Newsletter Kapa3| June 2026,From survivorship to quality of life — from information to support — from technology to human-centred care.

May was a month of important developments, scientific outreach and service enhancement for Kapa3. From the new European scientific publication of the MELODIC project and educational participation in international networks, to the development of “Myrto”, the creation of a new Psychological Support Team and support through social and corporate initiatives, Kapa3 continues to bring together knowledge, technology, human care and social action.

Our mission remains focused on equal access for cancer patients and their caregivers to information, rights, services and meaningful support.

1. June: Cancer Survivors Month

June is dedicated to people living with and beyond cancer. Survivorship is not only the end of treatment; it is continuity, adaptation, reintegration, psychosocial support, quality of life and the right to care beyond therapy.

▸ EN: https://www.kapa3.gr/en/june-cancer-survivors-month-title-sep-sitename/

2. Kapa3 Introduces Its New Psychological Support Team

On the occasion of Mental Health Awareness Month and Cancer Survivors Month, Kapa3 introduces its new Psychological Support Team: a safe space for listening, support and empowerment for patients, survivors, caregivers and families.

▸ CONTACT US https://www.kapa3.gr/en/kapa3-introduces-its-new-psychological-support-team/

3. New MELODIC Scientific Publication on the Mental Health of Young Adults with Cancer

Mental health is an integral part of cancer care, particularly for young adults facing the complex challenges of a cancer diagnosis. Kapa3 contributes to the new scientific publication of the European MELODIC project, highlighting the educational needs of healthcare professionals.

▸ READ THE ARTICLE

4. Digital Health and Cancer Survivorship: Kapa3 at the INE-CSC 2026 Conference in Coimbra

Kapa3 participated in the INE-CSC 2026 Conference in Coimbra, contributing to the European dialogue on cancer survivorship, supportive care, digital health and participatory solutions that respond to the real needs of patients and caregivers.

▸ READ THE ARTICL Ehttps://www.kapa3.gr/en/participation-in-ca21152-implementation-network-europe-for-cancer-survivorship-care/

5. Co-creating Myrto: A Digital Health and Rights Navigator for Oncology Patients

Myrto is designed as a digital health and rights navigator — a Patient Empowerment e-Navigator — that goes beyond information provision to guide, support and evolve according to users’ real needs.

▸ READ THE ARTICLE https://www.kapa3.gr/en/myrto-health-navigator-oncology-patients-greece/

6. Learning by Doing: Participation in the European Service Learning 2.0: CoLab Programme

Kapa3 participated in the European programme Service Learning 2.0: CoLab, an initiative connecting academic knowledge with meaningful social action and highlighting collaboration between universities, civil society organisations and community actors.

▸ FIND OUT MOREhttps://www.kapa3.gr/en/learning-by-doing-participation-in-the-european-service-learning-2-0-colab-programme/

7. Alpha Bank and Its Employees Support Kapa3 through the Match for Good Initiative

Through the Match for Good initiative, Alpha Bank and its employees supported Kapa3, strengthening our mission to stand alongside people affected by cancer, their families and caregivers.

▸ FIND OUT MORE https://www.kapa3.gr/en/i-alpha-bank-kai-oi-ergazomenoi-tis-stirizoyn-to-kapa3-kai-tin-isotimi-prosvasi-stin-ypostirixi-ton-ogkologikon-asthenon/

8. 6 Awards for Kapa3 at the 4th Vouliagmeni Summer Crossing: Is There Such a Thing as a “Lonely Race”?

Kapa3 took part in the 4th Vouliagmeni Summer Crossing, sharing a strong message of participation, resilience, empowerment and solidarity. Even when a race seems individual, it does not have to be lonely.

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Participation in CA21152 – Implementation Network Europe for Cancer Survivorship Care

Digital Health and Cancer Survivorship: Kapa3 at the INE-CSC 2026 Conference in Coimbra

The Cancer Guidance Center – Kapa3 participated in the INE-CSC 2026 Conference, part of CA21152 – Implementation Network Europe for Cancer Survivorship Care (INE-CSC), held on 25–26 May 2026 at the Faculty of Medicine (Polo III), University of Coimbra, in Coimbra, Portugal.

The conference was held under the theme “The Next Chapter – Empowering Individuals, Families, and Society for Cancer Survivorship & Supportive Care”, highlighting the need for new approaches to cancer survivorship, supportive care and the translation of innovation into real-world impact for people living with and beyond cancer, their families and society.

Kapa3’s presence in Coimbra represents another important step in its European engagement and in its ongoing effort to connect everyday experience in supporting cancer patients in Greece with European knowledge, research, digital innovation and health policy.

A key highlight was the participation in a round table discussion on facilitators and barriers to the implementation of digital health tools in oncology. The discussion was co-organised by Aristea Kyriaki Ladas and Christos Frantzidis and brought together voices from different European countries and organisations, including representatives from Kapa3, Acreditar Portugal, Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro, ORCO / Madrid Regional Ministry of Health, as well as participants from Poland, Latvia and the United Kingdom.

Among the participants in the round table were Yannis Kontogiorgis and Despoina Pistiolis from Kapa3, Greece, contributing to the European dialogue on digital health, oncology navigation and the participatory development of solutions that respond to the real needs of patients and caregivers.

