DOHA: The National Cancer Program (NCP) yesterday announced the launch of its smartphone application ‘Monthlies’ which is available for free download on iTunes and Google Store.
NCP is a collaboration between the Supreme Council of Health, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Primary Health Care Corporation. The new offering is part of NCP’s ‘Be Breast Aware’ campaign which runs throughout October to celebrate Breast Awareness Month.
Monthlies is the first period tracker app in the world provided in English and Arabic, a feature NCP pushed to provide to reach a wider audience to raise awareness about breast cancer.
According to experts, breast cancer is among the most common form of cancer in Qatar, affecting many each year. However, research has shown that early detection of breast cancer offers better, more successful treatment options and saves thousands of lives each year.
For this reason, NCP took the initiative to create Monthlies, a smartphone application targeting young women to help them become more breast-aware and encourage early detection.
The app is designed as a period tracker app which helps women keep track of their monthly cycle.
After every cycle, the application sends notifications with gynaecological and breast advice.
Moreover, the app offers a step-by-step guide for being breast-aware, including what to look for and how to look it, that is helpful in the process of breast cancer early detection.
Ambika Anand, Senior Consultant Breast Surgeon, HMC, said, “A wide-spread misconception is that breast cancer is only common among women over 50. However, women younger than 50 are also reporting breast cancer.
“It is important to recognise that the breasts change throughout the monthly cycle, particularly that they become more lumpy during the period, so it is important for women to know how they look and feel throughout the duration of their cycle, especially just after their period. The prompt scheduled within the app reminds women to be breast-aware two days after the period. It is hoped that a woman with a better understanding of breast health and knowing what is normal for her will give her confidence to identify changes that are not normal for her. Women should seek advice from their primary care doctor in the first instance,” Anand said. The Peninsula
