When it comes to driving through improvements in healthcare, few groups are as motivated to do so as patients.  I wrote earlier this year about Salvatore Iaconesi, who wanted to take charge of the treatment he underwent for brain cancer.  He posted his scans online to get as many inputs and ideas as possible.

Patient led improvements

The story of Frederik Van den Broek, a Dutchman who was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.  Before he passed away, he strived to make a difference, and offered up his own data to help create a mobile app for cancer patients.

The app, called MindApp, allows users to easily manage appointments and the various other seemingly simple tasks that become very challenging for those with brain cancer.

The app also has an interactive element, thus allowing patients to input data around things such as seizure times, and also interact with doctors without having to see them physically.

Born out of frustration

The app, as so many innovations are, was born out of the frustration Van den Broek felt with his current treatment, and he became extensively involved in the creation of the app, using his personal treatment as a guinea pig during its development.

“Brain tumour patients often suffer from loss of cognitive abilities, for instance memory loss and changes in behaviour,” the app team say.

“This app will be of huge support to patients, particularly those suffering from glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer that’s often highly malignant,” they continue.

The app is part of a growing Zeitgeist of health apps that allow patients greater control over their own treatment, and the plan is for the first version to be available to the public in the next month or so from both Apple and Android app stores.

It’s being funded by the crowd, which you can support yourself via MedStartr if you wish, with nearly $70,000 raised thus far.

It’s a fascinating project, and you can find out more via the video below.