It’s Not Space Aliens, But It’s A Blast

Cigna Corp. (Health & Life Insurance) said on May 30th, 2007 that it will offer HopeLab's access to "Re-Mission" the video game. The game features a teen appropriate sexy Roxxi nanobot with a blaster for her left arm and glides through the bodies of fictional cancer patients with her singular purpose of blasting cancer cells out of existence. Along the way, Roxxi also battles dangerous infections and manages side effects associated with cancer and cancer treatments. As you can read, the video game is to set to help teen cancer patients deal with their disease and help them visualize the destruction of cancerous cells.

Since the game's launch early last year, HopeLab said it has delivered 76,000 copies of "Re-Mission" which is available on disc or via download on its Web site. Cigna's will also offer the game on their website.


Pam Omidyar, a medical researcher launched HopeLab in 2001 to improve the health and possibilities of recovery for young people – and she did it with a mix of quality science and fun technology. HopeLab, a Northern California-based nonprofit organization, teamed with video game developers and animators and a medical specialist as well as young patients, in developing a quality video game that would educate as well as entertain.

Medical experts say that teenage cancer patients face unique challenges that adults do not always encounter. They are old enough to be responsible for their treatment, but may be too young to understand the potentially deadly consequences of skipping a required medication dosage.


HopeLab tested "Re-Mission" in a randomized, controlled trial of 375 male and female cancer patients aged 13 to 29, in the United States, Canada and Australia. The "Re-Mission" players maintained levels of chemotherapy in their blood and showed higher rates of antibiotic use than those in the control group, indicating that the game helped patients maintain they’re cancer therapy routine. It also demonstrates that the game is helping to instill confidence that the disease can be fought and encourages consistent implementation with their treatment.

Next on HopeLab's list: Obesity