Can an app help after a prostate cancer diagnosis?

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Medically Approved by Dr Aqua Asif (May 1st 2025)

Written by Brian Lynch

For men diagnosed with prostate cancer, the journey through treatment and recovery can feel overwhelming. As more people turn to digital tools for health support, the idea of using an app specifically designed for prostate cancer is becoming more common. These apps often aim to give patients more control, provide clearer information, and offer helpful ways to manage their care during an uncertain time.

Digital health apps are increasingly used in managing long-term conditions, including cancer. They can potentially support symptom tracking, offer access to information, and provide tools for organisation. But how useful are prostate cancer apps in reality, and how can patients tell which ones, if any, are safe and worthwhile?

Why Health Apps Matter

Health apps are now widespread, with thousands available across various app stores aimed at supporting people with cancer. For men navigating prostate cancer, these tools could potentially help with managing daily routines, preparing for treatment discussions, and offering some reassurance. In the context of pressures on NHS services and waiting times, a reliable, well-designed app might help fill certain gaps.

Ideally, these apps are developed with input from clinicians and updated regularly to reflect current medical guidance. When thoughtfully built, they could improve communication between patients and their healthcare teams by providing structured ways to track symptoms or prepare questions. They can also add a sense of order at a time when life might feel chaotic.

However, it’s essential to understand that apps are not meant to replace human care from doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. At best, they are a complementary tool. While they might help some men feel more prepared or organised, their limitations and potential risks must be considered.

What Prostate Cancer Apps Offer

Many apps designed for people with prostate cancer aim to provide support throughout diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. They often include tools for accessing information, tracking symptoms and progress, managing appointments and medications, and sometimes connecting with others.

Some of the common apps available on the App Store include: 

• Prostate Cancer Manager
• CORAL: Prostate Cancer Risk & Survival
• Prostate Check
• Ned for Prostate Cancer
• OWise Prostate Cancer

Each app functions differently, but many offer features addressing common needs. Let’s look at some typical functions:

Education and information

One potential benefit is easier access to information. Good apps might break down complex topics like treatment options or side effects into plain language. This could help men feel more confident when speaking with their care teams.

However, the source and reliability of this information are paramount. While some apps may be developed with medical professionals and reference official guidance (like NHS or NICE), many are not rigorously reviewed or updated.

Tracking symptoms

Many apps include tools for tracking symptoms like pain, fatigue, urinary issues, or emotional wellbeing. Logging these regularly could help patients and doctors identify patterns or notice changes earlier.

Some research suggests that regular symptom reporting might be linked to better outcomes in cancer care generally, potentially by prompting earlier intervention when problems arise. Recording symptoms can also help some men feel more engaged in monitoring their condition.

Managing medications and appointments

Living with prostate cancer can involve juggling multiple medications, hospital appointments, and treatment schedules. Some apps offer reminders and calendars to help manage this.

These tools can reduce the reliance on memory alone and might also help partners or carers stay informed. Keeping everything organised in one digital space could reduce some stress.

Staying connected

Certain apps aim to improve communication or connection. Features might include tools for preparing questions for consultations, recording notes (with permission), or even accessing peer support forums.

Apps like OWise, for example, allow users to personalise questions for appointments and track their wellbeing trends to share with their care team. For some, connecting digitally with others who have similar experiences can reduce feelings of isolation.

Do these apps actually work and are they safe?

The evidence supporting the effectiveness of cancer-specific apps is still developing. While some studies suggest potential benefits like improved symptom management or patient engagement, the quality of the apps themselves is a concern.

A review by ORCHA (the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps) highlighted substantial issues. It found thousands of apps aimed at cancer patients, but revealed that a large majority (around 74% in a 2021 report) hadn’t been updated in over 18 months, meaning they likely contained outdated medical advice or failed to meet current usability and data security standards.

Furthermore, when ORCHA reviewed 190 of the most downloaded cancer apps available at that time, only about a quarter (24.7%) met their minimum quality thresholds for safety, accuracy, and data protection. This raises concerns about the potential for harm from inaccurate information or misuse of sensitive personal data. As reviews have noted, misinformation from apps could lead to anxiety or influence decisions inappropriately.

Patient feedback is also mixed. Some men find specific apps genuinely helpful for organisation or tracking, while others, like patient advocate Tony Collier mentioned in our previous post, feel they don’t offer much added value. 

Some patients, particularly older individuals, may prefer human interaction over digital tools, as noted by Chris Lewis. The simple, focused functionality of apps like ‘Squeezy’ for pelvic floor exercises seems to be more consistently valued than complex, all-encompassing cancer management apps.

How to choose the right app (if any)

Choosing a health app requires caution and critical assessment – it’s not like picking a game. If you are considering using an app, check for credibility – was it developed with NHS input, cancer charities or clinical professionals? Is it recommended by your healthcare team? Check for updates, when was the app last updated in the app store? Apps that are not updated within the last 12-18 months may contain outdated information. Read the privacy policy – understand what data is collected, how it’s stored, and if it’s shared with third parties.

Be wary of apps requesting excessive personal information without clear justification. Cross-reference any medical information provided in the app with trusted sources like the NHS website, Prostate Cancer UK, Cancer Research UK, or your clinical team. Furthermore, consider simplicity – does the app actually do what you need it to do clearly and simply? Overly complex apps can be more frustrating than helpful!

For men exploring treatment options, especially less invasive ones like focal therapy, digital tools should only enhance, not replace, conversations with your clinical team. Our guide on how to choose the right focal therapy is designed to support you in asking the right questions during those consultations.

Final thoughts

Digital tools can potentially offer some support for men living with prostate cancer, but the current landscape of available apps requires extreme caution. Not every app is built to a safe or effective standard. Choosing wisely means looking for credibility, checking for recent updates, understanding the privacy policy, and verifying information.

These tools should only ever be considered helpful companions, not a substitute for professional medical advice and care from your healthcare team. Always speak with your doctor or nurse before relying on information from an app, and ensure any tool you use complements, rather than contradicts, your agreed treatment plan. If you’re considering specific treatments like focal therapy, rely on discussions with specialists and explore trusted focal therapy data and evidence rather than app-based information alone. With the right medical guidance and support, men can navigate their care journey with clarity and confidence.

H2: References

1. Basch, E. et al. (2017). Overall Survival Results of a Trial Assessing Patient-Reported Outcomes for Symptom Monitoring During Routine Cancer Treatment. JAMA, 318(2), 197–198. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2017.7156
2. ORCHA Health. (2021). Digital Health for Cancer Services. Retrieved from https://orchahealth.com/digital-health-for-cancer-services-report/

Loeb, S. et al. (2020). Smartphone applications (apps) for patients with prostate cancer: a systematic review of the literature. World Journal of Urology, 38, 2957–2966. DOI: 10.1007/s00345-020-03197-w

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