my journey breast cancer app

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The Best 5 Apps to Support Breast Cancer Patients

These iPhone and Android apps offer information, advice, communities, and more to support you on your breast cancer journey.

An average of one in eight US women develop breast cancer over the course of their lifetime, and it is said to be the second most common cancer in American women. The journey is never easy, but there are many steps you can take to support yourself or a friend with breast cancer.

Being more educated about a health complication, acquiring methods to track it, having the means to get your questions answered, and receiving mental support are all important measures one can take.

There are many apps out there that are specifically designed to serve this purpose. Let's take a look at the best ones available.

1. My Breast Cancer Coach

My Breast Cancer Coach is one of the best apps out there dedicated to breast cancer and has stellar reviews and ratings. The app functions in partnership with breastcancer.org and has many different features you can access completely free. It may even help you spot cancer early, which is essential in the long run.

Related: Spot Skin Cancer Early With the Miiskin Digital Health Platform

Completely confused and don't know where to begin? The app will fill out a questionnaire and give you a personalized treatment guide along with questions to ask your doctor. You can record your entire journey by updating your in-app journal with photos and audio. If you're told something you can't understand, check out the glossary for definitions of popular terms.

You get personalized information about your breast cancer journey and can get all your questions answered in just a few taps. You have access to videos and can visit patient advocacy websites by the links provided on the app. If you can't keep track of your doctor's appointments and support group meetings, the virtual calendar is just the thing for you.

Download: My Breast Cancer Coach for iOS | Android (Free)

2. Breast Cancer Healthline

Having a community of people around you going through the same as you is always helpful and uplifting. Breast Cancer Healthline does precisely that. It helps you connect with people around you who have also been diagnosed with breast cancer.

You can either have one-on-one chats with other patients or participate in group discussions. This will allow you to share your journeys, thoughts, and fears and receive adequate advice and support to make your battle easier. It is not just restricted to the physical aspects of breast cancer either, but spans everything in your life that has been consequently affected.

Examples of its support groups include Relationships, Lifestyle, Breast Reconstruction, Career and Cancer, Women Behind the Ribbon, and Escape From Breast Cancer. You can converse about anything from mental, physical, and spiritual growth to help you in your treatment.

Related: Top Mobile Apps for Achieving Spiritual Growth

The app also lets you stay updated with the latest news and research related to breast cancer. You will receive notifications for new messages, who's online, new articles, and much more.

Download: Breast Cancer Healthline for iOS | Android (Free)

3. CaringBridge

This app allows you to share your journey with family, friends, and other people fighting breast cancer. It serves as a social-media-like platform, where you can post your medical details and updates to let people who care about you know how you're doing.

It is free and lets you sign in with pre-existing email accounts. Once signed in, you can create your own site to serve as a journal and choose from any of three privacy settings.

Customize your site by adding journal entries along with photos and captions, editing them to your liking. You can also connect your GoFundMe to raise funds for your treatment or have people show support to your site.

Connect with a friend's site and view their journal entries to stay updated with how they're faring by receiving regular notifications. You can even share their site to gain support or send them supportive messages to be a part of their journey.

If you're a family member or friend and confused about how to offer help, the app also offers help tools that give you advice on how to show support to the patient and their site.

Download: CaringBridge for iOS | Android (Free)

4. Breast Advocate

This app focuses on helping you make the best decisions regarding your treatments with verified information from registered cancer specialists and patient advocates. Getting educated about your health predicament tends to put a person at ease.

Enter your personal details and preferences, and the app will give you customized information and treatment options you can further discuss with your doctors. You can even access thousands of medical journals along with abstracts for medical research papers in the Library and add them to your Favorites to view later. If you're someone looking to give support, learn all your terms and phrases and the right way to act here.

Along with a rich source of accurate and research-based information, the app also has a feature where it allows you to connect with other patients who are in the same decision-making process as you are.

Download: Breast Advocate for iOS | Android (Free)

If you're looking for support, information, and a means of recording your journey all in one place, this is the app for you. BELONG claims to be the world's most extensive professional and social network for breast cancer patients and has a ton of features you can put to use.

Become a part of the patient community to offer and receive mutual support and experiences with other patients, or chat with doctors and specialists for reliable information and accurate answers to all your questions.

If you want to record your breast cancer journey, you can create a digital binder that will help you organize all your medical documents. This portfolio can then be sent to a friend, family member, someone from the patient community, or a doctor as well. A great way to stay organized, isn't it?

A unique feature this app offers is a tool called a trial matching service that gives you updates about clinical trials taking place worldwide.

Download: BELONG for iOS | Android

Get Easy Support on Your Breast Cancer Journey

Fighting breast cancer requires a lot of strength. Getting informed and finding emotional support is one of the best steps you can take to make your journey a little easier, and these apps are just a few taps away to help you achieve that quickly.

You can communicate with other breast cancer patients, seek medical advice, record your journey, and keep everyone around you up to date with all your landmarks. These apps will also answer all your questions and give you tips on how to support a mutual fighting breast cancer.

Press Releases FAQs for CancerJourneyApps All Releases

1 March, 2014 Print

FAQs for CancerJourneyApps

1.What is “My Breast Cancer Journey”?

My Breast Cancer Journey is a mobile app that helps people learn about and manage a breast cancer diagnosis. The app works for the person diagnosed with breast cancer by providing them with access to personalized educational content specific to their diagnosis and their treatment plan.   The app also makes it easy for them to invite friends and family to join and support them in their journey. With the My Breast Cancer Journey app, users can share personalized content with select friends and family, creating a stronger and more effective support network.

2.When will “My Breast Cancer Journey” be available? On what platforms?

The app will be available late Summer 2014 for iOS and Android devices.

3.What inspired you to launch “My Breast Cancer Journey”?

I have been in the healthcare industry for most of my professional career and I wanted to focus my energy on helping people alleviate some of the frustrations they experience when navigating the healthcare system. After some very inspirational meetings at the National Breast Cancer Foundation in Dallas, Texas, it became clear what I could do so I set out to create the Cancer Journey apps.

4.Why should someone diagnosed with breast cancer use this app?

Being diagnosed with any type of cancer is very emotional. I've seen how the initial feelings of anger and frustration can subside once people start learning more about the disease, exploring their treatment options and simply deciding that they are going to beat their diagnosis. This app makes it simple to find relevant, easy-to-read resources, and to share that information with family and friends. Additionally, the app provides a safe and private outlet for everyone involved to stay informed and to help keep the support network engaged.

5.Why should someone not diagnosed with breast cancer use this app?

Unfortunately, we all know, or know of someone, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.  And, while they experience the deepest emotions, their friends and family also become frustrated as they don’t know the best way to support their loved one through their journey.  By using this app, everyone can learn about the diagnosis together, they can also learn more about the emotional and social impact of a cancer diagnosis and get a sense of what to expect throughout the treatment process.  We've found that knowledge can be hugely beneficial for both the primary cancer patient and their loved ones.  

6.Do you plan to roll out additional apps for other forms of cancer? What's the timeline?  Why breast cancer first?

We plan on rolling out apps for other cancers following the launch of the breast cancer app. The candidates for forthcoming apps are prostate, lung, cervical and colo-rectal cancers. We are still in the planning process for determining the timing.

We chose to launch the My Breast Cancer Journey app first because it is the #1 cancer effecting women worldwide.

7.Is there a tutorial on how to use the service?

Help, support and tutorials will be made available through the cancerjourneyapps.com website and the apps.

8.What is the pricing structure for Cancer Journey? Is it free?

The app is available for free to anyone with a smartphone or tablet.

9.How does the information channel work? Who is providing the educational content?

We have licensed our content from the National Cancer Institute. They provide high quality, easy-to-read articles, which we've adapted for personalized use through the app.

10.Who can I share my updates with?

