This podcast was originally published by The Cancer Cast by Jennifer Levine here.
Guest: Jennifer Levine, MD, pediatric hematologist-oncologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
Host: John Leonard, MD, world-renowned hematologist and medical oncologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
This podcast was originally published by NPR’s Joy of Medicine here.
This blog was originally published by Cancer Today by Cheryl Platzman Weinstock, here.
by Cheryl Platzman Weinstock
Photo by Marjot / iStock / Getty Images Plus
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED with cancer often face sleep problems stemming from the physical effects of cancer treatment as well as psychological or spiritual concerns related to the diagnosis.
A randomized clinical trial published April 9, 2019, in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute compared cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTi) and acupuncture in patients who had completed treatment for a variety of cancers. Study results showed that participants assigned to the CBTi group experienced a greater reduction in insomnia severity over the course of the study compared with the acupuncture group. However, survivors treated with acupuncture also experienced meaningful improvement in their sleep.
The researchers assigned 80 patients to receive CBTi from therapists trained in the technique over the course of eight weeks. CBTi has previously been shown to be effective in improving sleep in cancer survivors. The therapy works in part by modifying unhelpful beliefs about sleep and providing relaxation training. Patients are also asked to limit their time in bed and use it only for sleep and sexual activity. Another 80 patients were assigned to receive acupuncture over the course of eight weeks. Participants in the study were 62 years old, on average, and had completed active cancer treatment.
The researchers asked the participants to fill out a questionnaire asking about insomnia symptoms both before and after receiving treatment for insomnia. Patients reported significant improvements after receiving either CBTi or acupuncture, both when surveyed immediately after their course of treatment for insomnia and about three months later.
“While overall we found that there is a statistically significant benefit of CBTi over acupuncture, the difference is actually small,” says Jun Mao, chief of integrative medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, who led the study. “I certainly think both treatments produce clinically meaningful outcomes and they persist.”
When they looked more closely at subgroups of patients, Mao and his research team found that CBTi was only significantly better than acupuncture at reducing insomnia for males, white people, people who had graduated from college and people without significant pain. For other groups, the two treatments had a similar effect.
Poor sleep can have a variety of effects, including increased pain, depression and fatigue, says Sandra Mitchell, a research scientist and program director in the Outcomes Research Branch at the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Maryland, who was not involved in the study.
Although Mitchell says she believes additional studies are needed to look at the long-term effects of acupuncture and CBTi management, she says, “This study yields important and clinically actionable results that patients and providers can utilize in a shared decision-making approach.”
Weidong Lu, lead oncology acupuncturist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, says today many patients with insomnia are first put on medications, which can cause side effects. “I think it’s best starting patients on nonpharmaceuticals for mild- and moderate-level insomnia. Severe, long-term insomnia probably needs a combination approach” that includes drugs and other therapies, such as acupuncture and CBT, says Lu, who was also not involved in the study.
The trial was supported in part by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), a nongovernmental organization funded through a trust established by the Affordable Care Act to carry out research guided by patients and caregivers.
Jodi MacLeod of Collegeville, Pennsylvania, was one of the patient partners who provided input into the design and execution of the clinical trial. She was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer in 2004.
After treatment, “the expectation was that I would return to being a normal stay-at-home mom, but my insomnia was really disruptive,” she recalls. Her sleep problems led to mental fog and fatigue. Eventually, MacLeod’s husband rearranged his work schedule to help take care of their three young children.
“Back then, in 2005, insomnia and cancer wasn’t well researched and recognized. I actually thought it was my fault,” says MacLeod of her difficulty in sleeping.
MacLeod met Mao in 2006 when she enrolled in a study he was conducting at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia on acupuncture and cancer-related joint pain. When Mao was ready to do his PCORI-funded research on cancer and sleep, he reached out to MacLeod for her help.
Among other contributions, MacLeod and her fellow patient advisers helped decide what questions the study would seek to answer, shape inclusion and exclusion criteria for the trial and recruit a diverse group of patients to participate, as described in a 2017 paper that MacLeod co-authored.
“It is satisfying and empowering to know that we’re leaving the cancer waiting room better than we found it,” says MacLeod. “Cancer patients now don’t have to go through what I did, because now there are effective insomnia treatments available.”
This blog was originally published by I Had Cancer.com on July 23, 2019, by Catherine, here.
