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Empowering Patients Through AI: COMFORT's Vision on World Cancer Day 2025

On World Cancer Day 2025, the global campaign "United by Unique" highlights the importance of patient-centred care, recognising that every individual’s journey with cancer is different. This approach goes beyond treating the disease—it prioritises personal needs, social support, and active patient involvement in healthcare decisions. Find out more about World Cancer Day here.

Aligned with this vision, the COMFORT project aims to improve prostate and kidney cancer care by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into clinical decision-making. By developing a robust and trustworthy AI-driven support system, COMFORT aims at improving diagnosis and treatment outcomes for patients.

For World Cancer Day 2025, we had the privilege of speaking with three individuals about their unique journeys. They shared what their cancer diagnosis meant to them and the strategies that helped them cope with its psychological impact.

  • Steve’s story

    We had the opportunity to talk to Steve, a 45-year-old kidney cancer patient, who was first diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic kidney cancer in 2016.

    Thank you for taking the time to talk with us.

    Can you tell us about your diagnosis, when did you receive it, how did you feel and what is your current health status?

    I was first diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2016 and received a nephrectomy. At this stage it was contained to my kidney. In 2018, I was re-diagnosed due to a spread to my stomach lymph node. At my original diagnosis I had a two-year-old son and my wife was 14 weeks pregnant, so we were devastated. On my second diagnosis, I was told I potentially had 4 years to live. This was heartbreaking as I didn’t think I would get to see my children grow up. Thanks to a wonderful specific treatment in 2018 I am currently in remission.

    Everyone’s cancer journey is unique. Can you share a bit about your personal experience with kidney cancer, from diagnosis to treatment?

    I had a great medical team so felt very much in good hands and trusted them 100%. I had particular issues with my long-term employer throughout my diagnosis/treatment/recovery period. I was forced to leave and undertake an employment tribunal, which I won. This, in addition to my brutal treatment, was particularly stressful.

    Unfortunately, access to healthcare is not always equal. Have you experienced any barriers in accessing the care, support, or information you needed during your journey?

    _Thankfully my Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) signposted me for some counselling, which was invaluable. This was through a charity. I am aware this may not be an option for many cancer patients, but having the opportunity to explore what was happening in a safe space allowed me to accept and face what was occurring. I was also fortunate to stumble across the charity Action Kidney Cancer and their patient support forum. Speaking to other patients who had lived experience of the treatment I was having was invaluable. More resources are needed to help charities reach more patients._

    One of our project’s goals is to raise awareness about prostate and kidney cancer. What do you think is the biggest misconception about kidney cancer, and how do you think we can address it?

    _I had never heard of kidney cancer until I was diagnosed, and I was only diagnosed by accident whilst being scanned for something else. A lot of people don’t understand kidney cancer can have no symptoms and even when there are some, people would not link them to kidney cancer. A campaign to raise awareness for kidney cancer worldwide, like the global IKCC World Kidney Cancer Day campaign held in June, is really beneficial._

    What piece of advice would you like to share with others who may be facing their own cancer journey?

    Get mental health support and peer support from patients who have lived experience. Surround yourself with experts on kidney cancer, including charities who can help advocate for you if needed.

    How have the people around you supported you, and what advice would you give to others supporting a loved one with prostate/kidney cancer?

    I had tremendous support from my family & friends. However, I did learn to accept what I could and couldn’t get from each person in my network. There is no point expecting emotional support from people who “don’t do” emotion. You will only be disappointing yourself. These people maybe great support in a practical way. Work out where the gaps you need are and how you can fill them, i.e. with professional support like counselling. Remember your family will be experiencing your diagnosis from their point of view, so they may be struggling too.

    The EU-funded COMFORT project aims at improving prostate and kidney cancer care by leveraging the power of AI for improved diagnosis and treatment plans. How do you feel about the possibility of AI being used to support doctors in such important questions as cancer diagnosis and treatment plans?

    AI in kidney cancer care could be revolutionary. Gathering more facts and supporting information at increased speed can hopefully improve accuracy for the best treatment for the patient and treatment pathway. Currently I am not aware of any ways of diagnosis for kidney cancer other than from imaging. Any support to find new ways would be most welcome and needs to work with different health systems in different regions.

    Which kind of information would you expect from your doctor if AI was used as support in your health journey?

    I would expect my doctor to give me all the evidence that the AI has generated and tell me if it differs from what they would normally suggest. I would want to understand more about the reliability and accuracy of the information. I am a big believer in shared decision-making. Once I had all the information, I would feel better informed to discuss the best option for me with my doctor.

  • Dimitris’ story

    Thank you for taking the time to talk with us.

    Can you tell us about your diagnosis, when did you receive it, how did you feel and what is your current health status?

    I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018. For six months, my tests indicated that I had a problem with my prostate (mainly from the PSA test), but I wanted to believe (or rather, it was easier for me to believe) that I had benign prostatic hyperplasia. Eventually, my urologist decided that I should have a biopsy to reveal the whole truth. So, when I received the results of the biopsy and saw that I had cancer, I found myself in a state of panic management. The first thoughts in my mind were that the end of my life had come, that I was dying, and that it would be with excruciating pain. You see, my knowledge of cancer was limited to what I had seen in various movies. It took me quite a while to manage my panic, reading and asking doctors. Today, I have controlled cancer, with only biochemical relapses and not disease recurrence.

    Everyone’s cancer journey is unique. Can you share a bit about your personal experience with prostate cancer, from diagnosis to treatment?

