Wednesday, May 14, 2014

A Smart APProach to Cancer


A_Smart_APProach

Last year I presented A Smart APProach to Cancer during the inaugural Ignite Carroll event, showcasing apps that I used during my treatment. As a supplement to my presentation, I wanted to share an expanded list of useful apps for cancer care and beyond. Whether you are a caregiver or patient, apps are a perfect tool for managing your medical information and personal well-being.

Organization and Management

Chemo_Cal

Chemo Calendar Use this app during chemotherapy treatments to track blood cell counts, symptoms and medications. Chemo Calendar captures and organizes all your information and tracks your symptoms. Reports can be emailed directly to your doctor. Free iPhone only
My_Medica

My Medical A comprehensive record keeping app for yourself or family members. You can track as many health records as you need in a single purchase. Use as a digital file cabinet to store lab work, x-rays and important documents. This app will remind you of doctor’s appointments, prescription dosage and upcoming lab tests. $3.99 iPhone/ $1.99 Android
MedHelper_Pro

MedHelper Pro Useful app for tracking prescriptions. Set alarms to remind you when medications need to be taken, and receive notifications of upcoming doctor appointments and prescription refills. $3.99 iPhone/Android
Evernote

Evernote This easy to use app helps you remember everything! Evernote is a cloud based service that stores documents, notes, health records and to do lists. Scan items (using your phone’s camera), import PDFs, store receipts and record audio during doctor visits. Items are searchable and organized by notebooks and tags. Evernote syncs across multiple devices (PC, tablet, phone), allowing quick access to important information anytime, anyplace. Free iPhone/Android

Premium service available $5.00/month

Hello_Doctor

Hello Doctor A simple and secure app, that helps people manage their medical records. Allows you to easily aggregate your paper and digital medical records on your mobile device, and add notes when meeting with your doctor. Free
iPhone/iPad only
WorldCard

WorldCard Mobile Scanning application that uses OCR (text recognition) to instantly transfer information from business cards to your phone’s contacts. With a click of your  phone's camera, you no longer have to manually input contact information from business cards. $2.99 iPhone only
Free trial available


Note: Your insurance and medical flex spending companies are likely to have apps to assist you with managing co-pays, claims and reimbursements. You can use your phone to quickly receive reimbursements for medical expenses by taking pictures of receipts and then electronically submitting information to your FSA.
 

Relaxation and Wellness

MusicTherapy_Oncology

Music Therapy: Oncology Therapeutic music playlist designed specifically for patients in an oncology setting to help you relax during treatment. $2.99/month iPhone only

Free trial available
Songza

Songza A music streaming service that offers a playlist based on your selected activity or time of day. Select the relaxation playlist during treatment days. Free iPhone/Android
Relax_Melodies


Relax Melodies: Sleep Zen Sounds Select soothing sounds and melodies to help you relax during treatments or fall asleep. Includes timers and alarms if needed. Free for basic
iPhone/Android

$2.99 for upgrade
Relax

Relax with Andrew Johnson Lite Do you have difficulty relaxing on your own? Let clinical hypnotherapist, Andrew Johnson help ease your tension by narrating you through a series of relaxation techniques. Free for basic
iPhone/Android

$2.99 for upgrade

Health and Fitness

Fooducate

Fooducate Do you know what you are really eating? Scan or manually search food and drink items to reveal a nutritional grade from A to D. Fooducate’s grading scale is based on an algorithm using the ingredients list. The grading system is developed by scientists and dietitians. Includes an "alternatives" item list to help you shop healthier! Free for basic use. iPhone/Android

$9.99 lifetime subscription available
Waterlogged

Waterlogged Drinking water is critical to good health, but especially important during chemotherapy treatments. This app tracks your water intake in fun visual way. Free for basic use.
 iPhone only
MyFitnessPal

MyFitnessPal The fastest and easiest calorie counter! Includes the largest food database and convenient barcode scanning input. MyFitnessPal also includes an exercise tracker to monitor the amount of calories worked off through the day. Connect with friends option. Free
iPhone/Android
RunKeeper

RunKeeper Track your runs, walks, bike rides and more using the GPS in your phone. Provides encouragement and coaching during your exercise. Listen to music, capture photos and post your activities and achievements with others. Free for basic use
iPhone/Android

Various upgrades available from $9.99-$19.99

  Tips for finding apps:  

  • Search for apps in a browser rather than in the App Store/Google Play 
    • Try Quixey: a search engine designed specifically for apps
  • Review the Ratings and Reviews- a good way to find better apps is to sort by the ratings given by customers. Remember to look at both the rating and how many times the app has been rated.
  • Review the Version History- this indicates how consistently the developer does updates to improve the app (look for current updates).