As NASA innovates for the benefit of humanity and inspires the world through discovery, the agency launched a new video series specifically designed for use by medical treatment centers across the United States to help reduce anxiety and stress among pediatric patients during treatment.
The project, named "MISSION: All Systems GO!", is hosted by NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren and was developed alongside the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and National Association of Proton Therapy. The suite of products intentionally draw similarities between an astronaut's experience and the challenges young patients will encounter during their treatment, such as restricted movement in confined spaces, strange sounds and smells, and separation from family and friends. The videos, and accompanying products, are a new resource for treatment centers, and support President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden's Cancer Moonshot Initiative.
"As part of the Biden Cancer Moonshot Initiative, NASA is committed to improving the experience of cancer patients and their families while we work to end cancer as we know it," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "Cancer treatment is full of unknowns, and so is space travel - we hope that this project will provide hope and comfort to patients and their loved ones as they navigate their cancer treatment mission."
Some patients undergo as many as six weeks or more of treatments strapped into sterile, state-of-the-art medical machines that many patients find intimidating. However, some patients expressed fascination toward these high-tech mechanisms and compared them to the look of a NASA spacecraft, leading to the idea for this unique suite of products.
"Part of the agency's mission is to improve life here on Earth," said Kevin Coggins, deputy associate administrator and NASA's SCaN (Space Communication and Navigation) program manager. "I'm proud that we can help thousands of kids and their families get through an extremely difficult time in their lives."
In the first of three hosted videos, Lindgren, himself a medical doctor, briefs the patient on their upcoming "mission." Step by step, Lindgren addresses each requirement and his confidence in how the patients can do it.
After completing their treatment, patients will receive a mission de-brief from Lindgren, where he offers reminders on how to follow up with treatment, as well as his heartfelt congratulations. The patient also is presented with a custom certificate of mission completion signed by Lindgren and Dr. James D. Polk, NASA's chief health and medical officer.
