Breast cancer treatment has seen tremendous advancements over the last decade, with new therapies and personalized treatment plans improving patient outcomes. However, as these therapies evolve, so too do the challenges of managing treatment outside of clinical settings. With more patients shifting from clinic-based care to home-based medication management, healthcare providers and patients are navigating new obstacles in ensuring proper treatment adherence, safety, and emotional well-being.
One of the most complex aspects of breast cancer treatment involves managing various medications, often with intricate dosing schedules with days on followed by days off medication. For patients managing more than one medication or combining treatments such as oral therapy and chemotherapy, the task of keeping track of doses, timing, and side effects can feel overwhelming. While this shift to home-based treatment provides patients with the comfort of being in their own environment, it also adds a new layer of responsibility in managing treatment accurately and on time.
As breast cancer care advances, more treatments are moving from hospital-based infusions or clinic-based administrations to therapies that can be self-managed at home. Oral chemotherapy and targeted therapies, for example, allow patients the freedom to take their medication on their own schedule. However, with this flexibility comes the responsibility of managing the therapy correctly, which can be daunting when there are complex dosing schedules or multiple medications involved.
Healthcare providers are now tasked with ensuring that patients follow these regimens closely without having the direct, in-person oversight once provided in clinics. The transition to home care means less face-to-face interaction with healthcare professionals, which can lead to missed doses, incorrect medication intake, or a lack of understanding of how and when to take each medication.
This is where digital health tools are playing a transformative role. The rise of wearable technology, mobile health apps, and smart medication management systems is revolutionizing how patients manage their treatments at home. These technologies offer an array of features designed to fill the gaps in care, providing real-time support, medication reminders, and tracking tools that can help patients stick to their treatment plans more easily. For patients with breast cancer, these innovations are especially valuable, as they simplify the process of medication management and provide peace of mind for both patients and their caregivers.
- Real-Time Support: For many patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer, missing even a single dose of medication can have significant repercussions on the effectiveness of their therapy. Tools like KEEP provide real-time alerts and reminders that ensure patients don’t miss a dose. Whether it’s a 21-day chemotherapy cycle or multiple daily medications, the ability to receive automated reminders takes much of the guesswork out of the process, empowering patients to follow their treatment plans with greater ease and confidence.
2. Medication Tracking and Monitoring: Tracking medication adherence is a critical issue in breast cancer treatment. In the past, healthcare providers often relied on patient-reported data or periodic check-ins to monitor how closely patients were sticking to their regimens. With advancements in digital health, patients now have access to smart medication management tools that automatically track each dosing event. These systems can capture whether a dose has been taken or missed, and this data can be shared with healthcare providers in real-time, ensuring that they have full visibility into their patients’ treatment progress without relying on outdated or incomplete information.
- Customizable Reminders and Scheduling Tools: One of the most valuable aspects of these new technologies is the ability to tailor medication reminders to a patient’s individual schedule. Patients with breast cancer may have different treatment cycles or medications that must be taken at specific times, and keeping track of it all can be overwhelming. Smart tools like KEEP allow patients to customize their reminders based on their own schedules, integrating seamlessly with their daily routines. Whether it’s the complex 21-day on, 7-day off schedule of oral chemotherapy, or a combination of multiple therapies, these tools ensure patients stay on track without having to manually manage each medication’s timing.
- Empowering Caregivers Through Technology: Breast cancer treatment often involves not just the patient, but a network of caregivers, family members, and healthcare providers who all play a role in supporting the patient’s journey. Digital health tools like KEEP’s Circle of Care feature are bridging the gap between patients and their support networks. This feature allows family members or caregivers to be actively involved in the patient’s care, receiving updates and alerts about the patient’s medication adherence. By creating a collaborative environment, Circle of Care fosters a sense of shared responsibility, reducing the emotional burden on the primary caregiver and ensuring that someone is always informed if there’s a missed dose or other issues with the medication regimen.
