The Updated Breast Advocate® App Is Ready to Download & Here’s Why You Should! – My Review

Note:  This is a sponsored review. I only review products I use myself and feel will be of interest and value to you, Dear Readers. I hope you enjoy reading this review, and I hope it’ll convince you to download this amazing, user-friendly app!

I don’t know about you, but I’m not embarrassed to admit that I’m pretty attached to my cell phone. It’s always close by. All day. Every day. I check “stuff” too many times to count throughout the day. It goes almost everywhere I go. It’s within arm’s length when I sleep. Probably like you, I’ve got numerous apps. Some I use a lot. Some not so much.

Mostly, I love how my phone helps me connect with people I care about and makes doing so super easy and convenient.

What’s not to love under normal circumstances, right?

Now, throw in a cancer diagnosis. 

When I was diagnosed in 2010, I loved using my phone for communicating with dear ones. It was handy when I didn’t feel up to actually talking, but still very much wanted to keep in close touch. Texting was a godsend for all of us. At the time, I didn’t have access to lots of apps, that I recall anyway. If the Breast Advocate® app been available to me, I’m pretty sure I would have made good use of it.

Why?

When you are flung into Cancer Land, there is a lot to decipher and figure out.

Talk about an understatement, right?

Some say, don’t Google.

I say, why wouldn’t you?

Some might say, you sure don’t need any sort of app for cancer.

Again, why wouldn’t you?

I like options. Options are always good. And options are a primary focus of this helpful, comprehensive, easy-to-use app.

Plus, it’s free!

So what exactly is Breast Advocate® all about?

Breast Advocate® was founded by Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo, an internationally recognized expert in breast reconstruction. Along with other breast cancer specialists and patient advocates, Dr. Chrysopoulo co-created Breast Advocate®.

In addition to his exceptional surgeon skills, Dr. Chrysopoulo is a firm believer in shared decision making, a critically important component to any patient/doctor relationship, perhaps the most important one.

Studies, as well as common sense, indicate a collaborative approach improves patient outcomes as well as satisfaction.

Shared decision making is the driving concept behind Breast Advocate®.

When a woman (or a man) is faced with making decisions about breast cancer treatment and breast reconstruction, including opting out of reconstruction, shared decision making is an absolute must.

Breast Advocate® is another tool to help with this process.

Whether you are a newly diagnosed breast cancer patient (any type or stage), a caregiver, someone contemplating prophylactic surgeries due to hereditary risk or someone who’s finished active treatment, Breast Advocate® comes in handy.

It’s like having a comprehensive resource guide right at your figure tips. Literally.

As stated on the Breast Advocate® website: 

Breast Advocate^® educates users in a comprehensive and personalized way about all their breast cancer surgery and reconstruction options, providing access to the latest studies and expert opinions. Regardless of your situation, you will have all the information and tools you need to take a more active role in your consultations and participate fully in the decisions about your treatment.

Well, maybe not all the information and tools you’ll need, but it’s a great place to get started.

A few features of the Breast Advocate®:

Upon opening the app, you’ll see:  Go to Wizards, Visit Our Amazon Store and Trending in Community. You’ll access your Dashboard, Recently Viewed articles, Favorites and Tools at the top of your phone’s screen.

At the bottom, you’ll tap to access the Knowledge Center and Community.

Wizards:  After taking your situation and preferences into account (via a few simple questions you answer), a shared decision making Wizard provides recommendations and appropriate, medically reviewed articles geared just for you.

Knowledge Center:  Upon tapping here, you’ll find three subsections: Treatment Options, Library and Resources.

• Treatment Options: After choosing the statement best describing your situation, you’re led to articles and videos specific to you.
• Library: Here you’re directed to the latest medical articles by topic, all of which are updated daily. I know, amazing, right?
• Resources: If you’re looking for help in a specific area such as assistance programs, clinical trials, support groups and more, start here.

Community:  When you tap on Community, topic hashtags pop up allowing you to join a trending conversation, ask a question or start a conversation of your own. 

Topics include:  #Chemotherapy, #GoingFlat #BRCA, #Mastectomy, #BreastReconstruction, #Implants, #DIEPflap and #lymphedema. There are more. A lot more!

The Community section provides a fabulous opportunity to engage and find support, if you so choose. 

Pros of the newly updated Breast Advocate® app:

• The updated design is GREAT! I love the fresh look and easier navigation. 
• You can customize and view content via your personalized feed. This app enables you to personalize just about everything you see.
• There is a brief tutorial message for each section to help get you started.
• I particularly like the Notes section where you can keep track of stuff in one place.
• There’s a place to keep your healthcare team’s access info. This comes in super handy when setting up, changing and organizing all those appointments you have to deal with upon diagnosis.
• The Knowledge Center gives you access to the Library and Resources where you can find LOTS of info again, based on your preferences and needs including articles, blogs and books. This is my favorite section.
• This app is inclusive. Yay! Stage IV patients are not left out! The app also has info for men, those seeking info about hereditary risk and available options and more.
• You can track your favorites. I like that.
• You can edit your selections for topics you choose to read about any time.
• Even if diagnosed years ago (like me), this app is still relevant for your ongoing issues. (Of which there are many, right?)
• If you have your phone on or near you most of the time like I do, access is convenient. No need to log in to your computer or even leave your couch to start browsing.
• This app is compatible with tablets (well, mine anyway).
• It’s FREE!

Cons:

• I had to practice a bit to figure out proper navigation, but you’ll catch on quickly. I promise, you will.
• You’ll need to set up a profile (which you can mark as public or private) and another password.

If you’re a breast cancer patient (any stage, either gender and at any point of treatment), a friend, a loved one, a caregiver, a previvor or someone who wants to learn more about breast cancer, Breast Advocate® is a handy tool providing access to a wealth of information.

Click to learn more about Breast Advocate®, and then go download the recently updated version for FREE today!

After all, when you or someone you care about is catapulted into Breast Cancer Land, you need all the tools you can get.

Breast Advocate® is a perfect place to start.

Why not download it today?

Note: If you’ve downloaded it previously, be sure to get the newly updated version.

Follow Breast Advocate on Twitter and Facebook and you’ll find more support.

What’s a favorite app you use regularly? Do you have a question about this one?

Do you have the Breast Advocate® app and if so, what’s your favorite thing about it? Do you have suggestions to make it even better?

Do you plan to download this app, why or why not?