The primary user has total control over who they choose to share content with through the My Breast Cancer Journey app, including which friends and family can see what content. For example, more intimate content can be shared with a smaller group or even one person, while more general content can be shared broadly among the support network.

11.How many companion users can be linked to a single account?

There is no limit to the number of friends or family members who can join each network.  They just need an invite and to create their own "companion" account.

12.Can I share my updates on social media?

The feedback we’ve received indicates that most individuals prefer this service to remain a private network or community. In order to offer users the most control over privacy and shared content, we have not included the ability to share updates on traditional social media sites.

13.How do I link to a companion account?

Similar to creating a primary account, companions will need to download the app and fill out the registration form.  Companions just need to make sure they use the same email address where they received the invite. Once registered, the account owner will be asked to verify the identity of the individual and accept them as a friend or family member. From there, the relationship is established and both users can begin communicating and sharing content.

14.How did you obtain the funding for this project?

I have been in the fortunate position to be able to self-fund this project .

15.How does this differ from CareZone, Breast Cancer: Beyond the Shock and Breast Cancer Diagnosis Guide?

Those apps are all great solutions and deliver on what they were designed to do. However, none of them facilitates personalized delivery of content specific to each unique individual, their journey, their diagnosis and their treatment. No other app gives users the ability to share personal content across a private network dedicated to educating their supporters.

16.How is the security of user information guaranteed?

Security is an important aspect of what we deliver. Even though we are not required to conform to the HIPAA guidelines for protected health information and data privacy for a consumer app, we have built My Breast Cancer Journey to conform to those guidelines. Data is encrypted both in flight (as it travels across the internet) and where it is stored in our databases. We contract with large and reputable cloud service companies to provide the physical storage for our systems, and we provide geo-redundant backups so your information is always safe.

17.What will happen if the Cancer Journey servers are hacked/immobilized?

As stated, security is an important factor to us. We have taken every precaution possible to prevent this from occurring.  In the rare instance that this happens, there are notification guidelines within HIPAA that we will comply with to notify the effected parties.

18.Does a user run the risk of losing all of their data?

We have minimized the possibility of this happening by leveraging geo-redundant data centers, meaning the data is stored in two locations within the US.

19.What is Willowglade Technologies, and is Breast Cancer Journey a subsidiary?

Willowglade Technologies Corporation is the corporate entity that is producing the Cancer Journey Apps series of mobile apps. My Breast Cancer Journey is the first app within the Cancer Journey App series.

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A Breast Cancer Smartphone App to Navigate the Breast Cancer Journey: Mixed Methods Study

Serena petrocchi.

1 Institute of Communication and Health, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland

Chiara Filipponi

2 Applied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy

Giacomo Montagna

3 Breast Surgery Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States

Marta Bonollo

4 Gynecology and Obstetrics Service, Centromedico, Mendrisio, Switzerland

Olivia Pagani

5 Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland

Francesco Meani

6 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Centro di Senologia della Svizzera Italiana, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Viganello, Switzerland

Several mobile apps have been designed for patients with a diagnosis of cancer. Unfortunately, despite the promising potential and impressive spread, their effectiveness often remains unclear. Most mobile apps are developed without any medical professional involvement and quality evidence-based assessment. Furthermore, they are often implemented in clinical care before any research is performed to confirm usability, appreciation, and clinical benefits for patients.

We aimed to develop a new smartphone app (Centro di Senologia della Svizzera Italiana [CSSI]) specifically designed by breast care specialists and patients together to help breast cancer patients better understand and organize their journey through the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. We describe the development of the app and present assessments to evaluate its feasibility, usefulness, and capability to improve patient empowerment.

A mixed method study with brief longitudinal quantitative data collection and subsequent qualitative semistructured interviews was designed. Twenty breast cancer patients participated in the study (mean age 51 years, SD 10 years). The usability of the app, the user experience, and empowerment were measured after 1 month. The semistructured interviews measured the utility of the app and the necessary improvements.

The app received good responses from the patients in terms of positive perception of the purpose of the app (7/20, 35%), organizing the cure path and being aware of the steps in cancer management (5/20, 25%), facilitating doctor-patient communication (4/20, 20%), and having detailed information about the resources offered by the hospital (2/20, 10%). Correlation and regression analyses showed that user experience increased the level of empowerment of patients (B=0.31, 95% CI 0.22-0.69; P =.009). The interviews suggested the need to constantly keep the app updated and to synchronize it with the hospital’s electronic agenda, and carefully selecting the best time to offer the tool to final users was considered crucial.

Conclusions

Despite the very small number of participants in this study, the findings demonstrate the potential of the app and support a fully powered trial to evaluate the empowering effect of the mobile health app. More data will be gathered with an improved version of the app in the second phase involving a larger study sample.

Introduction

The time of cancer diagnosis is uncertain and worrisome. Several studies on cancer patients have shown a strong desire for information and guidance, and these needs are often unmet [ 1 - 3 ]. A patient binder has been introduced in many breast units to provide patients with clear and easy to understand information, as well as to organize and manage appointments, treatment schedules, medical documents, and contact details. It has been proven that such a tool could help to reduce psychological distress and improve adaptation to cancer [ 4 , 5 ]. In the current technological era, the old concept of the patient binder has been improved and modernized. Mobile phone apps have been designed to operate as an electronic version of the patient binder. This modern way of conveying information is believed to be even more efficacious in enhancing communication between the health care institution and patients [ 6 , 7 ]. Electronic applications are often programmed to include the same sections of the old binders, with the advantage of unique portability and adaptability [ 8 ].

The use of mobile apps has grown exponentially in the last few years, particularly for cancer patients [ 9 , 10 ], as they carry the potential to provide health-pertinent information, services, and even health care interventions in a cost-effective way. Current estimates report more than 40,000 health-related applications available on the market, often freely delivered [ 11 ]. In particular, in the field of oncology, health apps have been employed to promote prevention, promote early detection, manage cancer care, and support survivorship [ 12 , 13 ]. Unfortunately, despite the promising potential and impressive spread, their effectiveness often remains unclear. Mobile apps are, most of the time, developed without any quality assessment procedure (evidence based) and medical professional involvement. Furthermore, they are often implemented in clinical care before any research is done to confirm usability, appreciation, and clinical benefits for patients [ 11 ].

Two recent systematic reviews on research-tested apps for breast cancer [ 14 , 15 ] showed promising results from studies on the inclusion of health apps in breast cancer care and called for caution before implementing these apps in clinical practice, as the final effects on users may be unpredictable [ 16 , 17 ] or not disease focused [ 15 ]. Therefore, they need to be extensively and scientifically tested before making them available to the public [ 14 , 15 , 18 ].

From this standpoint, the Centro di Senologia della Svizzera Italiana (CSSI) endeavored in designing and developing (proof of concept) a new smartphone app dedicated to breast cancer patients and based on direct observation of patients’ needs in everyday practice. Patients actively participated in meetings with medical staff and software developers during the whole process to develop the prototype and fine tune the tool according to their needs before this pilot test run.

The aim of the app is to help patients better understand and organize their journey through the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. In other words, it aims to develop self-management skills and to empower them in the decision-making process for treatment plans. Through psychological empowerment, individuals gain control over their lives [ 19 ] and develop cognitive abilities to deal with difficult situations and behavioral tendency to take actions [ 20 ]. Psychological empowerment is one of the most important constructs for an individual’s well-being. Therefore, the app was developed to give women the ability to promote active participation in their health care, improve their sense of control, and improve the relationship and communication with their attending physicians. The app was designed to allow patients to be able to quickly access reliable information related to breast cancer and the treatment process. It offers the possibility to carry important selected medical files for second opinions or for sharing with caregivers/partners, to have a private electronic agenda available for appointments and medical checks, which can also be remotely updated by the breast unit staff, and to allow the patient to write down questions and notes on an electronic scratchpad to recall at the time of the visit. The app also provides a telephone directory with useful contact details to reach the treating team and delivers news regarding activities, conferences organized by the treating institute, and other relevant information for the patients.

