Supporting children through radiotherapy

More Heart

Putting More Heart Into The Pediatric Radiotherapy Experience

At Leo Cancer Care, we’ve had an unwavering commitment to improving the radiotherapy experience for children and young adults since we first set out on our mission to create the more human way to deliver radiotherapy.

As we’ve explored what a more human pediatric experience could look and feel like, we’ve kept coming back to one simple aim: putting more heart into the pediatric radiotherapy experience.

More Heart is our promise to keep putting the needs and experiences of children at the center of how we think, design and innovate. More Human is our philosophy; More Heart is how we bring it to life for children.

Read about our commitment

Our promise in practice

More Heart is about looking beyond the treatment itself and considering the whole experience through the eyes of a child. It means putting their needs, emotions and experience at the centre of how we think, design and innovate.

Preparing, empowering and engaging

From helping children understand what to expect, to using play, imagination and distraction to make treatment feel less daunting, we’re exploring ways to build familiarity, confidence and a greater sense of control throughout their radiotherapy journey.

Building a better experience together

Through technology, research and collaboration, our team experts work alongside clinical teams and partners to turn these ideas into meaningful experiences for children, their families and those caring for them.

Discover how we are bringing More Heart to a child's radiotherapy experience

Stay connected for the latest stories, research and insights into the innovations, collaborations and ideas shaping More Heart

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Audio Visual Distraction Technologies

AVATAR

The AVATAR device (Audio Visual Therapeutic Ambience in/for Radiotherapy), developed by Stanford Medicine, is a radiotranslucent screen that children can watch TV shows and films.

For many children, radiotherapy can require general anesthesia to help them remain still. Distraction-based approaches such as AVATAR offer another way to engage, calm and support children during treatment.

Initial research using the radiolucent AVATAR device demonstrated a significant reduction in the need for anesthesia, particularly among younger children, alongside shorter treatment times and reduced patient anxiety (Schulz et al., 2024).

Using imagination and education to empower

Toby’s Magic Chair

Written by Kate Yip, Therapeutic Radiographer and Clinical Engagement Manager at Leo Cancer Care, Toby’s Magic Chair tells the story of a young boy who transforms his radiotherapy treatment into exciting adventures through imagination.

Inspired by treatment with Marie, the story is designed to help children feel more confident and at ease during their treatment journey.

I wrote this book because I didn’t want anyone to feel different or alone or scared about needing radiotherapy

– Kate Yip

Read the book

Preparing through play

Pop-able by Xploro

Pop-able by Xploro is an award-winning, clinician-approved digital health application designed to reduce anxiety and improve health literacy for children undergoing cancer treatment.

Today’s children are growing up surrounded by technology, where learning, play and digital experiences increasingly go hand in hand. Pop-able builds on that familiarity.

In the Statue Quest game, players guide Leo the Lion through a jungle adventure, collecting statue pieces and copying poses they are challenged to hold still — playfully introducing the stillness that is required during treatment. Along the way, bite-sized facts about radiotherapy help children understand what to expect, with the aim of building familiarity, confidence and a greater sense of control before treatment begins.

DISCOVER THE STORY BEHIND STATUE QUEST

RESEARCH & INSIGHTS

Exploring new possibilities in pediatric radiotherapy

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Upright Positioning in Pediatric Radiotherapy: Rationale, Safety Considerations and a Research Roadmap

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Upright pediatric radiotherapy: building the evidence for a new approach

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A Strategic Commitment to Minimizing Anesthesia in Pediatric Radiotherapy Treatments