Hong Kong App Helps 76,000 Cancer Patients From Home

Susan Tam used to wake up in the middle of the night, desperate to stop the relentless itching caused by her lung cancer medication. Hot water, creams, even her old nursing home remedies—nothing worked, and her family doctor couldn't help.

Then she remembered the app a nurse had mentioned when she first started treatment. Through SUPPORT+, Tam snapped a photo of her rashes and texted it to her care team.

Within hours, her oncologist called with a solution. The nursing team walked her through simple fixes: shorter showers, lukewarm water, better moisturizers. After adjusting her medication dosage, her skin cleared completely.

"I did not feel unwell from the cancer at all, until I started taking the drugs," Tam recalled. Now she uses the app to check if foods and supplements are safe to eat.

The University of Hong Kong created SUPPORT+ in 2022 to solve a problem that plagues nearly every cancer patient: finding trustworthy information. Dr. Wendy Chan Wing-lok, who led the project, saw patients drowning in advice from friends, social media, and dubious websites.

A 2023 study proved the scope of the crisis. Cancer patients received an average of 90 pieces of information within three months of diagnosis, with over 70 percent coming from non-medical sources. More than 80 percent couldn't tell what was true or false online, and nearly 40 percent felt sick after trying remedies from friends or the internet.

The app provides vetted information about cancer types, treatments, and community resources in three languages through text, videos, and graphics. Patients log their symptoms, and nurses monitor entries during business hours, stepping in when needed.

Why This Inspires

What started as a small pilot project with private funding now serves 76,000 users across Hong Kong. A team of just seven people—Dr. Chan and six part-time staff—manages the entire operation, proving that smart technology doesn't need massive resources to make a massive difference.

Elderly patients especially benefit, since they typically struggle most with treatment side effects and have fewer tools to research their conditions. The app puts expert care in their pocket, available whenever fear or confusion strikes at 2 a.m.

The platform's initial five-year funding ended in December, and the team is now searching for new backers. Dr. Chan hopes to expand the app's capabilities using artificial intelligence and big data to predict patient needs before symptoms become severe.

For Susan Tam, the app transformed her cancer journey from isolated confusion to supported confidence. She checks in every two weeks, texts her nurses when questions arise, and sleeps through the night with healthy skin.