This month marks the five year anniversary of my first cancer diagnosis, and three years since my stage IV diagnosis. Statistics say that I’m at the upper limit of my predicted survival (2-3 years), so it looks like I’m bucking the trend. I have a strange mixture of emotions. On one hand I feel like celebrating, but on the other hand I feel quite drained – emotionally and physically. It’s hard work living with cancer.
I’m tired of traveling to Manchester every three weeks for treatment. I’m sick of feeling guilty when I eat a dessert or drink one too many glasses of wine. I’ve had enough of slathering on cream to try to keep the skin on my hands and feet from cracking. I’m fed up with scans, blood tests, cannulas, and putting up with the indignity of being poked and prodded by strangers. What I wouldn’t give for just a few months of freedom from the shackles and restraints that my cancer diagnosis entails.
Recent years have seen a huge rise in cancer life expectancy. Medical advances in immunotherapy, genetic profiling, artificial intelligence and advanced imaging are just a few of the areas that are significantly impacting that survival rate. It is now estimated that 2.5 million people in the UK alone are living with cancer and over 15 million in the US.
Despite this growing population, there is so little awareness and understanding of advanced-stage cancer and its emotional and physical burden. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been asked when my treatment will be finished. When I explain that I’ll be on treatment forever, people look shocked and embarrassed. There is a general perception that cancer is something you have, and if you’ve caught it early and fight hard enough, you beat it. Versions of this story are churned out with every awareness campaign, accompanied by coloured ribbons and sponsored runs.
I’m not saying that we should stop these campaigns – it is important to highlight the symptoms of cancer and encourage people to be vigilant – but society needs to become aware of the daily challenges people living with cancer face in our attempt to live a ‘normal’ life.
Most of us will be on treatment forever – treatment that often comes with debilitating side effects. Many of us are unable to work, or are struggling through pain and fatigue to hold down a job so that we can afford to feed and clothe our children. Normal life plays second fiddle to the endless cycle of medical appointments. And every single one of us has a constant mental battle to overcome the fear of an uncertain future.
I’m exceptionally grateful that, five years on from my original diagnosis, I’m still here and relatively healthy. But it is exhausting having to keep conjuring up the inner strength to overcome the physical and emotional daily challenges of a cancer diagnosis for such a long period of time.
Sorry for the moan, it’s quite out of character. I’m usually a proud person, preferring to keep my struggles and insecurities private, but I feel quite strongly that there is simply not enough understanding or practical support for the millions of people in this country and around the world in my position.
Globally we are making huge advances in our ability to kill off errant cancer cells, but we have long neglected the wider emotional, physical and financial needs of the people whose lives we’re extending.
I long for a time when society has a better appreciation of the challenges cancer survivors face and can start creating an environment that better supports the needs of our growing population.
This resource was originally published by National Coalition For Cancer Survivorship here.
This resource was originally published by Cancer Today Mag.com by Bob Riter, Monica Vakiner and Carole Baas, here.
by Bob Riter, Monica Vakiner and Carole Baas
Image by OnBlast / iStock / Getty Images Plus
WHILE IT’S MOST COMMON to hear about cancer patients getting involved in research by enrolling in clinical trials, patients and others affected by cancer can also help shape the direction of research by serving on scientific review panels.
These panels bring together experts to analyze research proposals to help determine which ideas will receive funding. Several organizations and government programs, including the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and Susan G. Komen, provide opportunities for grant review to patient advocates, including cancer survivors, patients and caregivers.
Advocates interested in becoming involved in a research review panel can explore options with government agencies and nonprofit organizations, including patient advocacy organizations that provide research funding for various projects.
While scientists and clinicians on panels analyze the science, patient advocates judge the merit of the study from a more personal vantage point, guided by a basic question: “Will the study make a difference in the lives of patients?” Everyone on the panel has an equal voice and vote to rank the research applications.
Advocates who are selected to be a part of a scientific review panel usually participate in an introductory phone call or webinar hosted by the panel organizers, who provide an overview of the process and answer any questions. Some review panels pair novice patient advocates with experienced advocate mentors. In these cases, novices can connect with and get feedback from their mentors.
Scientific review panels typically have a mix of approximately 20 scientists and two to four advocates. While each panel has its own process for review depending on the funding organization, panelists typically review approximately five to 10 research proposals, providing comments and scores. These research proposals generally include sections that describe the research plan, the researchers’ qualifications, a timeline, a budget and letters of support from the organizations where the researchers work.
