A mobile application to inform patients with cancer predisposition syndrome on the type and frequency of cancer screening and surveillance that they need.
Individuals with a genetic predisposition to cancer face a significantly elevated lifetime risk of developing the disease. For these high-risk populations, proactive and regular screening is the most effective strategy for early detection and prevention. However, managing ongoing screening schedules, which differ based on the syndrome involved, especially across multiple family members who may share similar genetic risks, can be logistically complex and emotionally taxing. This challenge is compounded by the lack of accessible, user-friendly tools that support continuous monitoring and coordination of cancer screening protocols, which also evolve as more is learned. Families often struggle to keep track of personalized screening timelines, recommended tests, and follow-up appointments, leading to missed opportunities for early intervention. There is a clear and growing unmet need in the healthcare market for a solution that simplifies and streamlines cancer risk management for genetically predisposed individuals.
Researchers at Emory have developed HomeTown, a digital support tool designed to guide individuals and/or families with specific genetic cancer predispositions on when, where, and how to monitor their health. The app currently supports six rare conditions—hereditary paraganglioma-pheochromocytoma, familial adenomatous polyposis, DICER1, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Von-Hippel Lindau, and Lynch Syndrome—each of which benefits from early detection through regular screening. HomeTown centralizes appointment data and scheduling, tracks patient progress, and streamlines care coordination, offering a personalized and accessible solution for managing complex screening protocols.