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CURE
LIVESTRONG Cancer Guide and Tracker App for iPad
Author(s):
Lance Armstrong Foundation launches cancer guide and treatment app.
With the proliferation of helpful applications for digital devices, it should come as no surprise that an organization such as LIVESTRONG would develop an app specifically for cancer patients.
The easy-to-navigate tool is not only intuitive but also interactive, enabling users to store and access information relevant to their treatment and survivorship, such as diagnosis, treatments and symptoms, as well as appointments, medications and contacts. Beyond storing such details, the app also functions as a personal journal. And users can link to confidential, one-on-one support provided by the organization’s Cancer Navigation Center staff for issues as diverse as dealing with emotions and managing debt to fertility preservation and post-treatment concerns. LIVESTRONG says the app is intended to help patients make informed decisions by knowing what to expect and what questions to ask.
“What sets this app apart from other similar tools is its practical and personal value,” says Chris Dammert, director of Navigation Services at LIVESTRONG. “We know that tablet users are among the fastest growing segment to adopt new technology, so we created a tool that can help them organize and thoughtfully record their experiences. Yet it’s also easy enough for anyone to use who just wants to focus on the information it provides through the Guide content.”
The organization says it will continue to develop the app, adding and enhancing functionality, but for now it is only available for iPad tablets. Users don’t need to worry about the organization accessing private information because all data entered into the app is stored on the user’s device.
“We deliberately chose to keep the app self-contained,” Dammert says, “so that patients can have complete control over their information. Patient privacy was a major consideration in the design phase, although according to research conducted last year, survivors believed that their information is generally more safely guarded when they give it to doctors in an electronic format (71 percent) than when they share it in a paper format (59 percent). And if a survivor requires direct support with a financial, emotional or practical challenge, they can always turn to our free cancer navigation services.”
