The purpose of this study is to critically discuss aspects of and methods for genuine co-creation (Hardyman et al., 2015) and partnership between patients and researchers. As a case and point of departure, we base the discussion on the experiences we have drawn from working in close collaboration in a research- and innovation project developing tools and services to care for and support young adult cancer patients. The foundation of the project was a person-centered approach placing the patient at the center, to ensure relevance and usability. Moreover, the team (consisting of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors, an interdisciplinary group of researchers, and a health tech company in Sweden) strove to work together as equal partners to shape and influence the entire research and innovation process. The person-centered approach in the project is related to both to the goal of developing a digital platform for peer-support and to the methods and processes employed in developing it (i.e. engaging and involving patients in partnership as co-researchers and co-designers throughout the whole process). However, working with approaches and methods to achieve genuine co-creation necessitates an approach by which the patient consistently is placed at the core, and requires an ethical approach which entails “being knowledgeable and prepared; present and aware; adaptive and context sensitive; and honest and mindful” (Markham, 2006; Markham et al., 2018).