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

• Published in: Patient education and counseling Vol. 123; p. 108194
• Main Authors: Billman, Elle, Steele, Natasha, Servino, Kendahl, Bumgardner, Deila, Walker, Kim, Smith, Stephanie M., Schapira, Lidia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.06.2024
• Subjects: Cancer survivorship; Digital storytelling; Narrative medicine; Patient/survivor perspectives; Podcast; Quality of life; Patient/survivor perspectives; Podcast; Narrative medicine; Digital storytelling; Cancer survivorship; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0738-3991; 1873-5134
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2024.108194

Cancer 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. Our aim was to create an educational resource for cancer survivors, caregivers, and medical professionals that would leverage digital storytelling to address survivorship topics. Our content and production team included cancer survivors, clinicians, educators, and design experts. All content was co-created by cancer survivors and medical experts. We 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. Based 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. Digital 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. A 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. Podcast production was supported by the Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Center. •Cancer survivors often feel alone and unsure how to move forward after treatment.•A podcast co-created by cancer survivors highlights common lived experiences.•Digital storytelling is a powerful method of connecting through shared perspective.•Patients and clinicians benefit from a patient-centered narrative medicine approach.