The MyPath app adapts to each stage in a patient's cancer journey. Source: Christopher Moore, Georgia Tech

MyPath is an artificial intelligence (AI)-based app that helps cancer patients with day-to-day symptoms, surgery prep, emotional support and more. This is the first personalized AI app for cancer patients.

Doctors and patients tend to have the most communication in the days immediately after diagnosis and at the beginning of treatment. But as time goes on, communication wanes. The doctor may become busy with other patients, or the patient may not want to bother the doctor with small questions. While most of the major questions a patient is going to have will probably be asked at the beginning of treatment, lack of interaction down the road can leave many smaller questions the patient may have unanswered.

That is where the MyPath app steps in. MyPath checks in on patients daily and helps them navigate their treatment. The app has a calendar of the user’s upcoming procedures and is ready to answer any questions. If the patient has a surgery scheduled, the day before the app will provide the patient with a “Preparing for Surgery” section that attempts to answer any surgery-related questions the patient may have. MyPath also helps patients deal with day-to-day anxiety and issues outside of their disease with sections like “Emotional Support” and “Day to Day Matters.”

MyPath creates its content using AI technology and information from libraries from the American Cancer Society and other related organizations. The app uses this knowledge with the patient’s diagnosis, treatment plan and procedure dates to create personalized advice and content. The user takes regular quizzes to keep the app up to date on the patient’s health as the treatment progresses.

The app is still in development, but it has been tested with a group of 50 breast cancer patients in Georgia. According to researchers, the patients were pleased with the app's prediction abilities.

MyPath is still being developed for nationwide use. Research and development of MyPath were supported by the National Cancer Institute.