Advocates are not expected to understand each scientific detail in these proposals. Rather, they focus on the potential impact of the research on the patient community. For example, advocates are well suited to offer feedback on the lay abstract, the one-page overview of the proposal written in nontechnical language. These abstracts provide a general idea of the research and demonstrate the researchers’ ability to communicate with a broader audience.
In addition, patient advocates can ask several important questions about the research: Does the grant application have a clear hypothesis? Does the researcher make a compelling case that the research is important? Do the researchers and institutions where they work have track records that demonstrate the research will be completed? Do the letters of support indicating institutional backing seem enthusiastic?
Follow these practical tips to make an impact on scientific review panels.
Further CollaborationOnce the initial scoring is tabulated, panelists meet again—either virtually or in person. For example, the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs hold meetings for one to two days in the Washington, D.C., area. During the meeting, each panel reviews the top-scoring 20 to 30 applications in its assigned subject area.
The committee chair and a scientific review officer keep the panel focused and on schedule. The reviewers go over their rationales for scoring decisions for the proposals they initially reviewed. After discussion, panelists score each proposal.
The proposals are then rank-ordered based on the scoring and often referred to a different committee (commonly known as a program committee or integration panel) for final funding decisions. This committee takes a broad view and makes sure that awards are consistent with criteria outlined in the call for grant proposals. A few months later, the grant awards are typically announced on the funding organization’s website.
Serving on a scientific review panel allows advocates to influence the direction of research and to learn from—and become friends with—esteemed researchers and clinicians. Including advocates as collaborators with scientists and clinicians provides a wonderful synergy, reminding all parties involved that, in addition to being a disease that affects cells, cancer is also a disease that affects people.
This resource was originally published by Cancer.net here.
Today, there are more than 15.5 million Americans alive with a history of cancer. Cancer.Net’s survivorship section provides helpful information for cancer survivors and their friends and family.
Changes people with a history of cancer may experience
Follow-up care plans and rehabilitation
Transitioning to survivorship once active treatment ends
Side effects that can occur months or years after treatment ends
Diagnosing and treating cancer when it comes back after treatment
Risk factors and symptoms of a new cancer that happens in someone who has had cancer before
Tips for leading a healthy lifestyle during and after treatment
Ways to cope with extended treatment
How it can help you stay active after cancer
Ways to volunteer to help people cope with cancer
List of organizations with information for survivors of all ages
This video was originally published by Cancer Support Community on April 29, 2015, here.
This video was originally published by the American Cancer Society on June 18, 2014, here.
After your doctor declares you cancer-free, you still may have a long road ahead. Dr. Richard Wender of the American Cancer Society explains how a cancer survivor care plan can help guide you after treatment ends.
This podcast was originally published by BBC You, Me & the Big C on 13 September 2018, here.
In Rachael’s final podcast with Deborah and Lauren they discuss the ‘new normal’.
This term is commonly used by doctors and cancer communities when people are finding a sense of normality in their lives after diagnosis and treatment. Dr Liz O’Riordan, who has recurrent breast cancer, joins the #YouMeBigC girls to talk about her experiences.
This podcast was released at the request of Rachael and her husband Steve.
This podcast was originally published by WeHaveCancerShow.com by on August 13, 2019, here.
Healing and Cancer – http://healingandcancer.org/
Love, Medicine and Miracles by Bernie Siegel, M.D. – Love, Medicine and Miracles
The Healing Circle – https://thehealingcircle.ca/
Follow Healing and Cancer on Twitter – https://twitter.com/HealingNCancer
Follow Healing and Cancer on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HealingandCancerFoundation/
Follow Dr. Rob Rutledge on Twitter – https://twitter.com/robrutledgemd
This podcast was originally published by Cancer.net with Merry Jennifer Markham, MD, and Danielle Gentile, PhD, on March 5, 2019, here.
Dr. Merry Jennifer Markham and Dr. Danielle Gentile recently published a study in the Journal of Oncology Practice that describes potential benefits and drawbacks of people with cancer using social media. Today, we’re going to discuss with them some of the findings from their study, as well as what people with cancer should know about using social media and how it can provide support.
[music]
ASCO: You’re listening to a podcast from Cancer.Net (Cancer dot Net). This cancer information website is produced by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, known as ASCO, the world’s leading professional organization for doctors who care for people with cancer.
The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement. Cancer research discussed in this podcast is ongoing, so the data described here may change as research progresses.
