The SerenApp project, a digital initiative for the prevention and reduction of stress, anxiety, and depression in breast cancer patients, now includes the collaboration of the Spanish Association Against Cancer in Málaga (AECC). This alliance aims to enhance the tool developed by professionals from the Costa del Sol University Hospital, part of the Andalusian Health Service (SAS), and boost its utility for women undergoing follow-up or who are breast cancer survivors.
The agreement will reinforce patient and association participation, improve the initiative's dissemination, and tailor the digital intervention to the specific emotional needs of women affected by breast cancer. This collaboration coincides with the recent commemoration of the World Cancer Research Day, highlighting the role of research and innovation in improving quality of life.
SerenApp, originating from the Costa del Sol University Hospital in Marbella and funded by the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), is led by professionals from the Medical Oncology Unit and the Research and Innovation Unit. The principal investigators are Esperanza Varela and Irene Zarcos, both from the IBIMA group “Translational research in cancer and other prevalent chronic diseases”.
The project is developed within the framework of IBIMA and the Network for Research in Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), involving a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, oncologists, and digital health experts. SerenApp is based on co-creation processes with patients and healthcare professionals.
The participation of an AECC psychologist in the working group will provide direct experience in patient support, ensuring the digital tool is more accessible, useful, and adapted to their needs, promoting more humanized and comprehensive care.
The research team emphasizes that this agreement is a “very important step in bringing research and innovation closer to patients, also fostering collaboration between the healthcare, research, and associative sectors.” Both entities share a commitment to improving the quality of life and emotional well-being of those affected by cancer.
Currently, SerenApp is in the technological development and content creation phase, having recently completed the co-creation stage. The study protocol has been registered with ClinicalTrials and is undergoing evaluation for international scientific publication.
In 2024, approximately 36,000 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in Spain, with 1,283 new diagnoses in women in the province of Málaga. The AECC assisted 828 patients in the province, providing 2,041 psychological support sessions to 551 women, highlighting the need for initiatives like SerenApp.
