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Jul 25, 2025, 16:20

Emad Shash: It’s Not Just the Disease – It’s The Fear, Isolation, and Endless Questions

Emad Shash, General Manager at National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, shared a post on LinkedIn about recent paper he and colleagues co-authored, published in Springer Nature Link.

“When someone hears ‘you have cancer,’ their whole world shifts. It’s not just the disease—it’s the fear, isolation, and endless questions.

Many turn to online support groups for answers and comfort.

But here’s the truth: our study found that only 1 in 5 Facebook groups for Egyptian cancer patients are qualified to provide trusted support—the rest lack professional oversight or post inconsistently.

This matters—because misinformation can have real consequences for health and mental well-being.

A recent analysis of Egyptian online support groups for cancer patients revealed:

21% Qualified—led by certified healthcare professionals.
21% Semi-qualified—run by individuals with partial medical background or training.
58% Non-qualified—operated by individuals with no formal medical training.

While these groups offer vital emotional support, the findings highlight a crucial question!

Reference: Bektash F, Ouda H, Hassan Y, El-Sayed A, Shash E. Mapping cancer patient online support groups: enhancing patient care in a low-middle-income healthcare system. Support Care Cancer.”

Title: Mapping cancer patient online support groups: enhancing patient care in a low-middle income healthcare system

Authors: Fatma Bektash, Heba Hossam Ouda, Yasmine Hassan, Asmaa El-Sayed, Emad Shash

Read The Full Article at Springer Nature Link.

Emad Shash: It’s Not Just the Disease - It’s The Fear, Isolation, and Endless Questions