A Web-mediated follow-up application (Moovcare™) improves advanced lung cancer survival, according to a French multicenter randomized phase III study. Researchers analyzed the association and evolution of self-reported clinical symptoms over time. The median overall survival of patients who used the application was 19 months, compared to 12 months for those who received standard follow-up care. Patient quality of life was also better among patients who used the application. The study was featured in a press briefing June 6, 2016 and presented at the 2016 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting (June 3-7) in Chicago, Illinois. “Through personalized follow-up using this convenient and simple online application, we can detect complications and signs of relapse and offer appropriate care earlier,” said lead study author Dr. Fabrice Denis, M.D., Ph.D., a researcher at the Institut Inter-regional de Cancérologie Jean Bernard in Le Mans, France. “This approach introduces a new era of follow-up in which patients can give and receive continuous feedback between visits to their oncologist.” After completing initial chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery, 133 patients with stage III/IV lung cancer were randomly assigned to Web-mediated follow-up or standard follow-up. The standard follow-up included doctor visits and CT scans every 3-6 months (or more often at the researcher’s discretion). Patients in the Web-application group had the same schedule of planned doctor visits, but three times fewer scheduled scans. They used the Web application to self-assess symptoms weekly. Caregivers could also enter data on behalf of the patients. The application analyzed twelve symptoms and reported results to the oncologist.Login Or Register To Read Full Story