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

When Art Meets Science: How CREATE Platform May Strengthen Emotional Regulation in Cancer Care

At Kapa3, we recognize that cancer affects far more than the body, challenging the emotions, sense of self, relationships, and quality of life of those suffering. Despite the high prevalence of co-occuring mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, access to mental health services remains limited. This gap between patient needs and healthcare provisions is precisely what motivated us to help develop CREATE, an innovative digital platform designed to support emotional resilience through a powerful combination of art, technology, and emotional engagement (Ladas et al., 2025).

The CREATE (Creative and Resilience through Arts, Technology, and Emotions) platform uses computerised cognitive training (CCT) designed to enhance emotional regulation by integrating working memory training, engagement with famous artwork, and creative emotional expression. Unlike other platforms, it only targets one cognitive function: working memory. Evidence suggests that focusing on a single cognitive function is more effective than targeting multiple ones. Working memory in particular has been found to influence emotional regulation, a skillset with established benefits for anxiety and depression.

CREATE therefore introduces a unified framework that addresses cognitive function, emotional expression, and biological influences such as sleep quality and dopamine activity. Such digital health solutions are increasingly recognized as promising alternatives to standard psychotherapy, offering greater accessibility and affordability while still capable of reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Findings from the pilot study on CREATE were very promising; the participants found the platform easy to use and enjoyable, and showed increased emotional and creative engagement. Although this early research focused on feasibility and validity rather than therapeutic effectiveness, initial findings indicate improvements in emotional regulation. Importantly, the study demonstrated positive relationships between working memory, emotional regulation, and expression of emotion, while also suggesting that sleep and dopamine may mediate these effects.

These insights highlight the importance of lifestyle and biological data in developing personalized digital mental health tools. It is well established in neuroscience that working memory plays a central role in emotional regulation. A stronger working memory allows individuals to better cope with distressing thoughts, shift their attention, and respond more calmly to challenges. For people living with cancer, supporting these cognitive and emotional capacities makes daily life more manageable. Improved thinking skills can facilitate treatment adherence, informed decision-making, and a more effective management of the emotional turbulence that often accompanies illness.

The study relied on a convenience sample made up mostly of cancer-related healthcare professionals, and only one cancer survivor participated. To address this limitation, the next phase of research will focus entirely on cancer patients and survivors. Their unique challenges, including cancer-related fatigue and treatment-related cognitive changes, will be central to refining the platform and ensuring that CREATE is tailored to the needs of those it aims to benefit the most. This creates not only a more impactful intervention but also empowers patients to have a voice in shaping the future of supportive cancer care.

As we look ahead, CREATE offers a hopeful vision for digital mental-health support. It is scalable, affordable, and adaptable, making it especially valuable for people who lack access to mental health care. Intervening early and supporting emotional well-being throughout treatment and survivorship may reduce the long-term strain on healthcare services associated with mental health conditions. As cancer treatment continues to evolve, we must make sure that psychological care develops along with it. And CREATE does just that.

Read the full study

References

Ladas, A. I., Katsoridou, C., Gravalas, T., Klados, M. A., Stravoravdi, A. S., Tsompanidou, N., Fragkedaki, A., Bista, E., Chorafa, T., Petrovic, K., Vlotinou, P., Tsiakiri, A., Papazisis, G., & Frantzidis, C. A. (2025). Creativity and REsilience Through Arts, Technology and Emotions: A Pilot Study on the Feasibility and Validity of the CREATE Platform. Brain Sciences, 15(11), 1171.

‌Article by Despina Chrysostomidou, Psychologist, for Kapa3 Research Insights