Muna Al-Khaifi, Lead of Breast Cancer Survivorship Program and GP oncologist, Skin Cancer Clinic at Sunnybrook, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Breast Cancer Survivorship and Digital Health
Our narrative review titled “The Use of Social Media Interventions for Breast Cancer Survivors”
Breast cancer survivors increasingly turn to social media for information, connection, and support. As digital platforms become embedded in survivorship care, it is important to understand their potential benefits, limitations, and role alongside traditional healthcare models.
Key Findings / Results
Our review found that social media interventions for breast cancer survivors may:
- Support knowledge acquisition and health education
- Facilitate peer-to-peer support and shared lived experiences
- Enhance emotional support and engagement, particularly during survivorship transitions
- Improve access to care-related information beyond clinical settings
However, the literature also highlights concerns around misinformation, variable quality of content, and mixed effects on mental health, underscoring the need for thoughtful design and oversight.
Outcomes and Implications
- Social media has potential as a complementary survivorship support tool, not a replacement for clinical care
- Clinician involvement and evidence-informed moderation may enhance safety and impact
- There is a clear need for rigorous, outcomes-based research evaluating clinical, psychosocial, and equity-related effects
Conclusion
When used thoughtfully, social media interventions may play a meaningful role in modern breast cancer survivorship care. Future research should focus on effectiveness, safety, and integration into patient-centred care models.”
Title: The use of social media interventions for breast cancer survivors: a narrative review
Authors: Jashmira K. Bhinder, Ethan Goonaratne, Daniel Astray, John J. Wu, Samantha K. F. Kennedy, Henry C. Y. Wong and Muna Al-Khaifi
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