Video game improves cancer Rx adherence, understanding

Video game improves cancer Rx adherence, understanding

A video game to help kids learn about cancer is resulting in better drug adherence and improved understanding of the disease, reports the Washington Post. In the game, called Re-Mission, players destroy cancer cells and bacteria using a weapon loaded with antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs. The game teaches kids that if they don't destroy every cancer cell, the disease could come back, which not only makes them sick, but hurts their score in the game. A study of cancer patients aged 13-29 showed that those who played Re-Mission adhered more closely to their antibiotic regiments and maintained higher chemotherapy drug levels, reports the Post. The game is free for cancer patients and the company behind it, nonprofit HopeLab, has distributed 40,000 copies since April.