Using Social Media Boosts Breast Cancer Treatment Satisfaction

A study has associated the use of social media by women with breast cancer to greater satisfaction in the type of treatment they have chosen. The study from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center involved surveying 2,460 women who had been newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

"Our findings highlight an unmet need in patients for decisional support when they are going through breast cancer treatment," said lead study author Lauren P. Wallner, Ph.D., MPH, as per Science Daily. Wallner is an assistant professor of general medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School. 

"For some women, social media may be a helpful resource" after Breast Cancer Diagnosis.  https://t.co/Dw7vEv7OqR pic.twitter.com/cOCZjkyZkE

— MLabs (@MLabsUM) July 28, 2016

Women Who Went Online Are More Satisfied

The women who were surveyed gave out information on their use of e-mail, texting, social, media, and online support groups after they were diagnosed to have breast cancer. Women who used online resources to share their breast cancer diagnosis, look up information on the disease or find support expressed greater satisfaction with their treatment, Health Day reported.

More than 40 percent of the women said they used online communication, with 35 percent using e-mail. Social media such as Facebook and Twitter and online support groups were used by 12 percent of the women, while 35 percent used texting. Those who used online reportedly were more deliberate about their decisions regarding breast cancer treatment.

Challenges In Social Media In Aiding Breast Cancer Treatment

The study pointed out a potential barrier for breast cancer patients' used of social media an online communication, reported Jilard Health Digest. Women who are advanced in age, have less education and who belong to minorities would have lesser chances of online access and could possibly be prevented from the benefits social media and online communication brings to breast cancer treatment.

Besides this, another issue is the quality of information found online. "We don't know a lot about the type of information women are finding online. What are they sharing and what is the quality of that information? We need to understand that before we can really harness the potential of social media to better support patients through their cancer treatment and care," Wallner said, as per Science Daily.