We’ve been thinking about apps that are helpful for a cancer journey. And there are so many! So we’ve decided to start a new series. Today’s post is Part 1 and includes 12 apps.
Photo by William Hook on Unsplash
Whatsapp is a popular messaging app that lets you call, text and send voice and picture messages to your friends – individually or in groups. Set up a Whatsapp group to keep all your family up to date on how you’re feeling after treatment and save yourself telling the same story over and over again. Create another group for your work colleagues, your girls, your running buddies and more. A great way to keep in touch and ready for you when you are.
Audible
Audible is Amazon’s audio book app. It’s a monthly subscription service with your first book free. If you’re feeling too tired after treatment even to read, why not try listening to a book instead? This is the app for that.
YouTube
Another app you probably already have, but have you thought about how you can use YouTube to help you through your cancer experience? Think home yoga workouts, meditation videos, cooking videos, vlogs from other people going through cancer and more. Don’t forget music videos for a little music therapy, too.
Spotify
If you prefer making playlists of music to listen to, Spotify is for you. Create some playlists – your after chemo playlist, your sleep playlist, your lazy autumn afternoon playlist…
BECCA
BECCA is an app from UK charity Breast Cancer Care. It’s a pocket guide to moving forward after treatment for primary breast cancer. Every day, the app sends you five simple and relevant suggestions to help you adapt to life after breast cancer treatment. There are tips about symptoms, exercise, food, beauty, hobbies and knowing what’s normal for you. You can also search by category to find more suggestions you’ll love and save suggestions for later.
Netflix
This one’s inspired by my dad – a man who loves his movies! My dad was recently in hospital for a couple of weeks. Once he was feeling well enough, he loved linking his iPad up to the hospital’s free wi-fi and watching movies via the Netflix app. It kept him entertained in-between hospital meals and was a great way to pass the time.
Just Eat
Order hot food direct to your door with the Just Eat app. Depending on where you live, you may have plenty of wonderful, tasty options for dinner only a few clicks away. Very handy for days when you’ve spent hours in the hospital waiting for appointments or treatment and don’t feel like cooking when you finally get home. We’d always recommend the healthier options though! Available in Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Limerick and Galway.
OMM
Don’t have time to meditate? Try OMM, the One-Minute Meditation app. This app makes it easy for you to tap into an experience of deep peace and renew your energy – no matter how busy you are.
Smoke Free
Smoke Free is a science-based stop smoking app. It includes 20 different, evidence-based techniques to help you become – and stay – smoke free. See how much you save, how long you’ve been smoke free and more. Get inspired by watching your health improve each and every day. Double your chances with missions scientifically proven to help you stop for good. Track your cravings and learn how they get better over time.
Headspace
Meditation lessons to help you gently explore how to improve the practice of mindfulness in your life. Described as a ‘mindfulness coach right in your pocket’, you can set up daily reminders to take a few minutes out for you. Relax with guided meditations and mindfulness techniques that bring calm, wellness and balance to your life in just a few minutes a day. Also includes meditations on sleep to help you create the ideal conditions for a good night’s rest.
Runkeeper
Runkeeper is a handy little app that can keep track of your exercise for you. If you’re popping out for a walk or even a run, switch on your Runkeeper and let it track how far you go, your pace and calories burned. It will motivate you along the way and over the following days too to get moving again. You can add your friends and see how much walking/running/cycling they’re doing too, and encourage each other.
Words with Friends
Keep your mind active with a game of Words with Friends, with, well, your friends! Or family, or even people you don’t know. This is online scrabble at it’s best.
What apps do you use? Are there any you’d recommend? We’d love to hear in the comments below.
Hi could you recommend an app to maintain medical records and appointments ?
Author
Hi Patricia, I’ve heard of an app called My Medical. I think it may cost around a fiver. It’s a record-keeping app for personal medical information and it integrates with the calendar on your phone to automatically put your doctor’s appointments on your calendar. I haven’t used it yet myself. I hope this helps.