One of the key messages of the discussion was that digital innovation in oncology is not only a technological challenge. It is also a matter of policy, implementation, equity, trust and accessibility.

For digital tools to make a meaningful difference in cancer care and survivorship, they cannot remain isolated applications or pilot projects. They need to become part of real care pathways, be supported by appropriate policy environments, connect with interdisciplinary practice and be evaluated in terms of effectiveness, implementation readiness, accessibility, equity, sustainability and value.

The discussion also highlighted that digital tools must be designed around the real needs of patients and survivors, not only around technical possibilities. Accessibility across countries, languages, healthcare systems and levels of digital and health literacy must be built in from the beginning.

The role of patient organisations and cancer support communities was also identified as essential. These organisations can act as a bridge between technological innovation and the everyday reality of people affected by cancer. They understand the questions, barriers, fears and needs that are often not fully captured by formal care systems.

For Kapa3, this participation is directly linked to the development of Myrto, its digital health and rights navigator, designed as a tool for empowerment, guidance and support for cancer patients and their caregivers.

Myrto is not approached as a simple information tool. It is being designed as a participatory intervention built around the real needs of people with lived experience of cancer. It is connected to access to rights, social benefits, services, practical guidance and human escalation whenever needed.

The Coimbra experience strengthened the view that digital health must be human-centred, accessible, trustworthy and integrated into a broader ecosystem of care. Technology can meaningfully support cancer care only when it is designed with participation, trust, clear purpose and an equity-oriented approach.

Cancer survivorship is not only about completing treatment. It is about quality of life, mental health, social reintegration, work, family, everyday life, access to services and the feeling that no person is left alone after diagnosis or treatment.

Through its participation in European networks such as INE-CSC, Kapa3 continues to contribute to the dialogue on more equitable, participatory and person-centred cancer care. Care that uses technology without losing sight of the human being at its centre.

The future of cancer support will not depend only on better digital tools, but on better collaboration between patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers, technology partners, patient organisations and policymakers.

For Kapa3, this is at the heart of its mission: transforming knowledge into action, technology into support, and the voice of patients into services that respond to their real needs.

More information: INE-CSC – Implementation Network Europe for Cancer Survivorship Care.More information:
https://inecancersurvivorship.com

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) are transforming oncology, giving patients a greater role in managing their treatment.

Recent studies have shown that using digital tools to collect medical data outside the traditional clinical setting reduces delayed symptom reporting, limits severe side effects, decreases hospitalizations and emergency visits, while improving survival and quality of life for patients.

In practice, this means digital applications allow patients to promptly inform their doctors of any issues, reducing risks and enhancing their daily experience during treatment.

Based on these findings, in 2022, ESMO published guidelines for integrating patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) into clinical practice, recommending electronic platforms over paper questionnaires (Ann Oncol. 2022).

Dr. Charles Ferté, Chief Medical & Patient Officer of the Resilience solution, developed in collaboration with the Institut Gustave Roussy in France, highlights that AI can address limitations in using patient reports in oncology. According to him, about 50% of patients’ side effects go unreported, either due to forgotten symptoms or staff workload. Mild but persistent side effects are often overlooked, affecting treatment effectiveness.

The Resilience solution includes an online platform for doctors and nurses to monitor symptoms and receive alerts, and a mobile app for patients to submit real-time data. Data are processed through AI algorithms and transformed into actionable insights for the oncology team, facilitating timely intervention and care optimization. This enables doctors to monitor patients in real time and prevent complications before they become serious.

Additionally, the solution incorporates Natural Language Processing (NLP) to extract data from medical notes and lab results, and a predictive algorithm estimates the risk of severe side effects and unplanned hospitalizations.

Patient engagement is crucial: compliance with weekly questionnaires reaches up to 85%, with many describing the app as a “lifeline” during treatment. Although initially thought to appeal only to younger patients, research shows acceptance spans all ages (JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2018; J Geriatr Oncol. 2024).

The solution can also screen large patient populations, identifying those who would benefit from a hybrid care model—digital tools combined with in-person support, such as behavioral and cognitive therapy. Continuous data collection allows RPM to expand to social and behavioral indicators, including isolation, employment, access to care, addictions, physical activity, or food insecurity.

Finally, digital data open new avenues in research: the Resilience database includes over 20,000 patients across 140 hospitals in France, Belgium, Germany, and Spain, enabling real-world data use for more targeted clinical research. In the future, digital phenotyping will allow monitoring of physical and cognitive indicators via mobile sensors like pedometers and gyroscopes, offering a more comprehensive view of the patient experience.

It is clear that cancer care can now rely not only on patient and professional engagement but also on data analysis that uncovers hidden aspects of patients’ daily lives and symptoms.

Kapa3 remains at the forefront of oncology developments, continuously updating on new technologies and practices, actively supporting patients and caregivers, and creating tools and resources that ease daily life. Focused on patient empowerment, Kapa3 bridges scientific knowledge with practical solutions, ensuring everyone feels guided and safe throughout their treatment journey.

Text/Adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3

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