Print 
Share 
Text 
To reset, hold the Ctrl key, then press 0.
Jennifer Shamess, former patient and member of the Cancer Care Patient and Family Advisory Council, tested out the virtual reality equipment
Imagine looking out onto a mountain vista. You hear the birds chirping, you see the sun beaming down on the mountain range, and you watch as butterflies float by. It doesn’t sound like a typical chemotherapy or radiation treatment, does it?
With help from virtual reality (VR), patients undergoing cancer treatment at The Ottawa Hospital could soon take a virtual getaway from their hospital beds.
That’s good news for Jennifer Shamess, former patient and member of the Cancer Care Patient and Family Advisory Council. She said that when she was at the hospital, she was always dreaming of being somewhere else.
“With virtual reality, I would have had some help in escaping for a few minutes,” said Jennifer.
Dr. Justin Sutherland, a medical physicist at The Ottawa Hospital and professor in the Department of Radiology at The University of Ottawa, said that virtual reality can be an effective tool for cancer patients.
“It’s all about taking patients out of a potentially uncomfortable experience, and bringing them somewhere pleasant,” said Dr. Sutherland. “It tricks your brain into thinking you’re there, which can improve one’s mental health.”
Engineering students at The University of Ottawa teamed up with The Ottawa Hospital to design a simulation that cancer patients could experience during treatment. Students worked together in groups as part of the Makerspace VR Challenge.
“I was impressed with every design”
The students consulted with Jennifer and other Patient and Family Advisors. Advisors made design suggestions such as avoiding fast motions, bright colours and loud noises.
Each group delivered a unique virtual experience. The winning design, created by second year students, was a boat ride. Patients could customize certain features such as colour, movement and length of the ride to create a unique experience. Other designs featured studio meditations, hiking up a mountain, or floating in space.
“I was impressed with every design,” said Jennifer. “Each group carefully listened to the considerations that were important to us, and then tried to integrate them into a unique VR experience.” Patients aren’t the only ones who could benefit from VR. Soon, cancer patients and their families may be able to share the same immersive experience together.
Support patient care and research at
The Ottawa Hospital
You might also like…
A team from The Ottawa Hospital helps organize first-ever oncology conference in the North
When it comes to cancer treatment, there’s no place like home. This spring, a team from The Ottawa Hospital helped organize Nunavut’s first-ever oncology conference to figure out how to bring oncology care closer to home for patients.
Second Chance: Don’s song for the people who saved his life
Making music has always been a big part of Don’s life, so when the staff and doctors at The Ottawa Hospital saved him from the brink of death, he could think of no better way to thank them.
A land acknowledgement that honours the land and the medicines it provides
Visitors to The Ottawa Hospital are now greeted by a prominent land acknowledgement, which has been installed by the main entrances at each of our three main campuses. It is paired with artwork by Simon Brascoupé and his daughter, Mairi Brascoupé, both from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg.
After a life-altering bike crash, this group of volunteers proves that friendship and community are powerful medicine
In September 2021, a visiting professor woke up in our ICU completely alone. He admits that he wouldn’t have made it through the first few months without support. But he didn’t have to, thanks in large part to a group of caring volunteers who came to his side during this difficult time—and have been there ever since.
“My craft is to make people happy”
As a shuttle bus driver at The Ottawa Hospital, Bill Nauffts knows that staying on schedule could literally be the difference between life and death—but it’s what Bill does during his break that brings him and others the greatest joy.
Former patient seeks out the man behind “the voice”
During a vulnerable time in his recovery from leukemia, Gary Davis found comfort in the most unexpected place—the voice on our recorded telephone system. Five years later, he set out on a mission to find and meet the person on the other end of the line.
Comment on this post