Access to the content of the app is made secure by encryption and by login through a two-factor identification system. Before implementation on a large scale in clinical practice, we designed a pilot test for usability and qualitative evaluation of the app prototype by a small group of breast cancer patients to build an evidence-based foundation for its use. The test run involved patients who received a breast cancer diagnosis and focused on the following three specific areas of investigation: (1) the perceived usefulness of the app, (2) the possible effect that the use of the app may have on women empowerment, and (3) the improvements or implementations proposed by the patients themselves. The goal was to show a development model for an app dedicated to breast cancer patients, but potentially extendable to other cancer patients.

App Layout and Features

The CSSI app is organized to provide convenient access to information and selected relevant documents according to the different phases of the cancer journey. The home page offers a central large “news banner” through which the breast unit can keep patients and users updated on the activities and services that are offered. Besides, several different widgets help navigate through other sections of the app. The links section provides links to reliable breast cancer websites to access several quality information sources (prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, support groups, services, etc) carefully selected and periodically updated by our team. The contacts section provides suitable information to reach the CSSI health care team members and facilities. The patient’s calendar helps to keep all patient appointments organized and secured in one place and also allows patients to put reminders and keep track of what has been arranged for them. The patient’s documents section allows patients to store relevant clinical reports (radiology reports, blood test reports, histology data, and descriptions of surgical interventions). For patients, it is essential to have easy access to their relevant clinical information in order to be able to share them, for example, with other doctors in case of second opinions. The note pad appears as a loose-leaf paper and is suitable for notetaking and jotting down questions patients want to ask their health care team, as well as recording the answers, and for easily finding notes when needed.

The first aim of this study was to test the app usability for the very first time and collect information about the patients’ perceived usefulness of the app. The second aim concerned the consideration of the possible positive effects that the use of the app may have on patient empowerment. Finally, the third area of interest in this study was the analysis of improvements or implementations as proposed by the patients.

Between February 2017 and August 2018, encouraged and supported by an active group of our young patients (Anna dai Capelli Corti) [ 21 ], we developed at the Breast Unit of Italian Switzerland (CSSI) a new smartphone app specifically dedicated to breast cancer patients. The development of the app was based on direct observation of our patients’ needs in everyday practice. To help us design it, patients actively participated in meetings with medical staff and software developers and provided feedback on the evaluation of the prototype in order to increase its readability, ease of use, and adherence to patient needs.

Following the prototype set up, between August 2018 and February 2020, a total of 20 patients, treated at the CSSI, were invited to take part in a test run of the new information technology (IT) tool explicitly designed for aiding breast cancer patients with their journey through cancer treatments. The project protocol was drawn up following the indications of the Declaration of Helsinki on research involving human subjects, and the Ethical Committee of the Università della Svizzera Italiana approved the research. The participants did not receive any compensation for taking part in the project.

The patients were invited by their attending physician to participate in this research project. Inclusion criteria were age over 18 years, diagnosis of nonmetastatic operable breast cancer, and ownership of a smartphone. Adherence to this pilot project was proposed shortly after surgery at the time of the first postoperative check (T0). The breast specialist was in charge of explaining the project and obtaining informed consent with a signature from the patient. The secretarial staff briefly illustrated the structure and functions of the app and helped the patients to download it and obtain the login credentials.

Patients were asked to use the CSSI app for a minimum of 1 month. Afterward, while under adjuvant treatments or follow-up, the patients were reconvened to complete a paper questionnaire and reply to a short interview (T1). The questionnaire collected sociodemographic information (age, degree of education, and marital status), information relating to the use of the app, a subjective assessment of the characteristics of the app, and judgment regarding the personal perception of the support derived from the use of the app in managing one’s care path. The short semistructured interview (lasting about 5-10 minutes) aimed at investigating the usefulness of the app, as perceived by patients, and collecting suggestions for improvements to be made to the tool or its management.

Participants

Twenty patients participated in this pilot project (mean age 51 years, SD 10 years), and all of them had an education level exceeding mandatory schooling and a partner. Table 1 presents detailed information about the sample’s characteristics.

Characteristics of the participants (N=20).

Measurement Tools

Questionnaires, usage habits.

A scale consisting of six items taken from the existing Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) [ 22 ] was applied to investigate the familiarity of the participants to the use of electronic devices (in general, and smartphones in particular) in everyday life. Specifically, questions asked the frequency of smartphone use (from 1 [several times a day] to 4 [never]), the use of other apps in addition to that provided by the hospital (yes/no), the types of apps used (gaming and entertainment apps, information apps, social apps, or any other), and the frequency of use (from 1 [several times a day] to 3 [a few times during the week]).

Usability of the App

Thirteen items were selected from the MARS to investigate the patients’ subjective assessment of the app in terms of its goal, interest of usage, appropriateness of the content, easiness of functioning, reliability of the information provided, design, learning process needed to use the app, trustfulness of the source, intention of using the app in the future, and overall app evaluation. The first item (ie, assessment of the app in terms of its goal) presented a multiple-choice response with six possible options (ie, increase well-being, decrease negative emotions, organize the care process, inform about the services offered by the hospital, increase awareness, and control over the care process and simplify the relationship with the doctor). All the other items had response options ranging from 1 to 5 (with labels according to the item). Items 7, 8, and 9, which all evaluated the external graphic aspect of the app, were averaged, and the final score showed acceptable reliability and a moderate internal consistency (α=.58, rs>0.29). All other items were considered individually.

User Experience

The scale is made up of the following seven items developed ad-hoc for this study: “I think I would like to use this app frequently,” “I found it complicated to use,” “I think I need the support of a person who is already able to use it,” “I think the features of the app are well integrated,” “I found inconsistencies between the various app features,” “I think most people could learn to use the app easily,” and “I used the app with confidence.” Response options ranged from 1 (completely disagree) to 5 (completely agree) relating to the statements. A general indicator of user experience was created by averaging the individual items. The internal consistency calculated on the seven items was low (α=.57, rs>0.18), and Cronbach alpha suggested eliminating three items (“I found it complicated to use,” “I think most people could learn to use the app easily,” and “I used the app with confidence”). On recalculating the internal consistency for the remaining four items, alpha reached acceptable levels (α=.64, rs>0.33).

Empowerment

The scale consists of nine items selected from the Empowerment Scale [ 23 ]. An assessment was performed on a scale from 1 (in full disagreement) to 7 (completely agree) relating to a list of statements concerning the breast cancer treatment experience after app use. The total measure of empowerment was calculated as the average of the responses to the individual items and showed good internal consistency (α=.97, rs>0.81).

The semistructured interview was focused on the following two specific areas of investigation: the perceived utility of the app and the possible areas of improvement, with very general and open questions to reduce possible bias and unreliability of the answers.

Smartphone Usage Habits

Most participants declared using the app on their smartphone several times per week (18/20, 90%). Our patient population was composed of women accustomed to mobile apps in general. The majority of them (18/20, 90%) declared keeping and using other apps on their smartphone, for example, information apps (eg, broadcast), entertainment apps (eg, games), and social apps to keep in contact with others (eg, WhatsApp Messenger). They also declared that they used those apps several times in a day (16/20, 80%).

App Usability

According to the results of the questionnaire, in terms of perception of the purpose of the app, 35% (7/20) of women declared that the tool helped them to organize the cure path and to be more aware of what is the next step in management (5/20, 25%). Another 20% (4/20) declared that the app facilitated communication with the doctor, and 10% (2/20) said that they have a clear idea about the health offered by the hospital owing to the app. A small percentage (1/20, 5%) declared that the app helped to manage negative emotions.

