Swiping your way toward peace of mind: The most helpful breast cancer apps

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide and, while incidence rates vary from region to region, global health authorities emphasize that early detection improves the chances of beating the cancer.
In recent years, there has been a slew of new apps targeting breast cancer patients and their friends and families. The apps provide tips and information on the disease, ranging from how to conduct breast self-examinations, organizing medications, keeping journals, tracking the side effects of treatments, to providing the latest on cancer research.
BEYOND THE SHOCK
Price: Free
Available on: Apple App Store
Beyond The Shock is collaborative breast cancer guide created by the National Breast Cancer Foundation in the US with the support of medical experts, doctors and researchers across the world. Users of the app can access information about breast cancer types and their treatment, ask a question to an expert through the app and link with other breast cancer patients via video.
BREAST CHECK NOW
Price: Free
Available on: App Store and Android Google Play
Breast Check Now helps a user get into the habit of doing self-breast examinations by setting up a plan, setting regular reminders and providing detailed instructions and visual guides on how to perform the exam. The app also provides helpful information about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer.
B4BC
Price: Free
Available on: App Store and Google Play
Similar to Breast Check Now, the B4BC (Boarding For Breast Cancer) app allows a user to set a personalized automatic reminder for a monthly breast self-examination, as well as showing the proper technique to perform the examination. The app offers the bonus of syncing with a woman’s menstrual cycle, as well as news and information regarding breast cancer.
CANCER THERAPY ADVISOR
Price: Free
Available on: App Store and Google Play
Cancer Therapy Adviser is mobile spin off of the online portal that many oncology and health care professionals use. The app provides information, including popular cancer treatment regimens, a comprehensive drug database, access to oncology news reports and feature articles about hot cancer topics as well as medical calculators.
CAREZONE
Price: Free
Available on: App Store and Google Play
CareZone helps breast cancer patients and their families to manage medications and doctor’s instructions, record and track health vitals – such as blood glucose, sleep and weight – organize important contacts, keep appointments and refill dates and keep photos or important health files directly on a user’s phone.
CARING BRIDGE
Price: Free
Available on: App Store and Google Play
The Caring Bridge app connects a user, via Facebook, with friends and family during times when support is needed. The app also helps create a website and allows users to visit a friend’s page and add updates or encouraging notes.
iPHARMACY
Price: Free
Available on: App Store and Google Play
iPharmacy helps users find their prescription medications at the lowest price, identify pill by color, shape and imprint as well as understand and manage treatments by understanding the side effects and warnings for FDA-approved medications.
MY CANCER COACH
Price: Free
Available on: App Store and Google Play
Developed in partnership with Breastcancer.org, Men’s Health Network and Fight Colorectal Cancer as a resource for newly-diagnosed cancer patients, the app has separate guides for breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer. The breast cancer app was designed to help patients manage the cancer’s progression. A user can learn more about a specific diagnosis, get prompted with questions to ask a doctor and watch videos and get access to vital resources such as patient advocacy. My Cancer Coach also features a glossary of common cancer terms to help users.
MYJOURNEY COMPASS
Price: Free
Available on: Google Play
MyJourney Compass is an Android-based symptom tracking app for breast and head and neck cancer patients. The app connects to Microsoft HealthVault, a web-based personal health record created by Microsoft in October 2007, which stores and maintains health and fitness information.
PILLS ON THE GO
Price: Free
Available on: Google Play
This medication organizer app is most useful for people on the go, as it focuses on alerting a user to take medications on time. A user can see the whole-day medication at a glance or track by the hour as well as get instructions about how to take the medication, such as with food or water.
POCKET CANCER CARE GUIDE
Price: Free
Available on: App Store
Developed by the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship in the US, the app helps patients to quickly and easily build lists of practical questions during conversations with doctors and nurses after diagnosis.
PINK KNIGHT
Price: Free
Available on: App Store and Google Play
The Pink Knights app is a breast cancer awareness campaign launched by the Zulekha Healthcare Group, together with Ford – Warriors in Pink and Friends of Cancer Patients, which targets women across the UAE with a core message unifying them in a bid to tackle breast cancer. Dr. Pamela Munster, a renowned oncologist and cancer survivor, is the app’s ambassador.

Source:Arabnews