Photo: Depositphotos
Jun 12, 2025, 04:03
Fiona McCarthy on Richard Simcock’s Post About Cancer Misinformation On Social Media
Fiona McCarthy, Medical Director at The Bronte Clinic, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“I saw a post yesterday on the Macmillan Cancer Support by Richard Simcock that really struck a chord – particularly around the huge rise in cancer misinformation on social media.
From “miracle cures” to “anti-cancer diets,” these attention-grabbing posts often target people when they are at their most vulnerable and afraid. As oncologists, we spend a limited amount of time with our patients in clinic – but once they leave, they’re exposed to a 24/7 stream of unfiltered, often misleading content online.
That’s why I feel strongly that we, as oncology professionals, have a responsibility to meet people where they are – and that increasingly means stepping into spaces like Instagram, LinkedIn, and other social platforms to provide accurate, accessible information.
It doesn’t always feel natural – most of us are far more comfortable having private one-to-one conversations with patients than posting publicly. But in a world where noise often drowns out nuance and number of followers trump true knowledge, we need to be part of the conversation.
We need to lead with evidence, experience, and compassion, not let algorithms and follower counts shape the narrative our patients hear.”
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