Monika Sharda: Hello. I’m Monika Sharda, an editor on the Cancer.Net team and your host for today’s podcast. In this episode, I will be talking with two guests about how cancer patients use social media. Our first guest, Dr. Merry Jennifer Markham is a hematologist at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Welcome, Dr. Markham.
Dr. Markham: Hi. Good morning. Thanks for having me.
Monika Sharda: We also have with us Dr. Danielle Gentile, who is a researcher at Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina. Hi Dr. Gentile.
Dr. Gentile: Hi Monika. Thank you for having us this morning.
Monika Sharda: My pleasure. Drs. Markham and Gentile recently published a study in the Journal of Oncology Practice that describes potential benefits and drawbacks of people with cancer using social media. Today, I’m going to discuss with them some of the findings from their study, as well as what people with cancer should know about using social media and how it can provide support.
First off, I want to know what sparked your interest in studying social media and its use for people with cancer. Dr. Markham, let’s start with you.
Dr. Markham: Sure. So I have had an interest in social media for several years. And some of that stems from my own personal and professional use of social media, primarily platforms like Twitter. And one thing that I’ve noticed is that I’ve connected on Twitter with a lot of patient advocates and colleagues and sometimes people who identify themselves as patients, as well. And there’s a lot of searching for information that happens, I think, on social media. So that has really stemmed my interest in exploring it further as a potential tool for patients, as well as researchers and oncologists and other health professionals, to take advantage of what’s out there.
Monika Sharda: And what about you, Dr. Gentile?
Dr. Gentile: I’ll echo many of the things that Dr. Markham shared. And there’s ways to find so much information through social media, things that a person may not even be directly seeking. They can come across things indirectly and learn that way. So it’s quite interesting to see how people are able to make connections across the country and across the world with people who are in similar situations that they are. And social media is a way to gain some social support in ways that may not be possible in person. So if a person is not feeling well from their cancer diagnosis or treatments, they can reach out online. And through Twitter or Facebook, they’re able to meet others who can share in the experience with them.
Monika Sharda: So what I took away from your study is that social media can sort of be a double-edged sword. There’s potential benefits for patients, but then there are also potential drawbacks. So let’s start by talking about some of the pros. How can social media be helpful to patients?
Dr. Gentile: So there’s a few ways that patients can use social media to their benefit. And one is that it’s great for engagement and empowerment. So it provides a platform for patients to talk about their diagnoses, to search for information, digest what is happening in the world of cancer research as well. And through all of that information and connection with others, it can provide psychosocial support too. So those who are able to disclose some of their thoughts and their feelings and meet with others who share similar stories and are in the same boat, it can be helpful for them to make those connections.
Dr. Markham: I think that that source of support is really one of the invaluable pros to social media. I am a medical oncologist and see patients who have gynecologic cancers. And we live in an area where there’s not a lot of in-person access to support groups. I am never offended when my patients come to me with things that they’ve read on the internet because, unfortunately, it really is a resource that a lot of people rely on. And I think that when my patients are able to connect on social media to other patients with similar diagnoses or similar health experiences, it really allows me to have a better conversation with that patient in the exam room. She can bring me information about what she’s read or what she’s heard from a friend of hers across the country. And then we can have a conversation and I can take care of her better knowing what she knows.
Dr. Gentile: So another pro coming from me from a research perspective is that social media can be a valuable recruitment tool for researchers who are looking for demographics of patients that are pretty specific. So if you imagine a rare cancer diagnosis, it can be hard to find those patients in any small geographic area. But by using social media, those groups can cluster online. So it could be a Facebook support group for a certain diagnosis and a researcher could post on that group and ask if anyone is interested in a potential research study or a trial. And so it’s a way of connecting patients to opportunities to participate in research that their home oncologist and their support team may not be aware of.
Monika Sharda: Absolutely. And what are some of the cons? What should patients be cautious about when using social media?