Table 2 shows descriptive statistics regarding the other MARS items. The maximum possible value was 5. As can be seen in the table, the mean values are quite high (>3.46), except for the values of the questions regarding trustfulness and the possibility to use the app even in the future.

Descriptive statistics of the Mobile App Rating Scale.

Relations Among Variables

Table 3 shows the correlations among the variables. Sociodemographic variables were negatively correlated with the MARS. Specifically, older patients put higher efforts in understanding how to use the app. Moreover, a higher level of education was associated with a lower positive general evaluation of the app. Women who perceived a higher interest in using the app declared a higher general positive evaluation, in addition to those who would recommend the app and who evaluated the content as appropriate and the design as high quality. Patients who evaluated the content as appropriate revealed a higher probability of using the app in the future and higher empowerment scores. The level of patient empowerment after using the app for a month correlated with the evaluation of the appropriateness of the content, the design of the app, the recommendations found in the app, the possibility of using the app in the future, and the general evaluation of user experience.

Correlations among the variables.

a Not applicable.

The regression analysis findings in Table 4 demonstrate that empowerment increased when women perceived the content of the app as appropriate, appreciated the quality of the design, and were satisfied with the general user experience (step 2). Age was also a significant and positive predictor of empowerment (step 2).

Regression analysis.

a N/A: not applicable.

Perceived Usefulness and Suggested Improvements

At the end of the test period and after filling up the questionnaire, the patients were asked to give their opinions on the app through a semistructured interview.

The first area investigated the perceived usefulness and the reasons for their perception. Overall, 55% (11/20) of the patients declared that the app was in general useful. Some examples of the patient responses are as follows:

Yes, very useful for having all the appointments in the same application and for accessing information links. age 55 years

Yes, to keep track of appointments. age 58 years

It was particularly useful for finding reliable and verified information. age 54 years

The other patients (9/20, 45%) declared that the app was partially useful. Some examples of responses are as follows:

Partially useful, I find the part of the contact details very useful especially when you are worried, but I find the part relating to the reports lacking because they are loaded only at the request of the patient. age 60 years

There are aspects that can help, but at the same time some limits: I would increase communication between the various departments/health workers involved in the App management. age 55 years

No, since the agenda was not updated, I preferred to use my own (agenda). age 55 years

When focusing on communication, the majority of patients (15/20, 75%) did not believe that the app had influenced their relationship with the referring physician. Only a minority (4/20, 20%) of patients reported that using the app helped them to create a more direct channel of communication with the doctor, while the remaining 5% (1/20) of patients replied that they did not have a clear opinion on this aspect.

As for cancer management, the majority of patients (13/20, 65%) declared not considering the app useful as a self-management tool. Some of the reasons reported by the patients to explain this point were that the app reminded them of being sick or that they felt capable of managing cancer and the related treatment on their own. Interestingly, however, more than half of the patients (11/20, 55%) affirmed that the app increased the knowledge they had about their clinical condition and thus the awareness of their own path of clinical care.

The second area of investigation focused on the proposed improvements. All patients provided several suggestions on different aspects.

First, regarding treatment modalities, patients suggested increasing the number of links to reliable websites, with a focus on surgical treatments, pre- and postsurgical images, and news on newly developed technologies. Information on remedies to manage the side effects of cancer treatments (eg, use of laser during menopause) was frequently requested. Second, patients suggested features for self-management, with inclusion of an alarm as a reminder for medical appointments or a notification when the hospital cancels an appointment. Third, patients suggested including information regarding activities and/or resources (conferences within the hospital or other health institutions, or the existence of patient advocacy groups).

A special area of improvement focused on the doctor-patient relationship with the inclusion of a section dedicated to bidirectional communication between health care providers and patients. Interestingly, another area of improvement concerned the inclusion of a section dedicated to the costs of medical treatment. Finally, 12 patients spontaneously suggested delivering the app at a different time, preferentially before treatment, to increase its usefulness as a source of reliable information.

General Opinions on the App’s Usefulness

This work describes a structured process involving end-users to test the efficacy and perceived usefulness of a new mobile app dedicated to breast cancer patients. We also investigated possible areas of improvement for further development as proposed by the patients themselves. The aim of the app was to help patients better understand and organize their journey through the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, that is, to develop their self-management skills, empowerment, and sense of control. Overall, our patients perceived the app as easy to learn and use, accurate, and appropriate. They stated that they would use the app in the future and rated it almost 4 out of 5 points. Moreover, the app increased patient empowerment.

Association of the App’s Perceived Usefulness, Sociodemographic Characteristics, and Empowerment

We found significant relationships between variables. As expected, older patients put higher efforts in understanding how to use the app compared with younger patients. This is an expected result given the use of technologies is more common among young people. Future development of the app should take into account the age influence, mainly because breast cancer risk increases with age, peaking above 50 years [ 24 , 25 ].

The educational level was negatively correlated with general users’ evaluation, that is, a higher level of education was associated with a lower positive general evaluation of the app. These results might be linked to the fact that the educational level is associated with literacy and health literacy [ 26 , 27 ]. It may be that participants with high educational levels have high literacy and therefore high knowledge and competence with the use of new technologies. As expected, there were correlations between the items of the MARS, indicating a general and overall consistency of the app rating. Women who perceived a higher interest in using the app declared a higher general positive evaluation, in addition to those who recommended the app and who evaluated the content as appropriate and the design as high quality.

However, the most interesting result was regarding the level of patient empowerment, which increased when women perceived the content of the app as appropriate, perceived the high quality of the design, and were satisfied with the general user experience of the app. This result represents the first demonstration of the perceived usefulness of the app by breast cancer patients, which was a fundamental aim of the research. Therefore, apart from a generally positive evaluation of the app, it seems that its use enhanced the sense of control over cancer and the general empowerment of women owing to the potential of technologies to switch from a paternalistic to a collaborative relationship between patients and physicians [ 28 , 29 ].

Suggested Improvements

From the interviews, it was found that our app, as with other mobile health (mHealth) tools, will require constant revision and updates. Nowadays, the information flow on the internet and social media is constantly in dynamic change. Future development of the app should take into account that a static app functioning as a sort of agenda without being connected to the hospital agenda, for example, or without timely updates is not useful.

There appeared to be inconsistency in the results concerning the perceived usefulness of the app. While 65% of patients declared a certain level of disappointment with the app as a self-management tool, more than half (55%) of the patients declared that it helped to increase knowledge about their clinical condition and awareness of their own path of clinical care. This might be a demonstration of the discrepancy between the effect delivered by the use of the tool and the awareness of real advantages that are not fully perceived as such. In this sense, our preliminary results seem to suggest that use of the app holds the potential to improve the sense of control over cancer and the general empowerment of women [ 28 ], which are both related to positive health outcomes [ 30 - 32 ].

Another very important aspect arising from the interviews is that the vast majority of patients perceived receiving the app after surgery as utterly untimely. They stressed that the app was not available as a source of reliable information when they needed it the most (before treatment). Such feedback is practice changing and will be taken into account in the next validation phase and finally in routine clinical practice. This is, in our opinion, a clear example of the utility of patient involvement in the development and implementation process of mHealth tools.

Limitations

This study has several limitations. First, the sample showed selection bias, and its size was quite small. Our sample included a small number of breast cancer patients selected via word of mouth. These patients used the smartphone quite frequently and were accustomed to using other apps. In this sense, the sample involved women with an adequate level of literacy regarding the use of electronic tools such as the smartphone and apps. Women with a lower literacy level were underrepresented. Future research should test the app with older patients and with a larger sample size. It might also be that women who agreed to participate were the most involved in their care path, and this may represent a selection bias. Second, this study did not consider a control group of women with no access to the app for comparison. Future research should include two groups of women and measure the baseline empowerment at the time of enrollment in the research. Third, in this pilot study, the semistructured interview was conducted by the treating physician. This might have consciously or unconsciously altered the way answers were given or interpreted (observation and interviewer bias). Finally, the sample considered here included patients with breast cancer. Future research should test the app with heterogeneous groups of patients having different diagnoses and types of treatments.

