Be Cautious Searching the Web

The Internet can be an incredibly supportive and informative resource, but it is also unregulated. Information might be exaggerated, false, or outright dangerous.  If any individual or group is trying to sell a cure for cancer on the Internet, it is wise to be skeptical and stay clear.

Here are highlights of guidance from the Society for Integrative Oncology’s “Don’t Believe Everything You Read on the Internet” – get the full details from their website.

1. Question the source of the information.
2. Consider the website’s editorial policy.
3. Check the level of evidence behind the claims.
4. Beware of polarized over-simplistic theories on cancer.
5. Watch for logical errors.
6. Don’t forget your medical team is there to answer your questions.

• Resources

• Cancer Treatment Scams

  Information and warnings from the Federal Trade Commission

Cancer Statistics

Another word of caution is around becoming overwhelmed by cancer statistics. Reputable research and publication of statistical trends are really geared toward health professionals, governments, policy makers, and researchers to get a big picture around the impact of cancer on society. They aren’t directed at the individual patient. If you have questions or concerns about any statistics that you find, ask your oncologist or other knowledgeable advisor, to discuss.

How to Avoid Charlatans in Cancer Care
In your community, or from internet searches, you may wonder if someone offering to support your care during your cancer treatment is trustworthy. The late Dr. Servan Schreiber has printed a list in his informative book, Anti-Cancer: A New Way of Life, about Avoiding Charlatans in Cancer Treatment.

 “There are a few simple rules to avoiding traps and charlatans. Avoid practitioners who:

• Refuse to work in collaboration with an oncologist and recommend stopping conventional treatments
• Suggest a treatment whose effectiveness has not been proven but that has proven risks
• Suggest a treatment whose price is out of proportion to expected benefits
• Promise that their approach is guaranteed to work, as long as you have a true desire to heal.”