Video game helps kids fight cancer

Kids with cancer now have a new tool for understanding and fighting their disease. Re-Mission, a new video game created by HopeLab, is a "3-D shooter" that takes kids through the bodies of young patients with different forms of cancer, and it's having an incredible effect on patients.

The idea is that it's much easier to learn when you're playing and having fun. Through playing the game, the kids learn information about the disease, quality of life, self-effacy (which the company defines as being able to take action in a challenging situation) and how to adhere to their medication.

By winning the game, the kids feel like they can win their medical battle

According to an outcome study conducted by HopeLab, the overall self-effacy score of patients increased dramatically, and Re-Mission players maintained higher blood levels of chemotherapy and showed higher rates of antibiotic utilization -- thus, the method was helpful in 80% of patients.

What an amazing idea!

[via Neatorama]