The values of this work and the CSSI app lie in the involvement of health and communication professionals in the design and implementation processes. Of equal value is the assessment of the quality and usability of the contents performed through the involvement of patients in a feedback process guided by scientifically validated questionnaires. In this way, our mHealth tool differs from the vast majority of other health apps on the market, which are often produced without the involvement of health care professionals and patients, devoid of any scientific basis, and not subjected to any quality assessment. We learned that the IT tool has maximum utility and obtains maximum consent when managed correctly by staff and when its features and use are clearly explained to final users. It requires constant application by managers to guarantee effective functioning and the continuous updating of content. Patient feedback also underlined the importance of the timing and delivery methods of the app. It takes time to explain how it works, even if the tool is simple. Our preliminary data seem to suggest that the best time to offer it is before surgery, but not when communicating the diagnosis. This aspect will be further investigated in the second phase of our work. Among the various features, unlike what was expected at the time of the app design, those that attracted the most attention of the patients were the electronic appointment calendar and the storage area for clinical reports.

Findings from this pilot study demonstrate the potential of the app and its validation protocol, and support a fully powered trial to evaluate the empowering effect of the mHealth app. More data will be gathered with an improved version of the app in a second phase involving a larger study population. The next step will be to extend the use to a greater number of patients and follow our patients’ suggestions. We will ensure a more proactive attitude by the team responsible for the management of the IT tool and the interaction with users. We will implement changes to the software suggested through feedback, and at that point, a new assessment will be performed for quality, appreciation, and usefulness in terms of patient empowerment of the sense of control and self-management.

Acknowledgments

We specially thank the association of young patients “Anna dai Capelli Corti” (www.annadaicapellicorti.ch) for having made a fundamental contribution to this work. This very active group of young patients, who experienced the turmoil of a cancer diagnosis, the accompanying need for guidance, and the value of effective communication with health care professionals, strongly believed in this project. They not only financed it entirely, but also participated in the entire process, from initial design to the first test run. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public or commercial sectors. The not-for-profit patient association “Anna dai Capelli Corti” funded the app design and development of the software, with a private donation of 30,000 euros.

Abbreviations

Authors' Contributions: SP: conceptualization, writing the original draft, data curation, review, and editing; CF: writing the original draft and data curation; GM: conceptualization; MB: review and editing; OP: conceptualization and funding acquisition; FM: conceptualization, funding acquisition, writing the original draft, data curation, review, and editing. All authors approved the final version and are accountable for all aspects of the work.

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

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My Cancer Journey

My Breast Cancer Journey

Hanna-Marie lives in Houston, Texas. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2020. This is her story in her words.

I was diagnosed with a type of breast cancer called triple positive invasive ductal carcinoma on Dec. 15, 2020. I had no family history.

I found a mass in mid-September 2020 that felt like a pencil eraser. During this time, I was having horrible nausea and pelvic pain weeks after my cycle and ovulation period. This was out of the norm for me, even during my cycle. I was one of the lucky ones with no cramps or nausea.

I went to the OBGYN in late September to discuss the nausea and pelvic pain and totally forgot to discuss the mass. I received a pelvic ultrasound and was told there weren’t any abnormalities. My well women’s exam was due in late October, so I waited until then to alert my doctor about the mass. Her saying is, “If you feel something, we without a doubt do a mammogram.” I’m 35 years old, so I had never received a mammogram before.

Due to work schedule and scheduling with the imaging center, I didn’t get the mammogram until November 2020. I received a mammogram and a breast ultrasound. Three masses were discovered that required a biopsy, which I had in early December. A week later the biopsy results revealed:

• Estrogen receptor-positive
• Progesterone receptor-positive
• Her2-positive

The best advice I can give to someone newly diagnosed is to:

• Take it one step at a time. It can be overwhelming to hear you need chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy. After treatment, there’s hormone therapy for years. Don’t think about the next step until it’s time.
• Take time to review your health insurance benefits—you would be surprised at what things can be covered with a cancer diagnosis. For instance, acupuncture wasn’t covered with my plan unless there was proof of a chronic illness such as cancer.
• Trust your gut and don’t be forced into something that doesn’t feel right for you.
• Advocate for yourself—no one else will take care of you like you can. Speak out of something isn’t right and remember: closed mouths don’t get fed.
• Don’t be scared to ask questions!

As of August 2021, I am Cancer Free!

Statements and opinions expressed are that of the individual and do not express the views or opinions of Susan G. Komen. This information is being provided for educational purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advice. Persons with breast cancer should consult their healthcare provider with specific questions or concerns about their treatment.

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Transformation Directorate

Breast cancer app to offer patients personalised medical support throughout their treatment

Being diagnosed with cancer can be a difficult time for many patients. It is easy for them to feel overwhelmed with information following diagnosis. For breast cancer patients, an app that supports more personalised medical support throughout treatment could have significant benefits.

Breast cancer and its treatment can often cause emotional trauma and health issues that impact a patient’s daily life. In order to support patients with breast cancer to manage their health problems during and after their treatment, a digital solution was developed to provide them with a clear overview of their condition, upcoming treatments, appointments, and a way to easily monitor how they feel.

Cancer care teams also wanted to understand how breast cancer patients with more complex needs respond to treatment. This digital solution enabled patients to share their wellbeing and treatment side effects data with their care teams in real time.

The app aimed to help patients regain control of their lives from the first day of diagnosis by providing them with valuable, personalised insights about their day-to-day wellbeing, allowing for better discussions with their doctors, and enabling them to make more informed decisions about their treatment.

The app also aimed to improve patients’ outcomes and reduce hospital visits, as patients could share self-monitored health data with healthcare professionals. That way, care teams could access real-time insights into patients’ wellbeing and side effects, enabling the management of treatment-related toxicities in a timely manner.

Solution and impact

OWise breast cancer has been developed in collaboration with patients to provide support they need from cancer diagnosis throughout treatment and follow-up. It can be used at multiple points in the patient pathway to complement the traditional paper-based tools, for example, to replace chemotherapy diaries for recording side effects and symptoms during treatment. Clinicians can then use the data to inform decision-making about ongoing treatment options, supporting a personalised treatment approach.

By using the mobile app or website, patients can receive personalised treatment information and tailor-made question suggestions to prepare for conversations with their doctors. Patients can register how they feel at different stages of their treatment, which can help physicians understand how a patient is responding to certain medications. Different symptoms, such as a patient’s fatigue, nausea and pain can be tracked and viewed in graph format, which enables easy sharing with their treating physician or nurse. This allows patients to get a better insight into the effects of medicines on their wellbeing, while clinicians can obtain detailed information about the condition of their patients between hospital visits. This enables doctors to adjust the treatment if and when necessary.

Functionality

• OWise can be accessed through a website or as an app on smartphones and tablets
• Enables patients to record their treatment experiences, side effects and overall quality of life and to share progress with the clinical teams
• Offers a suite of tailored information and tools to support people with breast cancer
• Can be accessed through the NHS Apps library and is available to download in the App Store and Google Play
• Real-time OWise patient reported outcome (PRO) data that patients choose to share can also be easily integrated into the commonly used electronic health record (EHR) systems, such as EPIC or Cerner

Capabilities

The solution contains a suite of tools to support patients with breast cancer, including:

• personalised information on breast cancer and patient-specific treatment pathways, providing patients with interactive access to extensive information on their condition
• a tailored list of questions to prompt discussions with the oncology care team
• a data sharing function so patients can send their wellbeing data to their care team and carers through a secure hyperlink
• a secure audio-recording function, allowing patients to record and replay clinical consultations
• physical and psychological side-effect and symptom tracking
• a diary function that lists upcoming appointments and the current stage in the patient’s treatment plan

The app is designed for patients to manage their health condition at home throughout their journey, in conjunction with standard treatments for breast cancer, as a replacement for paper-based support tools.