Dr. Markham: I think one of the real risks of social media is misinformation. It’s very easy for false information or altered information to spread widely on social media, either Twitter or Facebook or otherwise. And sometimes it’s hard for people to distinguish what’s the good information, what’s a quality piece of research, or a true statement about health that can be trusted, versus what is myth and what’s not to be trusted. So distinguishing between good information and reliable health information is certainly one of the risks that I do worry about with, not just patients, but with their caregivers, and, truthfully, health professionals as well.
c And another, with all of that information that patients can find online, is they’re trying to decipher what’s good information, what’s misinformation, and what to act on. It can result in what we call information overload. And that’s when a person has gathered so much information that they become overwhelmed by the amount of the information and they’re not sure how to act on it. So it can lead to this feeling of paralysis or being stuck. And something that we recommend for that is always talking with the clinician. Like Dr. Markham said, she’s not offended when her patients bring her information they’ve learned online. And that’s one of the best resources to determine if information is worthy or not.
And I’ll share another potential con for social media and that is privacy concerns. So pretty much anything that goes onto the internet is for public use. And folks will think about their privacy filters. Do they want only their connections to see it? Do they want it to be widely, publicly available? But one can never be sure, even with those privacy filters, that their information won’t go somewhere they don’t intend it to. So if a person posts on Twitter in a private group thing that they have a certain diagnosis, it can never be for certain that someone in their daily social connections might see that. So anything a person posts online, I would advise make sure that’s something you feel comfortable with everyone knowing.
Monika Sharda: Going back to the idea of misinformation for a minute, you mentioned one way for it to help patients differentiate between what’s worthy information and isn’t is, of course, to talk with your oncologist about it. Talk with your healthcare team. Are there any other tips you can provide patients with how they can differentiate between reliable and unreliable information?
Dr. Markham: So I think looking for the source of information can be helpful. Information that’s put out by American Cancer Society or by ASCO or Cancer.Net, for example, is vetted by clinicians and physicians who, I think, lend some support to that information being trustworthy. There are other sources, such as the National Cancer Institute that shares information regularly on social media. I think it’s when there’s an article in a non-medical journal or not one of these professional organizations that is sometimes hard to see today whether it’s true or not true. And I think in those situations, it really is advisable for patients to take that information to their doctor, to ask more questions about it. I’ve encouraged my patients to go to certain resources online for information. And I’ve also encouraged them to bring me information that they want to know more about. And it’s not infrequent that I have my patients come to me with things that they’ve seen online, whether on social media or otherwise, and it allows us to have a good conversation about what’s true and what’s myth.
Dr. Gentile: It can also be important to think, “What is the motivation behind whomever has posted the certain piece of information?” So if it’s a reliable source, like ASCO or Dr. Markham is posting it, she is a hematologist, she is likely doing that because she wants to share the information for educational purposes and to help the lives of her patients. But there are plenty on social media who have profit motives for sharing information. So it might be some type of miracle cure where taking this product would completely take care of the cancer. And something my mom told me, is true in this situation: if it sounds too good to be true, it is. So be cautious and think about why a person might post something on social media.
Monika Sharda: Those are some really great tips. And Dr. Markham, I think it’s really great how you encourage your patients to talk with you about what they’ve read, what they’ve seen on social media and really encourage that conversation instead of them trying to figure out on their own whether the information that they’re seeing is worthy, is reliable. What would you say is the most effective way for patients to use social media to communicate?
Dr. Markham: So the most effective way, that’s a bit of a hard question because I think there’s probably multiple ways for patients to use social media. I think one reason that I like Facebook for health information, actually, is because there are a variety of groups that are closed and private that patients may discover for health information and, primarily, for support. So I think those are sometimes opportunities. The challenge of those, of course, is is there reliable information being shared. Some groups have healthcare moderators within them and some do not. So that is one of the risks of participating in a group. I think if a patient feels uncomfortable or overwhelmed, they should remove themselves from that situation.
I think on Twitter, there’s an opportunity to participate around hashtags. Hashtags are terms that you can plug into Twitter using the hashtag or pound sign with a phrase behind it, such as #breastcancer. And that is a good way of sort of filtering out information that’s targeted to that type of health problem. And there’s a lot of communities, actually, in the Twitter space built around these hashtags for healthcare where there are routine chats that may happen. Breast cancer actually has a good advocacy group on Twitter centered around the #bcsm, which stands for breast cancer social media. And there are physicians within that community and patient advocates and patients themselves. And it’s, I think, a good starting point for a patient who may be on Twitter and wants to connect with others who have similar interests or similar desires to connect.
