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

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

The Cancer Guidance Center – Kapa3 participated with great joy and emotion in the 4th Vouliagmeni Summer Swimming Crossing, an important sports and community event organised by the Vouliagmeni Nautical Club.

This year’s participation was particularly meaningful for all of us. The Kapa3 team received 6 awards, sharing a powerful message of participation, endurance, empowerment and togetherness.

But beyond the awards, what we hold most deeply is the message:

Is there really such a thing as a “lonely race”?

For us at Kapa3, the answer lies in our choice. And our choice is togetherness.

Despoina brought the idea — and much more.
Eirini stayed until the very end.

Leoni, Kalliopi, Giorgos, Christoforos, Athina, Christiana and Aria stood together as a true Winning Team.

They competed in every category, participated in every activity, informed, supported and left their own mark of empowerment, endurance and hope.

Leoni, Kalliopi, Giorgos, Christoforos, Athina, Christiana and Aria stood together as a true Winning Team.

They competed in every category, participated in every activity, informed, supported and left their own mark of empowerment, endurance and hope.

For Kapa3, the 6 awards are not only an athletic distinction. They are a symbol. They represent the power of effort, the importance of persistence and the value of community in every difficult journey.

ust as in the sea, the cancer journey requires rhythm, breath, emotional strength and people by our side. Even when a struggle feels personal, it does not have to be — and should never be — lonely.

Kapa3’s participation in the Vouliagmeni Crossing was an act of presence and awareness. It was a way to remind everyone that support for cancer patients, caregivers and families is not limited to information or access to rights and services. It is also about creating a community that stands beside people, encourages them and reminds them that they are not alone.

The sea carries a powerful symbolism. It represents the journey, uncertainty, effort, endurance, but also freedom. Every participant in the Crossing carries their own story, their own effort and their own path. For us at Kapa3, this image is deeply connected to the experience of people affected by cancer.

At Kapa3, we know that the experience of cancer is not limited to treatment. It is connected to everyday life, emotional resilience, access to information, rights, social benefits, transportation, work, family, uncertainty and the need for human presence.

This is why every community action we participate in has a dual purpose: to inform and to unite. To make visible the need for equal access to care, while also reminding everyone that support is not an abstract concept. It is presence. It is care. It is listening. It is guidance. It is the hand that helps someone keep going.

The 4th Vouliagmeni Summer Crossing was another moment of outreach, participation and empowerment for Kapa3. A moment that showed that strength is not found only at the finish line, but also in the decision to start, to try and to keep going.

We are grateful for the support, the care, the participation and the result.

We warmly thank the Vouliagmeni Nautical Club for organising the event, as well as everyone who participated, supported and stood beside us in this initiative.

We continue to choose togetherness at Kapa3.

Because even when a race is individual, it should never be lonely.

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

Kapa3 participates in the new scientific publication of the European MELODIC project, entitled:

“Educational Needs Regarding Mental Health of Professionals Working with Young Adults with Cancer: A European Survey.”

The publication addresses a highly important issue in contemporary cancer care: the educational needs of healthcare professionals working with young adults with cancer, particularly in relation to recognising and supporting mental health concerns.

Young adults experiencing cancer often face complex psychosocial challenges. Diagnosis, treatment, changes in daily life, impact on studies, work, relationships, body image and future planning can deeply affect their mental health and quality of life.

The European study, involving 271 healthcare professionals from 21 countries, highlighted an important gap between professionals’ willingness to support patients and the systematic use of validated assessment tools. While approximately half of the participating professionals reported feeling confident in identifying mental health issues, only a small percentage reported using validated screening tools.

This finding is particularly important. It shows that awareness and professional experience are valuable, but they are not enough on their own. Targeted education, appropriate tools, interdisciplinary collaboration and clear support pathways are needed so that the needs of young adults with cancer can be recognised early and addressed in a comprehensive way.

The message of the publication is clear: the education of healthcare professionals can make a meaningful difference in the early recognition, support and care of young adults with cancer.

At Kapa3, this approach is a core principle of our work. Before every intervention and every support action, there is education, information and empowerment of the people who stand beside patients.

Kapa3 professionals and collaborators are trained, informed and actively involved in European projects such as MELODIC, ensuring that the support provided is evidence-informed, human-centred and meaningful.

Kapa3’s active participation in such scientific initiatives strengthens its role as an organisation that connects research with practice, European knowledge with real patient needs, and education with everyday care.

We are proud of our participation in the MELODIC project and of our contribution to a European effort that highlights the importance of mental health, early recognition and targeted education in cancer care.

More information: https://lnkd.in/e9Pw4epy

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

The Cancer Guidance Center – Kapa3 warmly thanks Alpha Bank and its employees for their meaningful support through the Match for Good initiative, through which Alpha Bank doubled the contribution of its employees.

Through this initiative, six non-profit organisations from across Greece received financial support during a special event held at Alpha Bank’s headquarters, in the presence of representatives of the organisations. The event was hosted by the Chairman of Alpha Bank’s Board of Directors, Mr. Dimitris Tsitsiragos, and the Chief Human Resources Officer, Ms. Fragiski Melissa.

Mr. Dimitris Tsitsiragos highlighted that the Match for Good initiative puts into practice Alpha Bank’s commitment to consistently support organisations that create a positive social impact. He underlined that when the individual contribution of employees is combined with the Bank’s support, it becomes a collective force with tangible results.

Ms. Fragiski Melissa noted that Match for Good reflects the Bank’s new culture in practice, giving employees an active role in selecting, participating in and supporting initiatives with social value.

Kapa3 was represented by Ms. Evangeli Bista, co-founder of the Organisation, and Ms. Despoina Chrysostomidou, collaborating psychologist. During the event, they had the opportunity to present Kapa3’s work and discuss the social impact that can be created when corporate responsibility meets the active participation of employees.