OWise can also be easily integrated into the most common EHR systems, such as EPIC or Cerner. This helps clinicians to more effectively monitor patients between consultations, optimising both patient experience and clinical outcomes.

Key learning points

For the period of implementation, it is useful to have service management involved, as new solutions, such as OWise, benefit from the support of a service implementation manager.

Key figures/quotes

• 90% of both patients and clinicians would recommend OWise to other breast cancer patients
• More than 5,000 UK users

“This mobile app really supports patients positively through the physical and emotional challenges of having breast cancer. It is also a tremendous tool for supporting the relationship between a patient and their clinician during their treatment as well as for breast cancer services as a whole.” Dr Samantha Barrell, former chief executive, Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

“OWise is a great app and was hugely useful during my treatment. It was recommended to me by my oncologist, and I am really glad I chose to use it. I would frequently refer back to it when I had to discuss my health with nurses or doctors and without the app, I don't think I'd have been as aware of trends and side effects.” Rebecca, OWise user and breast cancer patient

“Digital technologies like OWise offer real potential to improve a cancer patient’s experience. Being able to see a timeline that charts a patient’s symptoms from their own perspective, directly within our electronic clinical records, is fantastic. It definitely improves our ability to understand how cancer and its treatment are affecting a patient.” Dr Peter Hall, consultant medical oncologist, Edinburgh Cancer Centre

“My world collapsed when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. But with OWise, I gained control of my life again.” Violet Bijvanck, OWise user and breast cancer patient

Find out more

OWise is used as a case study example in the NICE evidence standard framework for digital health technologies (PDF, 5.0MB)

Find out more about OWise Breast Cancer

More about the standalone version of OWise Breast Cancer (video)

More about the hospital’s integrated version of OWise (video)

Key contact.

Dr Anne Bruinvels, founder, Px HealthCare

[email protected]

These case studies summarise user and patient experiences with digital solutions along the relevant care pathway. Unless expressly stated otherwise, the apps and digital tools referenced are not supplied, distributed or endorsed by NHS England or the Department of Health and Social Care and such parties are not liable for any injury, loss or damage arising from their use.

All playbook case studies have either passed, or are currently undergoing the Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (DTAC) assessment.

Please note the full legal disclaimer: NHS England playbook disclaimer

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You asked, we delivered: My Journey symptom tracker and app

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1800 500 258.

Since we launched the My Journey online tool in 2018, we’ve heard from many members who have told us that a symptom tracker, as well as the ability to download the resource as an app, would add real value to My Journey.  

We’re delighted to announce that we’ve responded to your feedback, and have introduced to My Journey both an in-built symptom tracker and downloadable app.

The symptom tracker has been designed, with the help of people who are going through and have been through breast cancer, to support users in recording the physical and emotional symptoms of a diagnosis.

With the help of the symptom tracker, as a user you can feel confident that you're accurately sharing the ups and downs of your experience with your treating team and people close to you.

The tracker provides a dedicated space to process the rollercoaster of emotions and ‘brain fog’ that are common experiences associated with breast cancer. 

We have also released a downloadable app version of My Journey – making it easier than ever for you to access My Journey content on the go. The My Journey app can be downloaded from:

Apple App Store

Google Play Store

‘The downloadable app and symptom tracker demonstrate how committed we are to listening to feedback and working to ensure My Journey meets the needs of people affected by breast cancer.’

Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) CEO Kirsten Pilatti says the updates are a game changer and an important evolution for My Journey.

My Journey is the go-to resource for people affected by breast cancer, providing tailored information and support at every stage of the treatment journey and beyond. 

Relevant for those diagnosed with DCIS, early breast cancer and metastatic disease, as well as those who have finished treatment and are living beyond breast cancer, whether accessing via the app or web browser, you can be confident you’re accessing the most reliable, up-to-date, and accurate information and support, from wherever you are.   

To start using My Journey, or to find out more, visit myjourney.org.au .

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Find up-to-date, reliable information tailored to your changing needs during your breast cancer experience. My Journey is for people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer or DCIS. It helps you make the best decisions about breast cancer treatment and care by providing tailored information.

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The developer, Breast Cancer Network Australia , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

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Navigating My Breast Cancer Journey That Came Out of Nowhere

I had dealt with multiple family members with cancer, but didn't think it would happen to me.

To any of my pink sisters and their families out there, please remember that you are never, ever alone. You got this and you will make it through! My advice to anyone newly diagnosed with breast cancer or any cancer is to do the following:

1) Take a deep breath.

2) Let out your emotions (and they could range from crying, shouting, weeping, screaming). That is very much OK and healthy to do.

3) Seek professional mental help from a psychologist, mental health counselor, family counselor, clergy, etc.

4) Don’t be in denial and start meeting with your oncology team (may include your surgical oncology, surgeon, plastic surgeon, radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, dietician, social worker and breast cancer navigator) to evaluate options for your treatment plan.

5) The treatment plan may be very brutal. Know that you can take things one step at a time and follow your oncology team’s recommendations.

What I wish people understood about breast cancer diagnosis is that at first it is extremely overwhelming, and it almost feels like being hit by a never-ending and relentless storm of activities and emotions. Every single person I am encountering throughout this journey (from my clinical team, to the grocery store clerks, to my other pink sisters I have met through multiple breast cancer support groups, I say "thank you!”

I started my breast cancer journey in 2021. Prior to that, as a woman of African descent who had spent my last 30 years in the U.S., I had dealt with histories of multiple family members with cancer — including lung cancer, melanoma, endometrial cancer and colorectal cancer.

I had previously worked as an oncology nurse, and nothing prepared me for the reality of facing my own breast cancer diagnosis, surgeries, radiation and hormone treatments. It has been intense, for sure. I am committed to spreading my testimony of the Lord's unwavering faithfulness, His healing power and His covering and staying optimistic and feisty, while continuing to raise awareness about breast cancer and building communities, particularly in disproportionately affected communities.

I have noticed a few differences in side effects (hot flashes and initial grief with the double mastectomy), quality of life (I have overwhelmed with deep gratitude for this journey! It’s weird, but so true) or insurance coverage between the originally prescribed regimen and the new one. My initial treatment plan given the right ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) was lumpectomy. That plan quickly changed after my subsequent MRI and biopsies on the left. I decided and was at peace with double mastectomy (my strong preference) and subsequent radiation post-op.

Some of my challenges during this journey have come with needing to come to terms with the diagnosis initially, and once treatment began, it’s been coming to terms with and embracing my new normal every single day at a time. My life changed after finding breastcancer.org because I have found it immensely helpful to read the stories of my other pink sisters and as I noted earlier, it really does take a village. Every pink warrior’s story matters and makes a big difference.

This post was written and submitted by a CURE reader. The article reflects the views the author   and not of CURE®. This is also not supposed to be intended as medical advice.

For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to  subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here .

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Olivia Munn Details Shock of Cancer Diagnosis After Clean Mammography 3 Months Earlier

Olivia munn reflected on the timeline of her shocking cancer diagnosis, which came just three months after testing negative..

Olivia Munn ‘s life took an unexpected turn after being diagnosed with cancer . 

Like many, the Newsroom actress has always been proactive when it comes to her health. In fact, around a year ago, she had a mammogram exam and a BRCA gene test, both of which were negative.

"I was walking around thinking that I had no breast cancer," she explained to People   in an interview published April 17. "I did all the tests that I knew about."

