My Cancer Navigator: impact on cancer patients & their relatives

My Cancer Navigator (MCN) is a personalized service of the Anticancer Fund that was set up to facilitate better shared decision-making in the management of cancer. To this end, a team of scientists and physicians, answers therapy-related questions of cancer patients and their relatives in an evidence-based manner. During ESMO 2024, results were presented of an explorative and descriptive cross-sectional study assessing the perceived impact of MCN on the emotions and knowledge level of the users and on the communication with healthcare professionals (HCP). In this video, Ms Gabry Kuijten, director of patient information at the Anticancer Fund shares the key take-aways from this study.

Of the 253 invited MCN users, 109 (43.1%) filled out the survey (64.2% patients, 35.8% relatives). The overall knowledge level improved for 86.3% of respondents. In addition, 72.5% of respondents reported a positive overall change in their emotions. Among the responding patients, 68.5% indicated an improved ability to cope with their disease after using MCN and 76.4% of relatives said they were able to better support the patient. In addition, 40.3% of respondents reported a positive change in their ability to communicate with their HCP. Finally, 52% of respondents indicated that their disease management changed after having used the MCN service.

In conclusion, these findings show that MCN effectively supports shared decision-making for both patients and their caregivers. The service has a positive effect on their emotional state, improves their disease knowledge and facilitates a better communication with HCPs.