Video Games For Health Education

TYH: Cancer Video Game

from Ivanhoe

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death for young people, but they don't always respond to well to therapy or follow up care.

Now there's something aimed at this generation.

Like many kids his age, 17-year-old David Kossow can often be found in front of the TV.

"I've been playing video games all my life," said David.

He's also taking it easy because of his health. Three years ago he was diagnosed with leukemia.

"It was pretty much a shock."

The news meant dozens of trips to the hospital and 36 months of chemotherapy.

"It's been a rough three years." But a nice distraction came when David was able to
test a new computer video game through a study at Washington University in St. Louis.

The game is called "Re-mission." "Roxxi," the main
character, is a robot who seeks and destroys the enemy, cancer.

"It kind of gives a whole new perspective on fighting cancer. i mean you can't really do it physically, so you can do
it virtually."

Kids in the study played this game or a regular video game
for three months. Researchers found the teens who played "Re-mission" felt better overall, knew more about their cancer, and were more likely to take
their medications properly.

"We always have to try to be creative with teenagers, especially to come up with ways to engage them in the process
because a lot of times, their reaction to all of this is to just shut down," said one researcher.

David's beaten all 20 levels of "Re-mission."

The game is free to all young adults fighting cancer. It's rated T for Teens.