Periodic breast self-examination prompting device

This invention relates to a timing and prompting device. More particularly, this invention relates to a device that alerts and prompts a user within its proximity that a period of time has passed to remind the user to perform a task, such as a breast self-examination. A prompting device that can be utilized to remind a user to periodically and regularly perform a breast self-examination is described. The device includes a controller to measure a predetermined interval of time. A proximity sensor is provided to detect a person within proximity of the device after the predetermined time interval has expired. If a person is detected, the controller triggers an alarm alerting the person to perform a task such as examining her breasts. If someone other than the intended user activates the proximity sensor, a means for indicating the person is not the intended user is provided so that the alarm can be disenabled for a delay time period before being re-enabled to subsequently notify the intended user. In at least one operational mode of the device, the predetermined time interval is measured cyclically so that the user is periodically reminded to perform the breast self-examination.