How Virtual Reality (VR) Can Help Kids with Cancer
VR can help children with cancer by offering distraction from pain, emotional support, rehabilitation after treatment, and education about their care in an engaging, child-friendly way. The benefits can be applied across many types of childhood cancers.
Leukemia & Lymphoma
Description: Blood cancers including Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Hodgkin’s & Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
How VR Helps:
- – Distraction during chemotherapy with immersive games or calming VR worlds.
- – Education modules explaining treatment in kid-friendly ways.
- – Relaxation exercises such as breathing and meditation simulations before procedures.
Brain & Central Nervous System Tumors
Description: Examples include Medulloblastoma, Astrocytoma, Glioma.
How VR Helps:
- – Cognitive rehabilitation games to rebuild memory, attention, and problem-solving skills.
- – Balance and coordination training through VR movement activities.
- – Pain and anxiety reduction tools before MRIs or other procedures.
Bone Cancers
Description: Examples include Osteosarcoma and Ewing Sarcoma.
How VR Helps:
- – Physical therapy games to encourage safe movement after surgery or amputation.
- – Phantom pain distraction with immersive VR experiences.
- – Guided VR storytelling to help children cope emotionally.
Solid Tumors
Description: Examples include Neuroblastoma, Wilms Tumor, Rhabdomyosarcoma, Retinoblastoma.
How VR Helps:
- – Child-friendly education about radiation or surgery preparation.
- – Stress relief with calming VR nature scenes during hospital stays.
- – Fine motor skill rehabilitation games after surgery.
Palliative Care (Any Cancer Type)
Description: For children in advanced stages of any cancer type.
How VR Helps:
- – Legacy-building activities such as VR art and journaling.
- – Virtual trips to beaches, outer space, or other favorite places.
- – Multi-user VR sessions to connect with family and friends remotely.