Spring into action and take charge of your health with Dr K's Breast Checker: Australia's first iPhone application helping promote breast awareness to the tech-savvy
Thursday, 09 September 2010 17:41
With spring already underway, Australian women are being asked to spring into action and take charge of their health with the launch of Australia’s first iPhone application to help women of all ages become more breast aware.
The first of its kind in Australia, Dr K’s Breast Checker will help prompt women to conduct regular self-breast checks with its unique interactive tools helping identify any changes in their breasts, as well as automated reminders for monthly breast checks. The application also provides important information on what to do if a change is found.
Developed in consultation with breast health specialists from the Breast Cancer Institute as well as leading breast cancer support charities, the McGrath Foundation and the Breast Cancer Foundation of Western Australia, Dr K’s Breast Checker is the latest tool to help women to take control of their health and become breast aware.
Dr Kath Giles, a Perth-based doctor otherwise known as Dr K, came up with the concept for the iPhone application after realising there was a need to reach people more broadly with the breast awareness message in a way in which they feel comfortable.
“With the busy lives that we lead today, it’s easy to forget what you felt or saw the last time you checked your breasts. It’s also well-known that early detection of breast changes gives women the best opportunity for successful treatment if the changes are related to breast cancer.
“Over 1.5 million iPhone, iPod Touch and iPads are currently being used in Australia1 and with an iPhone application for just about everything, I saw an opportunity to help educate women on how to be more breast aware by developing an application with an interactive guide on how to do their breast check, as well as a mechanism that helps track changes found from previous breast checks, advising them to see their GP if they find a change. It also serves as an automatic reminder for these women to do their monthly breast checks, getting them into a positive health routine.
“With input from a number of breast health specialists and working with leading support and awareness breast cancer charities, the McGrath Foundation and the Breast Cancer Foundation of Western Australia, I believe we have developed an application which will be easy to understand, accessible and provides solid advice to women on how to conduct a breast check. More importantly, it tells them to see their GP as soon as they find a change.
“It was also important to us that a portion of the sale of the product is donated back to breast cancer support services. 55c from the sale of each Dr K’s Breast Checker iPhone application will be shared between two amazing charities, the McGrath Foundation and the Breast Cancer Foundation of Western Australia,” said Dr K.
The McGrath Foundation raises money to place McGrath Breast Care Nurses in communities right across Australia as well as educating young women to be breast aware, while the Breast Cancer Foundation of Western Australia aims to be a light of inspiration and hope to all affected by breast cancer through support, education and awareness.
The McGrath Foundation’s Tracy Bevan believes venturing into the digital age is a necessary step. “With the McGrath Foundation’s strong online support base through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Foursquare, we believe Dr K’s Breast Checker is another great way for people to receive the breast awareness message and make it a part of their regular health check routine.
“Jane believed strongly in educating young women to be breast aware because of her own diagnosis at just 31 and we believe Dr K’s Breast Checker will provide women with the tools to feel comfortable with doing regular breast checks, and more importantly, telling them what to do if they find a change, as early detection can mean more effective treatment,” said Tracy.
General Manager of the Breast Cancer Foundation of WA, Donna Rendell, believes that taking breast cancer education to women across Australia using new technologies in a manner that can be easily used in today’s tech-savvy world is the future for health promotions.
“We have seen through our extensive service provision within the community, and results from online education campaigns, that Australians are thirsty for trustworthy breast cancer information. With so much information available, providing a tool based on evidence, rather than urban myth, and linking the community to relevant service providers is vital.”
Dr K’s Breast Checker iPhone application is available for download from iTunes for $2.49, with 55c from the sale of each application shared between the McGrath Foundation and the Breast Cancer Foundation of Western Australia.
Visit iTunes here or alternatively, visit www.doctor-k.net, www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au or www.breastcancer.org.au and click the Dr K’s Breast Checker icon to be redirected to the purchase point.
