Merck Launches iChemoDiary, a Free Application Designed to Assist Care of Patients with Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy

Merck & Co., Inc., announced the launch of iChemoDiary, a free first-of-its-kind application in the cancer therapeutic area designed to be used by care givers and patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. The application is now available on the Apple Store® (iTunes.com, application program—search on "iChemoDiary").

iChemoDiary is an interactive health diary that helps patients and caregivers record chemotherapy schedules, medications and treatment plans, and selected side effects of treatment. The application also provides patients with a tool to create reports that can be used in discussions with their doctor, nurse, or other health care providers. Patients and health care providers can download iChemoDiary to an iPhone® mobile digital device or iPod touch® mobile digital device.

“During chemotherapy, effective communication between the patient and the healthcare team is important," said Suzanne Holley, R.N., O.C.N., Oncology Nursing Society member and Senior Nursing Supervisor at McLeod Cancer and Blood Center. "Modern technology, such as the iChemoDiary application, provides another means of helping the patient record information that can be discussed with their doctors, nurses and other caregivers."

iChemoDiary permits patients and caregivers to record selected side effects (nausea, vomiting, fever, fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, tingling in the feet and hands, pain) following chemotherapy. The app uses drop-down menus that allow patients to capture information that can be discussed with their health care provider. Information recorded in the app can be entered for a period that extends for years (limited by memory available in the device). Patients can create reports that chart the frequency and severity of side effects on a daily or weekly basis, and then print and share the reports with physicians or nurses. Reports can be given to a patient's health care provider for evaluation and inclusion in patient records.

“iChemoDiary further illustrates Merck’s dedication to cancer care,” said Michael Trigg, MD, Executive Director, Global Medical Affairs with Merck. "We hope that patients and healthcare providers find that the application is a useful way to facilitate communication with health care providers."

About Merck Oncology
Merck is committed to advancing all aspects of cancer care—prevention, treatment, and supportive care. Through strong internal research capabilities, selective alliances and acquisitions, and enabling technologies, Merck is looking to lead in the discovery, development, and delivery of targeted anticancer therapies.

About Merck
Merck & Co., Inc., is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to putting patients first. Established in 1891, Merck currently discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets vaccines and medicines to address unmet medical needs. The Company devotes extensive efforts to increasing access to medicines through far-reaching programs that not only donate its medicines but help deliver them to the people who need them. Merck also publishes unbiased health information as a not-for-profit service. For more information, visit merck.com.


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