That is, until three months later when Olivia's doctor, OB-GYN Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi , intervened, saving her life when she decided to run another test—the Tyrer-Cuzick risk assessment calculator , on which Olivia scored a 37.3 percent. With a high-risk score being considered a 20 percent and higher, her doctor ordered an MRI.

Unlike the other tests Olivia had taken, the MRI was not clear and the 43-year-old was called to get an ultrasound the same day, which then led to an emergency biopsy the next day. 

Three days after the biopsy, she was called in to see Dr. Aliabadi, where she was diagnosed with stage 1 Luminal B bilateral breast cancer. 

Upon finding cancer in both breasts, the doctors told her that a double mastectomy would be her best option . 

Although she wasn't keen on the idea, she told the outlet that, "at that point it was like, that's my only option, I felt, to be aggressive and to give myself the best shot at overcoming this."

So she went through with the life-changing operation.

"I saw myself for the first time and I was in shock," she explained of seeing herself in the doctor's office after the surgery. "It was incredibly hard,"

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Olivia, who shares 2-year-old son Malcolm with John Mulaney , continued, "When I got home, I undressed and looked in the mirror again, and that's when I just absolutely broke down." 

The reconstruction procedure eased some of that shock for Olivia. "It's much better, but it's not the same," she explained. "And that's okay because I'm here and I'm okay with that now."

And despite the hardships the operation created for her, the former Daily Show correspondent is  thankful for it nonetheless . 

"I'm extremely happy that I had the option to have a double mastectomy," she shared. "I'm extremely happy that I got the opportunity to fight."

And this wasn't the only procedure Olivia underwent. She had four surgeries over the course of 10 months, including lymph node dissection and a nipple delay procedure.  

Despite all she's been through, she still has a lot to smile about— one of those things being her son.  

"When I'm with Malcolm, it's really the only time your brain doesn't think about that you're sick," she shared. "It really puts a lot of stuff into perspective because if my body changes, I'm still his mom. If I have hot flashes, I'm still his mom. If I lose my hair, I'm still his mom. That's really what matters the most to me, I get to be here for him."

Olivia isn't the only celeb who has shared insight into their experience battling cancer. Read on for more stars who've opened up about their health journeys.

The actor, known for roles in  The Boys  and  Supernatural , shared on Feb. 3, 2023, that he had battled prostate cancer for years and was cancer free.

"I had to have a lil bit o'cancer removed from my body and lymph nodes biopsied," the  Vanderpump Rules star revealed to fans at the close of 2018. "(In the clear now!)"

The Desperate Housewives star revealed to fans in September 2018 that she survived anal cancer. "After posting a picture of myself here and uttering the words #cancer and #hairloss, I feel liberated, deliriously free and completely me," she shared on Instagram . 

The two-time Oscar winner underwent successful treatment for cancer, and his rep confirmed to E! News that doctors deemed Hoffman " surgically cured ."

The X-Men star was treated for his third basal cell carcinoma back in 2014, and after his third treatment, Jackman's rep told E! News that he's "all good" now.

In April 2023, Hugh had two biopsies for additional basal cell carcinoma. At the time, he told fans, "If I can just take this opportunity to remind you summer is coming for those of us in the northern hemisphere, please wear sunscreen."

Camille Grammer

The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star celebrated one year of being cancer-free in January. The mother of two was diagnosed with endometrial cancer back in 2013 and underwent a radical hysterectomy.

Then in 2017, Camille had surgery to remove Squamous Cell Carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. 

The Avengers: Age of Ultron actress battled ovarian cancer at the age of 25 and overcome odds when she welcomed two children with husband Taran Killam .

TV host reveals he underwent surgery for prostate cancer in July 2013 and has since been given a clean bill of health.

The Dancing with the Stars cohost underwent successful surgery for thyroid cancer . The mother of four  tweet ed , "Thx for all the twitter love. I'm [home] recovering & resting."

"MY DR CALLED ME ON A SAT. MORNING TO TELL ME I AM CANCER FREE!!!!! #wootothemotherf--kinhoo," the actress tweeted after receiving the good news .

The Up All Night star was declared "100-percent clear" of breast cancer after treatment and a double mastectomy.

The Dexter star used a hiatus from his hit series to slay Hodgkin's lymphoma .

The Australian actress revealed in October 2011 that she had a cancerous mole removed from her calf after her hubby encouraged her to get the suspicious-looking mark checked out.

Ewan McGregor

The Scot is trainspotting just fine these days after having a cancerous mole removed from beneath his right eye.

The singer beat breast cancer in 2004 with a "minimally invasive" lumpectomy and radiation therapy.

The Oscar winner declared in early 2011 that his tumor was gone and he had throat cancer "beat."

The Emmy winner whacked breast cancer in 2004.

Surely the CNN veteran wears his SPF when he's braving the elements now after having a cancerous growth removed from under his left eye in 2008.

The Australian pop star underwent successful surgery for breast cancer in 2005.

The 7th Heaven star was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease when he was only 28. He's 37 now and looking good!

The ER fave had to abandon her role in Parenthood to fight breast cancer in 2009—but her treatment was a success and she was back on the red carpet in no time.

The America's Got Talent judge was diagnosed with colon cancer while shooting The Osbournes in 2002 and used the opportunity to stress the importance of regular screenings while attacking the #@%! with chemotherapy. She was declared cancer-free the following year.

The Oscar winner took prostate cancer down, down to Chinatown, in 2003, and has been in about 400 movies since then.

The Good Morning America cohost proudly flaunted her smooth scalp while undergoing chemotherapy to treat breast cancer in 2007.

The champion cyclist battled back from stage-four testicular cancer before winning seven straight Tour de France titles.

The Grammy and Oscar winner became an inspiring activist after a lumpectomy and chemotherapy cleared her of breast cancer in 2005.

The former Saturday Night Live standout mined her breast cancer battle for comedic material that turned into God Said Ha! , her successful one-woman show that eventually went to Broadway.

The Sex and the City star was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, and after surgery and radiation treatments, she was given the clear .

Samantha Harris

Harris underwent a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

The Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip star sports a scar on her back where doctors successfully removed a melanoma.

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Fashion show celebrates 24 people living with and beyond breast cancer

The group took to the catwalk of a fashion show organised by the charity Breast Cancer Now.

A group of people living with or beyond breast cancer took to the catwalk of a fashion show to celebrate who they have become and to reflect on their experience with the disease.

The 22 women and two men strutted their stuff on the runway of The Show by Breast Cancer Now, the UK’s largest breast cancer charity providing research, support and care to individuals.

The annual event in central London, which featured both an afternoon and evening show on Thursday, was hosted by TV presenter Lisa Snowdon, who has been an ambassador for the charity since 2005.

Snowdon, whose grandmother died from breast cancer when she was a child, told the PA news agency that early detection and seeking help is “key to survival”.

“I’ve always known that early detection is key,” she said.

“Asking for help, seeking medical advice, understanding your body and recognising when something doesn’t feel right is key to survival.”

She added that it was “unbelievable” to see the way the models in the show were “putting what they are feeling behind them” and “owning it”.

“Our models are smiling from ear to ear and it’s like they are levitating down the catwalk,” she said.

“I have such huge admiration for every single model that’s walking out on the catwalk, all living with breast cancer and beyond.

“They inspire me, they are incredibly brave, so positive and they have such courage and such positivity, it’s infectious – it really is.”

During the afternoon showing, the models wore three different outfits as they took to the catwalk amid the sounds of cheering and clapping and they ended the show by dancing together on the runway.

Kendra Schneller, a 51-year-old nurse from south-east London, told PA how modelling in the fashion show made her feel “confident” and “full of joy and happiness”.

“It’s also a little bit sad because we’ve all been talking about our journeys, which can be quite triggering, but I’m amongst some amazing people and I’ve got such hope for the future,” Ms Schneller, a mother of three, said.

“This is my way of showing everyone that you don’t have to be perfect, you can just be who you are and you can still be beautiful and you can still shine.”

