A healing game for cancer patients

For the past one month, 18-year-old Vivek Chandran has been looking forward to the virtual bashing of cancer cells even as his own body prepares to do so in real life. This, says his father Venkatesh Chandran, has boosted the morale of his son, who was diagnosed with blood cancer a year ago.

Vivek is one of the 20-odd cancer patients in the country who have been introduced to 'Re-mission', a PC-based game designed specifically for cancer-stricken children and adolescents.

Designed and launched by a US-based NGO a few years ago, Re-mission was introduced in the country by disease management company Kartavya Healtheon a couple of months ago.

"Initially, it was very difficult for us to try and talk to him about the condition. In fact, there were certain things about the disease that even we were not aware of. Now, apart from enjoying a couple of hours of the game, Vivek learns things like muscle relaxation exercises," said Venkatesh.

Re-mission allows players to pilot a nano robot, Roxxi, through bodies of fictitious cancer patients, killing cancerous cells as she sails thorough various levels of the game. Topics like timely reporting of symptoms, proper nutrition and compliance of oral chemotherapy regimen are addressed at various points in the game.

Studies performed by researchers at Stanford University had shown that participation in the game helped in activating parts of the brain involved in motivation and improving adherence to prescribed medication.

"There are very few motivational tools available for cancer-stricken children. If a video game is serving as a mode of education as well as diversion therapy, it is definitely a great step forward," said Dr Shrikant Athreya from the palliative care centre of the Tata Memorial Centre.

While the CDs of the game have been given to only around 20 patients in a few cities in the country, Re-mission has received positive feedback from users.

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