Dr. Gentile: And I think it’s also important for any patient who wants to access social media in relation to their cancer diagnosis to spend some time before they enter these platforms and ask themselves, “What are they hoping to get out of the experience?” Is their primary motivation to get social support and meet others in social support groups, or is it looking for new, reliable information? Is it a mix of the two? And then, again, checking in with oneself periodically and asking, “Am I getting what I need, what I was intending to get?” For example, Dr. Markham was saying that if a person becomes uncomfortable or they find the situation overwhelming within social media, fielding many messages, then they can just remove themselves. And one should really go at their own pace and do what makes them feel comfortable and beneficial. There’s no real obligation to respond to folks if you’re not finding it to be beneficial.
Monika Sharda: For someone that’s not too comfortable with social media or has trouble finding relevant hashtags or Facebook groups, do you have any tips for them on how they can seek out these groups and what the relevant hashtags are for them?
Dr. Gentile: Sure. So I’d recommend that a patient get started with some platforms that they know are reliable, valid, good information sources. So, for example, Dr. Markham mentioned the #bcsm, breast cancer social media. And just starting with one hashtag or one support group on Facebook can lead a person down the line to other places to explore. So starting small and then branching out, I think, would be helpful for most cancer patients.
Dr. Markham: ASCO has some good resources, both for patients and for caregivers, I believe. There’s something called Social Media 101 for Patients that ASCO has published. So that’s a good starting point for people who may want to jump into social media period. Also, I think patients who are interested in finding groups may be able to reach out to their oncologist or other physicians to inquire if those physicians know of reputable groups that they could join.
What I find, though, is that a lot of the networking that my patients experience in social media has come from their online sort of word of mouth, which is a little harder to know about. Our social worker in my own clinic is sort of compiling a list of places where patients tend to congregate online so that she can point other patients in the right direction. But I think we still have a lot of work to do in this area to help really guide our patients well.
Monika Sharda: And that actually leads me to my next and final question. I was going to ask you to share some resources for patients to learn more about using social media safely and effectively. So you’ve already mentioned ASCO and the resources they have and also, talking to your healthcare team and your oncologist. Do you have any other resources that you can share?
Dr. Gentile: So I think those are probably two of the most important. I know that I have had patients who have reached out to organizations on social media, such as American Cancer Society and, probably, Cancer.Net may have had this experience as well, asking for information from those groups on who to recommend and how to approach things. So I think that Cancer.Net certainly has lots of good resources. But, really, I think ultimately, just conferring with a physician at the end of the day, to make sure that the space that is being found and using social media in a safe way as a patient, can be a discussion with the physician and patient together.
Monika Sharda: Right. Well, that’s all of the questions I have. Is there anything that, perhaps, we didn’t touch on already that you’d like to talk about?
Dr. Gentile: I’d like to say that it’s going to be different for every patient or every loved one who is caring for someone with cancer, when it comes to social media. And to feel okay with taking it at your own pace. And if you find that you have a piece of information that you are unsure about, the take-home message is to share that with your healthcare team and get that checked out. And to not make big decisions on how you’re going to care for yourself or your loved one solely based on a piece of information from social media.
Dr. Markham: I think that’s an excellent point. And the only other thing I would add is that social media can be scary for those who are just diving in, and I don’t think it necessarily has to be. It’s just a matter of taking it slow, at your own pace, as Dr. Gentile said. And just testing the waters.
Monika Sharda: That’s really great advice. Drs. Markham and Gentile, you’ve shared a lot of great tips with our listeners on using social media and provided additional resources where they can learn more about the topic. It’s been a pleasure having you on this podcast. Thank you so much for joining us today.
Dr. Markham: Thank you so much for having us.
Dr. Gentile: It’s been a great pleasure for me too.
ASCO: Thank you, Dr. Markham and Dr. Gentile. Find more resources on using social media at www.cancer.net. And if this podcast was useful, please take a minute to subscribe, rate, and review the show on Apple Podcasts or Google Play.
Cancer.Net is supported by ASCO’s Conquer Cancer Foundation, which funds breakthrough research for every type of cancer, helping patients everywhere. To help fund Cancer.Net and programs like it, donate at conquer.org/support.
This podcast was originally published by CureToday.org on August 15, 2019, by KRISTIE L. KAHL here.
In this week’s episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with a melanoma survivor about the importance of community and human connection to build hope after a cancer diagnosis.
Following his stage 3 melanoma diagnosis, Patrick called upon what he had learned to find hope. His first thought: Ok, what’s next?
In this week’s episode, we spoke with Patrick, who is now a three-year melanoma survivor, about the importance of community and human connection to build hope after a cancer diagnosis.