Ms Schneller was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic and had a mastectomy.

She recalled that when she learned the news of her diagnosis, she rang her husband and told him “I’m going to die”.

“It’s just the thought of not being around for my children,” she said.

“I’ve come so far and I’m so pleased to still be here and share my journey and share my story.”

Ms Schneller, who modelled in the show and represented players of People’s Postcode Lottery who have raised more than £11 million for the charity to date, added: “Breast Cancer Now have been absolutely brilliant in terms of their support.

“I haven’t stopped using their services and I value them so much.”

Mark Winter, one of the two male models at the fashion show, highlighted the importance of men getting themselves checked for breast cancer because “they don’t know they can get it”.

Mr Winter, 59 from Polegate, East Sussex, told PA: “We don’t know we can get (breast cancer), I didn’t know I could get it, and you’re more likely to pass away because you ignore it.

“Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone, speak to your doctor and get it checked.”

Mr Winter, who was diagnosed with breast cancer during lockdown and underwent surgery as well as chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, said he felt “embarrassment” around his diagnosis.

“I was lucky because I caught it early and I didn’t have any major issues with sickness,” he said.

“The only thing I felt, because I’m a bloke, was embarrassment because I had a woman’s thing.

“It’s still a little bit embarrassing but it’s lovely to get my head around it with all the ladies at the show.”

He added: “It’s amazing because we’ve all been through the same, but it’s all been completely different so you get the good, the bad and the ugly.

“It’s lovely to speak to everybody and just doing this is amazing.”

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I'm an only child. My mom's cancer diagnosis made me realize I have no one else in my life.

• I'm an only child and my mom had me when she was 20. 
• When I was 24 and she was 44, she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. 
• As her only child I was responsible for taking her to all her appointments and caring for her. 

Growing up an only child to a young single immigrant mother was a lot of pressure. I knew at an early age that some people in our lives did not think we would be successful in life given our circumstances. My mom was determined to prove them wrong, and her goal to do so became mine.

We were a team , according to her. When she'd come home from a long day of work and the house was a mess with no dinner waiting for her, she'd sit me down and give me the "we are a team" talk. She'd remind me it was her responsibility to go to work and provide for us and my responsibility to help around the house as much as I could because it was just the two of us.

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Some people might think it's unreasonable to expect that from a kid and trust me, as a kid, so did I. But I realize now this line of thinking prepared me for one of our greatest matches. Her fight against breast cancer .

She was diagnosed at 44

My mom worked hard to put me through college on her own. With a degree at 22 years old, I thought we had beaten the odds and proven our "haters'' wrong. Our work as a team was on pause, and we could enjoy life a little more. But when I was 24 years old, my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. She inherited a rare gene mutation that makes it more likely a person will get cancer at a young age.

Within a week of her diagnosis , she started an aggressive chemotherapy plan that would be followed by a double mastectomy, an oophorectomy, and radiation.

As her only child , I was now responsible for taking her to all of her doctor's appointments, chemotherapy sessions, physical therapy, and surgeries. I was her human crutch when she needed to get from one room to another. I sat her down in the shower and bathed her when she lost her strength. I held her in my arms as she cried and apologized to me for the journey we were about to embark on.

If she dies, I have no one

My mom is now a year into remission. Women with a BRCA2 gene mutation have a higher-than-average chance of getting a second cancer . She tells me if it comes back, she does not want to fight it. She says the emotional and physical pain is too much to bear for a second time. When she first said this, I told her if she doesn't fight it again, I'll have no one.

My mom is the kind of mother that would give me the world if she could, and in many ways, she has. I've had a best friend who taught me how to be a "chingona." Someone I can call when I lock my keys in my car, or I have a funny story to tell. And being her only child meant I did not have to fight siblings for financial or emotional support.

I never considered a world where we didn't grow old together. We're only 20 years apart. Before learning about her cancer, the chances we'd end up in the same retirement home seemed fairly high.

Now, when I think of a world without her, my heart breaks into a million pieces. I'm constantly torn between spending as much time with my mom as possible because I'm not sure how much I'll have left with her and spending time curating a life outside her to cushion the blow.

This experience has forced me to realize that creating a community of love and support outside my relationship with my mom is essential for my own survival.

Watch: Why one mother fled Texas to keep her child safe

• Main content

Olivia Munn details breast cancer journey, including 4 surgeries in 10 months

Olivia Munn is opening up about her breast cancer diagnosis.

Munn got emotionally candid about "terrifying" fear from her health journey and receiving support from her partner, comedian John Mulaney , in a People magazine exclusive published Wednesday.

"You realize cancer doesn't care who you are; it doesn't care if you have a baby or if you don't have time," Munn told the outfit. "It comes at you, and you have no choice but to face it head-on."

Munn, a mom to Malcolm, her 2-year-old son with Mulaney, was diagnosed weeks before she was set to start shooting a new sci-fi film in Germany.

"I was not someone who obsessed over death or was afraid of it in any way," the actress told the outlet, but noted that "having a little baby at home made everything much more terrifying."

"The Newsroom" alum, 43, first revealed her diagnosis  in a candid Instagram post last month , telling fans that she had underwent four surgeries over the past 10 months and spent "so many days" in bed that she couldn't "even count."

Olivia Munn reveals breast cancer diagnosis, underwent double mastectomy

How Olivia Munn found out she had breast cancer: 'It was a lot tougher than I expected'

In the People article, Munn said she first found out about signs of cancer during an appointment for her yearly Pap smear . Munn's OB-GYN Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi asked the actress about her lifetime breast cancer risk score, which she said she did not know.

Her doctor and "SHE MD" Podcast used a free online tool to figure out her score , which utilizes information including age of first period to family history of breast cancer to conduct a score. Aliabadi ordered an MRI when Munn's score returned at 37.3% — any score above 20% is deemed high-risk. The imaging showed a spot in Munn's right breast, which she told People was "just a hairline away from my lymph nodes."

An ultrasound revealed two additional tumors in her right breast and later, her original MRI led to a biopsy which established there was cancer in the left breast, too. Her medical team advised her to undergo a double mastectomy , a surgical procedure which removes both breasts, during which doctors found a small section of ductal carcinoma in situ, an early form of breast cancer .

"There's so much information, and you're making these huge decisions for the rest of your life. I really tried to be prepared, but the truth is that nothing could prepare me for what I would feel like, what it would look like and how I would handle it emotionally," Munn said. "It was a lot tougher than I expected."

She also told the outlet that she chose to "go smaller" when it came to breast reconstruction. Though she has not yet undergone chemotherapy or radiation, she's started hormone suppression therapy as a preventative step, which has caused medically induced menopause with symptoms including "thinking it's hot, my hair is thinning, and I'm tired a lot."

Olivia Munn originally kept breast cancer journey 'private' with support from partner John Mulaney

Munn chose to keep her breast cancer diagnosis from the public eye for as long as possible before sharing her health journey with the world last month.

"Keeping it private for as long as I did allowed me time to fight without any outside noise at all," she told People.

Munn, who is famously mum about her relationship with comedian John Mulaney , said "it would've felt like climbing an iceberg" without her partner.

"I don't think he had a moment to himself, between being an incredibly hands-on father and going to and from the hospital, taking Malcolm to the park, putting him to nap, driving to Cedars-Sinai (Medical Center), hanging out with me, going home, putting Malcolm to bed, coming back to me — and he did it all happily," Munn recalled.

She added that getting "to be here" for her son has been a source of strength through her battle with breast cancer.

“When I'm with him, it's the only time my brain doesn't think about being sick. I'm just so happy with him and it puts a lot of stuff into perspective because if my body changes, I'm still his mom," Munn said. "If I have hot flashes, I'm still his mom. If I lose my hair, I'm still his mom. That's really what matters the most to me."