Real-World Breast Cancer Mobile Applications for Patients in the Treatment Stage: A Post-Pandemic Scoping Review.

Abstract

Many current digital health tools are not designed to support the complex needs of breast cancer patients undergoing active treatment, even though they frequently endure severe physical and emotional burdens. This gap is particularly important given the growing dependence on mobile health (mHealth) technologies, which have been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This scoping review aims to identify mobile health applications for breast cancer published since 2020, and to analyze their core functionalities, target populations, and reported limitations. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we included primary studies describing real-world use beyond prototype or pilot phases. Five unique apps were identified, most offering lifestyle coaching, symptom tracking, or psycho-oncological support. This review serves as an initial step toward understanding the current digital landscape, with the goal of informing the development of a new application grounded in real patient needs and designed through participatory methodologies.