The short story

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is an alliance of 20 of the world’s leading cancer centers who help cancer patients live better lives by improving the quality and efficiency of the care they receive.  But what’s “quality” to people who just learned they might die far sooner than expected?

Meaningful interaction with a group whose lives are literally on the line has been almost impossible before Communispace’s online community-– travel is very difficult, committing time is hard to plan, and traditional attempts at gaining insights are so artificial they don’t produce authentic, gut level “a-ha”s. 

NCCN’s community of first time cancer patients and their primary caregivers are helping the cancer centers understand the rational and emotional tug of war and confusion cancer patients feel as they navigate the extended journey of their treatment options.  As a result, the cancer centers are getting first-hand experience on how to change their patient education approaches, and how they deliver an overall support program– making their institutions more successful at improving a patient’s quality of life.