Digital Pharma: Merck Serono launches campaign for cancer carers
pharmafile | February 4, 2011 | News story | Medical Communications | Cancer, Digital Pharma blog, Merck Serono, disease awareness campaigns, lung cancer
Merck Serono has launched an educational lung cancer website for the ‘people behind the patients’ in Europe.
Unveiled to coincide with today’s World Cancer Day, Life Beyond Chemotherapy provides educational resources for the friends and family of those diagnosed with lung cancer.
The company’s current oncology interests centre around Tarceva and Erbitux, and the new site builds on Target My Cancer, an educational patient website about personalised care and metastatic colorectal cancer treatment Merck Serono launched last year.
Executive VP of Oncology Dr Wolfgang Wein said: “Following diagnosis of lung cancer, many patients and their families seek information to help support their decisions around lifestyle, treatment and ongoing healthcare.
“The internet is often the first point of access for these patients; however, its rapid expansion has given rise to an increasing level of misleading and inaccurate information.”
Life Beyond Chemotherapy contains information on the types, stages and treatments for lung cancer – the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in men and the second most common in women. It has an explanation of palliative care and tips on how carers can look after their own wellbeing.
The site also has pages devoted to clinical trials – in particular how to make a decision on taking part and how to find them.
The disease awareness campaign was developed in partnership with a number of patient groups, among them Women Against Lung Cancer in Europe (WALCE).
“Due the debilitating nature of lung cancer, caregivers play a crucial role in supporting people with this disease. Despite this, there are currently very few resources tailored specifically for caregivers’ needs,” said WALCE’s Stefania Vallone. “We hope this new website will empower caregivers to further help their loved ones take a positive step forward.”
Merck Serono worked with WALCE and The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation on the site’s content and development, and with Macmillan Cancer Support, Cancer Research UK, Carers UK and EmergingMed on its external links.
Dominic Tyer is web editor for Pharmafocus and InPharm.com and the author of the Digital Pharma blog He can be contacted via email, Twitter or LinkedIn.
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