Childhood cancer treatment often begins with a daunting encounter: the radiotherapy suite. For many young patients, the unfamiliar sounds, the tight machine and the sterile environment trigger intense fear. Recognising this barrier, Shara Lee Wee-yee a professor at Hong Kong Polytechnic University has turned to cutting-edge technology to rewrite the first encounter. Her team built a platform called HEROCARE which blends physical props with computer-generated visuals, creating a safe rehearsal space where children can explore the entire treatment pathway before stepping foot in the actual department.
What sets HEROCARE apart is its focus on personalisation. Each child’s avatar is customised to match their age, height and even favourite colours, while the surrounding virtual room mirrors the real radiotherapy chamber down to the blinking monitors and the scent of disinfectant. By walking through a mixed reality scenario, families gain a tangible sense of what to expect, turning abstract dread into concrete familiarity. The result is a marked reduction in pre-treatment anxiety, paving the way for smoother sessions and better clinical outcomes.
The HEROCARE mixed reality platform
At its core, HEROCARE integrates head-mounted displays, motion-tracking sensors and a library of 3-D models that replicate the equipment used in modern radiotherapy. The system is built on a mixed reality engine that overlays digital overlays onto physical mock-ups, allowing users to physically turn knobs, lie on a replica treatment table and hear the authentic machine hum. Importantly, the software includes an adaptive narrative that guides the child step-by-step, explaining each stage in child-friendly language while pausing for questions.
The development process involved close collaboration with oncologists, child psychologists and parent groups. By iterating on feedback, the team ensured that the virtual environment respected the emotional sensitivities of young patients. For example, the lighting can be softened, and soothing soundtracks replace the stark beeps typical of a real radiotherapy suite. These design choices are not merely aesthetic; they are grounded in evidence that a calmer preparatory experience can lower cortisol levels, which in turn can improve tolerance to the actual treatment.
Impact on children, families, and future clinicians
Early pilots of HEROCARE have shown promising results. Children who completed the rehearsal reported feeling “more in control” and expressed fewer questions during the real session. Parents echoed this sentiment, noting that the shared experience allowed them to anticipate logistical challenges—such as positioning and timing—and to develop coping strategies together with their child. Moreover, the platform doubles as an educational device for radiotherapy trainees, who can observe how families interact with the simulation and refine their communication skills accordingly.
Beyond immediate anxiety relief, the programme fosters long-term empathy among healthcare providers. By seeing the treatment journey through a child’s eyes, future radiotherapists learn to tailor explanations, adjust tone, and recognise non-verbal cues of distress. HEROCARE thus serves a dual purpose: a therapeutic rehearsal for patients and a pedagogical tool for clinicians. As the technology matures, the research team intends to expand the library to include other paediatric oncology procedures, creating a comprehensive suite of virtual rehearsals that could be adopted across hospitals worldwide.
