACP). This charter aims to promote the benefits of good work on people’s health and wellbeing. The joint CancerAid and AIA program brings together technology, behavioural psychology, and evidence-based practices in the aim of improving clinical outcomes for patients following a cancer diagnosis.

"Surely I can’t be the only one that doesn’t know what to do or how to deal with chemo fatigue amongst other things? I find myself referring back to the CancerAid app.”
- Rosemary

“CancerAid was extremely attractive because I felt empowered and in control to face cancer and I could look at the information remotely.”
- Lisa

"CancerAid is a great app, there are so many expenses attached to cancer treatment. It’s so nice to have access to something that is free.”
- Kerry