Developing the first peer support app for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers
The Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation (BMCF), envisioned CancerBuddy as a free mobile app for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers to connect, share, and help each other. This gives people facing cancer strength during their treatment and recovery, and reduces feelings of loneliness or isolation. Launch worked closely with the BMCF team to develop, test, and deploy CancerBuddy’s app for iOS and Android.
Primary goals
Support the needs and goals of different users
Make CancerBuddy useful and valuable to four distinct user personas: patients, survivors, care givers, and hosts. Tailor the experience to each group’s unique context and goals.
Enhance well-being through connection
Facing a serious illness like cancer can be isolating. BFMC wanted to create an app that made it easy for users to connect and find solidarity while navigating their diagnoses and treatment.
Empower caregivers to support patients holistically
Provide caregivers with a way to legally and ethically facilitate patient connections that foster health, healing, and recovery.
Making cancer a little less lonely
CancerBuddy offers a user-friendly interface that empowers users to discover and connect with peers who share similar experiences, providing access to valuable resources, emotional support, and a nurturing community. The platform’s unique features enable users to connect based on factors such as their diagnosis, treatment, experienced side effects, age, interests, affiliated hospital, and geographical location. It fosters meaningful connections, and it contributes to the well-being of individuals navigating the challenges of cancer.
Easily find support
CancerBuddy connects cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers based on location, diagnosis, age, and more, making it easier than ever to find a community of support. Features include one-on-one connection with buddies, expert-moderated groups, live streaming, and additional resources.
Connect in group modules
Users can request access to expert-moderated groups where they can discuss topic-specific subjects. Some examples are the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA), nutrition, counseling, and caregivers groups.
Matching algorithm & buddy chat
We developed an algorithm that suggests users connect based on filters such as diagnosis, hospital, age, gender, side effect, interests, and more. An integrated chat function allows buddies to talk to each other in a way everyone is familiar with, helping users connect more meaningfully more quickly.
2,300 hospitals and counting
The network is growing. Over 2,300 hospitals across the country have signed up to use CancerBuddy, giving tens of thousands of patients, survivors, and caregivers access to the benefits of solidarity and community support.
