With better diagnostic services and easier, more direct access to clinicians, head and neck cancer diagnosis is much more accessible to patients of all ages. As 94% of the UK population use applications (apps) on their smartphone or tablet devices, the pre-development of an interactive, accessible app to allow Head and Neck patients to regularly report symptoms post-cancer treatment would be beneficial to gather data on what further support is needed. 

This project is using the Award Scheme funding to initiate the development of a smartphone app which allows cancer survivors to input their symptoms (both physical and psychological). The aim is that this will then be linked to specialist nurses who can organise additional support as necessary. This can be utilised by patients within 5 years of their follow-up and can even be used beyond the 5 years.

The app will allow patients to input their symptoms and this information will be used to generate a score. A trigger score will be set and if the patient achieves that score, specialist nurses will automatically be notified who can contact the patient via app/phone. This would allow patients to take more responsibility for their own symptoms and identify recurrence sooner, as well as leading to patient-dictated outpatient appointments.

For more information on this project, please contact Omar Mulla omar.mulla1@nhs.net