National Breast Cancer Foundation Introduces Innovative Smartphone App To Encourage Early Detection

DALLAS, Aug. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.® (NBCF) just announced the official launch of its new free iPhone app, Early Detection Plan (EDP), which is available for download on iTunes for the iPhone and iPod touch.

The EDP app encourages women to become more proactive about their health by scheduling reminders via push notifications to perform routine breast self-exams and schedule clinical breast exams and mammograms.

The app is first of its kind and can be tailored to each user, taking age and health history into account to determine optimal scheduling for both self and professional exams. It's also filled with information about clinical breast exams, mammograms, risk factors, signs and symptoms, and tutorials on how to properly perform a breast self-exam.

"Early detection plans are crucial to women's health," says NBCF Founder and CEO, Janelle Hail. "The EDP app is a simple, easy way to teach women how to perform exams properly and set vital reminders for exam scheduling. This is an app that will help save lives."

When women create and follow an early detection plan, they significantly increase their chances of detecting breast cancer in its early stages. The National Cancer Institute states that when breast cancer is found in its early, localized stage, the five year survival rate is 98 percent. However, more than 30 percent of women are diagnosed after breast cancer has spread beyond the localized stage.

This is the second app from NBCF, whose first app, Beyond The Shock®, is also available for free on iTunes.  Beyond The Shock is an online educational resource for those affected by breast cancer that helps them gain a better understanding of the disease. It is a collaborative breast cancer guide created by the National Breast Cancer Foundation with the support of the finest healthcare experts and researchers in the world.

"At the time of my diagnosis, there was little information about the disease, and I was forced to make a decision about my healthcare without knowing my options.  Early detection saved my life," says Hail.  "As a survivor, I am committed to educating women around the world, and with the development of our new EDP App, we are now able to help women better manage their health and detect breast cancer early."

About the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.®

Recognized as one of the leading breast cancer organizations in the world, the National Breast Cancer Foundation's (NBCF) mission is to save lives through early detection and to provide mammograms for those in need. A recipient of Charity Navigator's highest 4-star rating for eight years, NBCF provides women "Help for Today...Hope for Tomorrow®" through its National Mammography Program, Beyond The Shock®, Early Detection Plan, MyNBCF online support community, and breast cancer research programs. For more information, please visit www.nbcf.org.

SOURCE National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.