Finding reliable cancer information can be much harder than it should be. Cancer is one of the most frequently researched health topics on the internet. However, the amount of misinformation is growing rapidly. Misinformation is defined as information that is false, inaccurate or misleading according to the best available information at the time.
Here are a few things to look for when searching for cancer-related information:
Who is managing the information?
It should be easy to find who is responsible for the information on the page.
Does the website end in .gov or .edu?
If so, these are government and educational institutions. These resources are usually trustworthy.
How current is the information?
Reliable online sources often show when the information was posted or last reviewed.
Is the author a credentialed health care provider?
If not, be wary of the information. Try to determine if the author is sharing their personal experience, telling another person’s experience or if they are simply giving their opinion. All of these could be accurate, but they could be untrustworthy as well.
If asked for personal information, proceed with great caution.
Do not provide any personal information without knowing how it will be used. Additionally, it is important to be comfortable with the risk involved with sharing personal information online.
Another thing to remember when reading about other people’s experiences is that everyone is different and as a result, their cancer is different. Two individuals may have the same type of cancer but react differently to treatments. Also, doctors may have different opinions on recommended complementary therapies based on the individual patient. Lastly, be cautious of the information on any website that sells products, supplements or therapies related to cancer. The information provided will support what is being sold, whether it is true or not. It is very important to always consult a physician before trying anything found online.
Below are trustworthy sources of cancer information. For assistance finding cancer information and/or sources, please contact a member of the Northside Hospital care team.
American Cancer Society: Provides extensive information on cancer types, treatments, support and survivorship. There is also information on prevention and screening, caregiver support and research.
cancer.org
American Society for Radiation Oncology: Offers multiple resources for patients undergoing radiation therapy.
astro.org/provider-resources/shareable-resources/patient-brochures
Cancer Support Community: Shares free educational resources through the program Frankly Speaking About Cancer®. This program is Cancer Support Community’s landmark cancer education series that provides trusted information on a variety of topics important to people affected by cancer. The library includes information by disease site and topic, such as clinical trials, immunotherapy, precision medicine and caregiving. Many of the resources are available in multiple languages.
cancersupportcommunity.org
National Cancer Institute: While primarily for online viewing, the NCI website has a vast amount of information on numerous topics and disease sites.
cancer.gov/publications/patient-education
Find more cancer resources.
