Developing “The Health After Cancer Podcast” to amplify cancer survivors’ voices through digital storytelling

Abstract

BackgroundCancer survivors experience complex medical and psychosocial challenges after a cancer diagnosis, leading to unmet informational and emotional needs. There is a paucity of cancer survivorship educational resources co-created by survivors and medical professionals. ObjectiveOur aim was to create an educational resource for cancer survivors, caregivers, and medical professionals that would leverage digital storytelling to address survivorship topics. Patient involvementOur content and production team included cancer survivors, clinicians, educators, and design experts. All content was co-created by cancer survivors and medical experts. MethodsWe conducted an environmental scan of existing cancer survivorship educational resources in academic and public domains. Applying human-centered design principles, we incorporated patient perspectives through advisory board meetings and focus groups and identified a podcast as the preferred medium. We selected content and speakers, produced the podcast, and developed a corresponding website. ResultsBased on patient recommendations, podcast episodes address mental health, fear of cancer recurrence, relationships, parenting, relating to a new body, care transitions for adult survivors of childhood cancer, disclosing health information, and financial burden of cancer. Podcast guests were invited based on lived or learned experience in these domains. Thirteen guests (survivors, experts) and four hosts (two cancer survivors, two oncologists) co-created 15 podcast episodes. Podcast guests found the storytelling experience to be powerful and therapeutic. DiscussionDigital storytelling is a scalable and accessible educational tool for communicating complex survivorship concepts that can amplify survivors’ voices and increase awareness among survivors and clinicians. Co-creation of educational resources for cancer survivorship by survivors and professionals is a feasible and innovative educational strategy. Practical ValueA podcast created by and for cancer survivors in partnership with medical experts highlights opportunities for peer-to-peer digital storytelling to foster community among survivors and caregivers. FundingPodcast production was supported by the Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Center.