Supporting the Psychosocial Needs of Cancer Patients Through Design

As we design environments for cancer treatment, patients are challenging designers and caregivers to see them beyond their disease. The idea that environments are created to facilitate state-of-the-art medicine and technology is not enough.

Designing for empathy pushes designers to understand that the needs of the cancer patient are more than physical. The strategies incorporated into a cancer center can function beyond physical comfort and support patient control, privacy, dignity, and hope.