Development of Support System for Breast Cancer Patients--Managing Side Effects through an Internet-Based System.

Chemotherapy in the outpatient setting is effective in improving patients' quality of life (QOL). However, the increasing availability of targeted molecular agents in addition to conventional anti-cancer medications has placed increased importance on managing adverse events and educating patients about side effects that can affect their QOL. We developed an Internet-based "Patient Support System"to enable patients at home to communicate symptoms of side effects and administration status to a hospital interface that documents and monitors the ongoing side-effect profile. In a trial of 8 patients scheduled to receive chemotherapy before or after surgery, our system enabled medical staff to quantitatively confirm data on side effects recorded daily by the outpatients, demonstrating that it functions effectively in maintaining the patient's QOL. Moreover, it clearly identified significant differences in the occurrence and status of side effects between patients receiving the same anticancer medication. Patients reported that the onset of side effects and recovery status could be confirmed objectively, thus enabling self-management of the disease, which helped greatly in managing side effects and schedules throughout the treatment period. This system has potential as a supportive tool for activities of daily living while maintaining QOL and improving the overall therapeutic effect.