    When I received the diagnosis that I had prostate cancer, and while managing my panic, I had to make decisions about which treatment I should undergo. So, the following questions were raised. What should I do? What is the best option for me? And most importantly, which doctor should I trust with my health and, by extension, my life? It’s not an easy decision at all. Because as the patient, how do I know what criteria to use to choose my doctor? And the question still remains to this day: What criteria do you use to choose your doctor? Is it the one with the most impressive resume posted online? Is it the one I’ve heard good things about from ordinary people who aren’t doctors? Is it the one who has the best and sweetest way of communicating with and approaching the patient? Is it the one who gives you a shoulder to cry on?

    Unfortunately, access to healthcare is not always equal. Have you experienced any barriers in accessing the care, support, or information you needed during your journey?

    Personally, I didn’t face the same issues as many others regarding access to my treatments. First, because my wife happens to work at a large hospital, so I was able to do all my blood tests and diagnostic exams at the time they were needed. However, I know many cases where the waiting time for tests altered the course of treatment. Secondly, I had a bit of financial comfort that allowed me to support my treatments and exams at private diagnostic centers.

    One of our project’s goals is to raise awareness about prostate and kidney cancer. What do you think is the biggest misconception about prostate cancer, and how do you think we can address it?

    As a patient with prostate cancer, I can only speak about the misunderstanding that exists regarding prostate cancer. The first misunderstanding is that everyone who hasn’t experienced it thinks that prostate cancer is simply a urological issue. That it’s just difficulty with urination and maybe a bit with erection. They confuse benign prostatic hyperplasia with malignancy. They can’t imagine that there are metastases, either bone or visceral, with a grim outcome. I believe that the male population needs to be seriously informed about the potential progression of prostate cancer.

    What piece of advice would you like to share with others who may be facing their own cancer journey?

    It is a disease for which medical and pharmaceutical science has made great strides in its management at all stages. It is a disease that, once addressed in its early stages, becomes a chronic condition.

    How have the people around you supported you, and what advice would you give to others supporting a loved one with prostate/kidney cancer?

    When I got sick, I only informed my wife and children. For some reason, I didn’t inform those around me. Maybe out of shame, as if I had done something wrong. Maybe because I didn’t want (or so I thought) to see pity in their eyes. That was a mistake. However, I had very strong support from my family, and that certainly helped me psychologically to more easily accept my new reality.

    I now recommend that patients talk about their illness. And those around them should show understanding because it’s not easy to accept that you have to adjust your life to the new circumstances and make certain changes.

    The EU-funded COMFORT project aims at improving prostate and kidney cancer care by leveraging the power of AI for improved diagnosis and treatment plans. How do you feel about the possibility of AI being used to support doctors in such important questions as cancer diagnosis and treatment plans?

    I believe that AI will greatly assist doctors in reducing misdiagnoses and incorrect treatments.

  • Anestis’ story

    We are grateful to Anestis, a 65-year-old prostate cancer patient, who was first diagnosed in 2017 who shared his story with us, and with you.

    The diagnosis of prostate cancer was made following a biopsy in January 2017, and in March of the same year, my doctor proceeded with a radical prostatectomy (robotic). After that, continuous monitoring of PSA levels began. Three years later, a biochemical recurrence appeared, and after a PET/SCAN examination, metastasis was found in a pelvic lymph node. This was followed by radiation therapy and hormone therapy, along with the side effects of these treatments. Now, I am under continuous monitoring with medical check-ups every six months.

    The first encounter with the doctor and the diagnosis was shocking. Dark, melancholic thoughts crossed my mind—thoughts of deep sorrow, imminent death, and sadness. Amid the confusion, I had to find a way to focus. I found support in my wife.

    The second act was when I went home and had to discuss it with my children. That's when I realised how important it is to have people you love and who love you, who care for you in difficult times.

    Later, I discovered that being a cancer patient would reduce the number of friends because cancer patients are often considered a burdensome group of people.

    The time for surgery came, followed by continuous communication with a team of doctors and a new cycle of tests. I tried to find a support group for prostate cancer patients but was unsuccessful. After some time, I discovered an online association with various activities, generally focused on cancer, based on private initiative. There was no state-provided support or information.

    After three years, the biochemical recurrence came. I knew from books and the internet that recurrence could happen in about 20% of patients. Nevertheless, new sorrows, insecurities, uncertainties, fear, and anxiety emerged—new tests, new treatment plans from a team of doctors (oncologist, urologist, vascular surgeon, cardiologist). Radiation therapy, hormone therapy, new expenses with minimal state participation, and delayed access to healthcare. At the same time, apart from medical help, the difficult psychological state began. Without information, the question arises: how will I face cancer? By fighting it or by accepting it?

    Then, somewhere, I read: "Go deep into your fear, face it, and overcome it," and that's what I did.

    Additionally, I started caring about my immune system, which works better when we have a healthy diet, physical exercise, and a good emotional environment.

    I am under continuous monitoring by doctors, always with trust in them.

    There is no information about artificial intelligence and its potential contribution.

    Let's keep in mind:

    Cancer causes physical pain or various symptoms from treatments, but the psychological pain is created by the interpretation I give to the fact of cancer. Let's break down the wall that isolates us from others.

    There is a need for organised centers for psychological support, with seminars, lectures, book presentations, and holistic programs for managing prostate cancer. And ultimately:

    In life, we exist for an unknown period of time. In this time we have, let's live in the present with gratitude, positive experiences, and love for ourselves and others. In the end, everything will be fine.

We would like to thank the International Kidney Cancer Coalition (IKCC) and the Hellenic Cancer Federation (ELLOK) for putting us in contact with Steve, Dimitris and Anestis.