Astellas USA Foundation Partners with Stupid Cancer on Mobile Health App to End Cancer Isolation
Isolation and lack of one-on-one peer connection is the largest challenge facing millennial cancer patients and caregivers 15-39 years old
NEW YORK and NORTHBROOK, Ill., April 27, 2015 /3BL Media/ – The Astellas USA Foundation is partnering with Stupid Cancer by providing a grant to support Instapeer, the first mobile app dedicated to ending isolation among young adults impacted by cancer. Stupid Cancer anticipates more than 50,000 users adopting Instapeer by 2016.
According to the CDC, more than 70,000 adolescents and young adults aged 15-39 are diagnosed with cancer each year. These young adults have unique concerns and needs that other age groups do not, such as fertility, relationships and dating, parenting, insurance, career planning, and education. However, social isolation is the number one issue faced by young adults with cancer.
The Institute of Medicine reports that the lack of peer support is a barrier to reaching better outcomes for cancer patients. Connecting with someone who has already experienced a similar situation can be a bridge to positive thinking and much needed support. These findings, in addition to patient feedback garnered from Stupid Cancer's research, led to the development of Instapeer over the last three years.
“In our relentless pursuit to innovate, Stupid Cancer has entered the mobile health space with sincere gratitude to the Astellas USA Foundation for its remarkable generosity,” said Matthew Zachary, Stupid Cancer founder and CEO and 19-year cancer survivor. “The Instapeer platform is a game-changing statement that patients are clearly driving the industry forward."
Zachary continued, “Research has found most millennials are not availing themselves—and therefore not benefiting from traditional peer-matching solutions, which are outdated, call center-based and not in sync with the way this generation socially engages. Instapeer has been developed to meet the underserved needs of millennial patients, survivors and caregivers on their terms and their turf with technology they already use and understand.”
"The Instapeer app is about connecting young adults impacted by cancer with patients and caregivers just like them where they are most socially active, on their cell phones," said Jeff Winton, president of the Astellas USA Foundation. "This grant to Stupid Cancer will help young cancer patients find comfort and strength throughout their treatment journey."
For more information on Instapeer visit http://instapeer.org.
About The Astellas USA Foundation
The Astellas USA Foundation is a tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation that awards grants to support charitable, scientific, literary and educational purposes. To learn more about Astellas USA Foundation please visit www.astellasusafoundation.org.
About Instapeer
Instapeer by Stupid Cancer is a free mobile health app that ends isolation and changes lives. Users can instantly and anonymously connect with a community of patients, survivors and caregivers impacted by young adult cancer just like them. For more information, visit http://instapeer.org.
About Stupid Cancer
Stupid Cancer, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is the largest charity that comprehensively addresses young adult cancer through advocacy, research, support, outreach, awareness, mobile health and social media. For more information, visit http://stupidcancer.org.
Media Contact:
Jenny M. Kite
224-205-5405
