SINGAPORE – Mrs Jane Din, 38, a mother of three, suffered from sharp pain in her left breast for two to three weeks before she went for a check-up at Yishun Polyclinic in June.
She was referred to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) in July, where mammography and ultrasound revealed two suspicious lumps in her left breast.
After undergoing a biopsy for both lumps, the kindergarten teacher was diagnosed with breast cancer on October 4 and was informed the same day that a mastectomy on her left breast was necessary.
For information about such procedures, she looked up an app called Reborn, or Redefining Education for Breast Oncology Reconstruction.
It was developed in June 2023 by a team of doctors and researchers from KTPH, NTU, Singapore’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and technology company Mages Studio to educate patients like Ms Din about what they need to know before undergoing breast reconstruction surgery.
The app helps patients understand their surgical options, surgical procedures and possible complications of surgery before giving informed consent.
Including Ms. Din, 10 patients from KTPH, aged 38 to 65, used the app as part of the pilot program.
“After reading the information in the app, I knew what my best option was. Everything was very clear. I didn’t have to refer to the Reborn website at home because I had made my decision,” Ms Din said.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women, with one in thirteen women diagnosed with it.
According to the Singapore Cancer Registry Annual Report 2022, 13,193 cases were diagnosed between 2018 and 2022.
Currently, plastic surgeons use 2D brochures to explain types of surgical options, risks and procedures, which are not realistic or interactive enough, making it difficult for patients to visualize the outcome.
Dr. Clement Chia, head of KTPH’s breast surgery department and project leader of Reborn, said: “When I explain reconstruction to patients, I sometimes point to my own body, such as my abdomen… We are removing some fat here to put on. the chest or remove some back muscles, which means the visualization is not optimal.”
Dr. Jolie Hwee, chief of plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery at KTPH, said combining a cancer diagnosis with an overwhelming amount of information about complex surgical procedures often leaves patients feeling confused and unable to make informed decisions about their options.
With the Reborn app, patients waiting for their consultation with the plastic surgeon can take the time to read bite-sized information about the five most common types of reconstruction options.