Surgeons Back World’s First Online Cancer Recovery Platform

Perci Health, the world’s first online platform that gives people access to support from multidisciplinary cancer teams, has launched with £1.5m of seed funding.

The backers are an assortment of influential oncologists and cancer surgeons from major cancer centres across the UK.

Perci’s mission is to proactively challenge the current status quo for those living with cancer and change perceptions about life after treatment. It offers clients access to a range of vetted, high quality cancer professionals – all with a minimum of three years cancer experience – focused on recovery from a physical, mental, social and emotional point-of-view.

The company was co-founded by Kelly McCabe and Morgan Fitzsimons. McCabe – a registered oncology dietitian – was previously COO of cancer network, HCA International, and has more than 11 years’ experience in cancer care. Fitzsimons is the former global head of marketing at ASOS and digital director at CBS Television in New York.

McCabe said: “People living with cancer experience a wide range of physical and psychosocial effects. Despite the fantastic treatment traditional healthcare providers offer, they’re not well-equipped to manage these diverse, on-going, personalised needs thereafter – and once the primary cancer treatment has come to an end, many people describe feeling ‘abandoned’.

“At Perci, we’re focused on making affordable, high quality cancer care more accessible to support people in making the best decisions about their long-term health and wellbeing. We strongly believe no treatable side effect should be left untreated.

Professor Peter Schmid, Lead of the Cancer Immune Therapy group at Barts Hospital, Professor of Cancer Medicine and Lead of the Centre of Experimental Cancer Medicine at Barts Cancer Institute, and Perci Health Medical Director, said:

“Having optimal supportive care networks is critical for patients recovering from cancer – for reintegration into a normal life, but also for long term survivorship. Currently these services are not always easy to access. Perci Health has been designed to solve this problem by offering patients access to specialist cancer supportive care, provided by carefully selected specialists for their optimal recovery.”

Beverley Longhurst, Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist and Perci Health Professional, added: “As a specialist cancer nurse, I’m excited to provide Hypnotherapy and Yoga on the world’s first supportive oncology platform. Giving patients and carers the option of complementary therapy from an oncology specialist, who is part of a team, delivering safe, holistic, specialist support.

“I’ve seen first-hand the empowering difference hypnotherapy can make to alleviate treatment side effects and restore relaxation and resilience yet this is not a therapy which is easy to access, until now.”

The Perci Professionals can help with all sorts of problems that people living with cancer – and their families – may face, including the management of chronic fatigue, relationship counselling, advice on helping communicate with children, support in safely returning to work, genetic counselling for those with a strong family history of cancer, management of sexual consequences or menopausal effects and dietary advice.

People can browse trusted and safe articles on the platform, as well as book a free session with a Perci Expert – who are all trained cancer nurses.

Clients can also speak with a range of qualified cancer professionals; such as dietitians, psychologists, physiotherapists and psychosexual therapists, who offer a range of personalised, holistic support.

The designated professional will create a personalised plan for the individual which can also be shared with their medical team if requested.

McCabe added: “Our services are non-discriminative, with all cancer types, ethnicities and sexes catered for equally. We debunk a one-size-fits-all approach, championing an individually tailored approach which empowers people to become active participants before, during and beyond cancer treatment.”

Perci doesn’t offer alternative therapies, instead focuses on evidence-based and research-backed care delivered by qualified professionals to support and improve wellbeing, while being governed by the UK’s leading oncologist and cancer surgeons.