Today's blog is written by Macmillan Library & Information Specialist, Ed. He writes about how news stories about cancer can be misleading, and shares some tip tips to help you make sure the information you read is reliable.
Last year, the Independent newspaper analysed the 20 most shared stories on social media with cancer in the headline. They found that more than half of them included information some health professionals and doctors disagreed with. We all need to be cautious of what we read online and on social media and ensure our information is from a reliable source.
Macmillan complies with the Information Standard. This is a scheme developed by the Department of Health to help the public identify quality information. It means people can be assured that all the information on our website is up-to-date, regularly reviewed, and reliable.
First of all, when looking for any kind of health information on the internet, try to stick to the 3 rules for staying safe on the internet from our blog How to find safe health information on the internet.
It might also help to use these tips to ensure your information is from a reliable source:
1. Look for the source of the article. Check that it’s from a trustworthy source and isn’t an advertisement.
2. If you’ve read about some specific research in an article, search online for the medical journal that published the research to find out if the journal is peer-reviewed. This means that it has been checked by other scientists.
3. Ask your healthcare team if they know about the research.
4. Always speak to your healthcare team before making any decisions about treatment as they know about your medical situation.
The Macmillan website is a reliable and trustworthy source of information. It is regularly updated and reviewed by experts. You may also find the following Macmillan sources of support and information helpful:
There are also some other organisations that have further information you may find helpful:
NHS Choices: Cancer news – experts read cancer stories that are in the news and aim to respond to stories soon after they appear. It can help you get a better understanding of the science behind the news story.
Health News Review – tries to help people understand claims made about healthcare. It promotes accurate, balanced and complete information.
Cancer Research UK: Cancer news – shares the latest cancer news from Cancer Research UK and around the world. You can keep up to date on the newsfeed or download the Cancer Research UK podcast.
Cancer Research UK: Science blog – shares CRUK's latest views on recent stories about cancer, such as Don’t believe the hype - 10 persistent cancer myths debunked.
The important thing to remember when finding information yourself is that it may not be applicable to you. Your healthcare team will help you make the best decisions for you. Speak to them if you have any concerns or questions. You can also call our Support Line on 0808 808 00 00 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm or use our Ask an Expert service.
To see what else Macmillan's cancer information team has been blogging about, please visit our blog home page! You can subscribe to receive our blogs by email or RSS too.
We're with you every step of the way
The Macmillan team is here to help. Our cancer support specialists can answer your questions, offer support, or simply listen if you need a chat. Call us free on 0808 808 00 00.
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Keep in touch Follow Macmillan’s cancer information team on Twitter @mac_cancerinfo