For all of us at Kapa3, this support is particularly meaningful. It strengthens our daily effort to stand beside people with lived experience of cancer, as well as their families and caregivers, offering guidance, information, support in accessing rights and services, and practical empowerment tools.

Kapa3 acts as a navigation and support organisation for cancer patients, bridging the gap between need and information, between rights and real access. For many people, especially those living outside major urban centres, the challenge is not only the disease itself. It is uncertainty, bureaucracy, lack of information about available rights, financial burden, transportation difficulties, psychosocial pressure and the need for a reliable companion.

Through initiatives like this, social contribution gains multiplying power and becomes real support for those who need it. The support of Alpha Bank and its employees strengthens Kapa3’s mission: ensuring that no person is left alone when facing cancer, searching for information, navigating procedures or claiming a right they are entitled to.

Health is not only a medical act. It is access, information, dignity, social care and meaningful presence. Every contribution to Kapa3 becomes more guidance, more information, more empowerment and more care for people and families going through a difficult and demanding journey.

We warmly thank Alpha Bank and its employees for their trust, choice and support of Kapa3’s work.

Because when giving becomes collective, it can meaningfully change people’s everyday lives.

20260310 Match For Good Programme Part2 Alpha Bank Via Solid Havas / Thalia Galanopoulou

Match for Good – Alpha Bank (1)

Triple Award for the Kapa3 Team at the Healthcare Business Awards 2023

With the participation of leading representatives from the broader healthcare sector, the Healthcare Business Awards 2023 ceremony was successfully held on Monday, October 2023. The institution, which rewards best practices in entrepreneurship, innovation, and social contribution in the healthcare sector, was organized for the 8th consecutive year by Boussias Events and Health Daily.

At this year’s Healthcare Business Awards 2023, during yet another distinguished ceremony by Boussias Events celebrating Excellence in Innovation, Healthcare, Digital Technologies, and Investments, the Kapa3 team was honored for its efforts to establish social support for oncology patients as a core pillar of their holistic care. We firmly believe that such support must be appropriate, sufficient, and provided in a timely manner by the right people.

The fifteen-member judging committee, composed of distinguished scientists and CEOs of healthcare-related companies and organizations, awarded Kapa3 for its overall contribution during its 3.5 years of operation, its persistent and demanding efforts toward equal and universal access for the population, and the creation of frontline collaborative groups. The Evaluation Committee was chaired by Mr. Nektarios Tavernarakis, Vice President of the European Research Council (ERC), Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), Professor at the Medical School of the University of Crete, and Board Member of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. The committee also included executives from the pharmaceutical sector, company consultants, patient associations, leading physicians and academics, as well as representatives of institutional bodies, among others.

With a total of three awards—GOLD, SILVER, and BRONZE—which we owe to all those who believed in and embraced our vision, to the unwavering support of our supporters and sponsors, our valued partners, and our beneficiaries, who with abundant kindness give us the strength to continue. The award categories are as follows:

K3 GOLD AWARD

GOLD Award for the Kapa3 Mobile Information and Management Units
in the category “Social Welfare, Structures”

K3 BRONZE AWARD

BRONZE Award for the Contribution to Health by the Cancer Guidance Center – Kapa3
in the category “Contribution to Health by NGOs”

K3 SILVER AWARD

SILVER Award for the Mobile Information and Management Unit for Oncology Patients at the University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis
in the category “Quality of Services & Patient Care”

A few words about the Mobile Units

The first Mobile Information and Management Unit began operating at Theageneio Anticancer Hospital of Thessaloniki, one of the largest oncology hospitals in Northern Greece, in collaboration with the Research Laboratory “Care of Adult Cancer Patients” of the Department of Nursing at the International Hellenic University. There, K3 staff and volunteers process patient requests guided by the ideal of “personalized care” for oncology patients, as well as by fostering “trust between patients and healthcare professionals.”

Its successful course, along with research and regional mapping, led to the creation of the second Mobile Information and Management Unit. The mapping data and the field experience of Kapa3’s staff guided us to the region of Thrace—an area characterized by geographical particularities, population heterogeneity, and distance from centers of authority.

The second unit operates in a specially designed space within the University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis. Its aim is to provide comprehensive information to patients and their families, ensuring equal access to healthcare structures, the assertion of their rights, and their social reintegration.

Long-term goals of the Mobile Units

Improvement of patients’ quality of life
Empowerment and active participation of cancer patients in self-care and active prevention
Reduction of required human resources and healthcare costs for the long-term management of cancer patients and survivors
Creation of a group of informed and empowered patients capable of addressing cancer-related issues, as well as a sensitized local community

Kapa3 was founded in March 2020, with priority given to citizens’ accessibility to beneficial provisions of existing legislation, as well as to the utilization of existing structures and services operating for this purpose throughout Greece.

In collaboration with related private-interest associations, public services, NGOs, and other solidarity bodies, Kapa3 succeeded in creating a website that functions as a continuously updated and renewed guide to Rights and Benefits for people living with cancer, while mobile information and management teams operate in parallel, ensuring equal access for patients and caregivers.

However, nothing would have been achieved without faith in the work of Kapa3 and in the vision of providing holistic care to oncology patients—a vision first embraced by the members of the Kapa3 team, who stand on the front line, acting with a human-centered approach focused on patients and their families.

The strength of this team, together with our valued partners, enables actions and initiatives with maximum social impact and outstanding new collaborations with entities such as academic institutions, major hospitals across the country, scientific societies, and, of course, civil society organizations.

On behalf of the entire Kapa3 team,

we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Press Release

Translation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3