Social media use and health promotion among cancer survivors Atarere, Joseph O.; Onyeaka, Henry K.; Chido‐Amajuoyi, Onyema G. ...
Psycho-oncology (Chichester, England),
January 2024, 2024-Jan, 2024-01-00, 20240101, Volume:
33, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Objective
Social media is becoming recognized as an effective platform for cancer health promotion, education, care, and support. However, its utility as a health promotion tool remains relatively ...unexplored.
Methods
Using cross‐sectional data from the 2017–2020 Health Information National Trends Survey, we evaluated health‐related usage of social media among cancer survivors and individuals without a history of cancer. We also examined the participant characteristics associated with social media usage and evaluated the relationship between social media use and positive health behaviors among the cancer survivors.
Results
Overall, cancer survivors (n = 2579) were as likely as individuals without a history of cancer to use social media for health promotion. Males OR 0.65; 95% CI (0.45, 0.93) and older adults (>60 years old) OR 0.27; 95% CI(0.10, 0.77) were less likely to use social media, while higher income OR 2.27; 95% CI (1.05, 4.92) middle income; OR 1.90; 95% CI (1.17, 3.09) high income and educational levels OR 3.29; 95% CI (1.85, 5.84) some college; OR 2.36; 95% CI (1.30, 4.28) college graduate or more were associated with more health‐related social media use among survivors. Cancer survivors used social media for online support groups more than other individuals, and those who used at least one form of social media for health‐related purposes increasingly meet national recommendations for strength training compared to non‐users OR 2.15; 95% CI (1.48, 3.13).
Conclusions
Our findings demonstrate the potential utility of social media to promote positive health behaviors among cancer survivors. Further research is needed to describe the efficacy of social media‐based interventions for improving health behaviors in diverse cancer populations.
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a rare disease characterized by autoantibodies directed at red blood cells. Patients typically present with anemia and are diagnosed by positive direct ...antiglobulin (DAT) test. AIHA is subclassified into warm or cold based on antibodies involved and depending on their optimal temperature in which they react with RBC antigens. Warm AIHA can be either primary (idiopathic) or secondary depending on etiology. Secondary causes are associated with malignancy, connective tissue and inflammatory diseases, infections (typically viral infections), or drugs (e.g., antibiotics, chemotherapeutic agents). Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a herpes virus that is commonly associated with cold AIHA, with only one reported case of EBV-induced warm AIHA. It has been postulated that antibodies against EBV cross-react with antigens expressed on RBC membranes and activate the complement cascade similarly. This case report describes a case of a 32-year-old male who presented with warm AIHA secondary to EBV reinfection.
We report a case of localized sarcomesothelioma detected during screening via a low-dose CT (LDCT) scan. The patient is a 71-year-old female, a current 56-pack-year cigarette smoker with a past ...medical history of myocardial infarction and stroke with a Zubrod score of zero. A screening LDCT revealed a 1.9 cm × 1.8 cm × 1.4 cm right lower lobe lesion with smooth margins and close association with the hemidiaphragm. A wedge resection with biopsy showed high-grade sarcomatoid mesothelioma with extensive desmoplastic morphology and negative margins. The patient opted for imaging surveillance, and at 12 months has shown no evidence of tumor recurrence on positron emission tomography (PET)/CT. The case shows that LDCT screening discovers cancers and saves lives. It also presented a dilemma for the patient and her oncologist because common guidelines do not define a recommended treatment.
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Background: Prostate cancer is most common cancer among men and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in American men. Genetic predisposition to cancer is increasingly noted as a cause ...in many cancers including prostate cancer. Genetic testing and counseling are recommended in certain groups of men; Men with or without a personal history of prostate cancer who have a family history of prostate, breast, colon, ovarian, or pancreatic cancers, especially if any of these were diagnosed under age 50 and those with metastatic prostate cancer. A recent study of 3,600 men with prostate cancer found that 17% had inherited genetic mutations that may have contributed to their cancer. Of those men, 31% of the mutations were in the BRCA genes. Because of this, familiarity and understanding of the most current clinical guidelines for genetic risk assessment are of great importance in the survivorship care of men with prostate cancer. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines recommends genetic assessment/counseling for genetic/familial high-risk individuals diagnosed with prostate cancer. This retrospective study reports on adherence to genetic screening based on NCCN guidelines for newly diagnosed Prostate cancer patients who were receiving treatment at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC). Methods: We obtained data using EPIC database from NGMC electronic medical records to identify patients who were diagnosed between 1/1/20-12/31/20. Data included patients who were high risk and fit the criteria for genetic testing based on NCCN as well as identifying patients who were sent for genetic testing/counsellng. The dataset was de-identified and analyzed using appropriate descriptive statistical testing. Results: A total of 42 cases for prostate cancer were reviewed. All 42 of the cases were under the age of 60 at diagnosis. A total of 13 of the cases meet the genetic/familial high-risk assessment based on NCCN guidelines. Of the 13 of the cases, only 1 case was referred for genetic counseling which was 7.6% compliance with NCCN guidelines for genetic counseling/referral. In terms of high-penetrance prostate cancer risk screening, none of the 13 cases (0%) meeting genetic/familial high-risk were screened. Based on our findings, there was poor adherence in genetic testing/counseling in high risk patients with prostate cancer at NGMC. Conclusions: This study points out poor adherence to NCCN guideline directed genetic counseling/testing in high risk patients with prostate cancer. Based on findings, it is clear that high importance should be placed on awareness on the current guidelines in relation to gene testing for patients who are high risk as this would play an important role in identifying family members who at risk and ensure early screening.
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