Against cancer, don’t give space to misinformation

The Instituto Vencer o Câncer launches an institutional campaign to combat the spread of incorrect information about treatments and prevention of the disease on social media.

Under the motto CANCERTRUENEWS – Against cancer, do not give space to misinformation, the initiative promotes the search for reliable content and is committed to helping Brazilians obtain accurate information about risk factors, prevention, diagnosis and effective therapies against cancer. cancer.

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The campaign emphasizes key messages such as “Not all online content helps prevent cancer”; “One live is not enough to take care of your health”; “A treatment suggestion cannot replace the treatment prescribed by the doctor”, highlighting the importance of seeking accurate and reliable information.

The initial idea for this campaign came from a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, which highlighted an alarming statistic: 89% of patients diagnosed with, or suspected of having, cancer turn to the internet in search of more information about their condition.

The study also revealed that a third of the most popular posts about cancer treatment on social media contain incorrect information. This erroneous and even false information can harm patients’ treatment, quality of life and chances of survival.

The objective is to educate the population about the dangers of trusting content that promises miraculous solutions for cancer, defending patients’ rights and creating effective public policies to help those affected by the disease.

We understand that, in the fight against cancer, patients, families and caregivers need access to reliable and proven information about procedures and treatments. This support reinforces the importance of early diagnosis and access to appropriate treatments. Those who are well informed about their condition can be protagonists in taking care of their own health.

Access the campaign at www.vencerocancer.org.br and share CANCERTRUENEWS .

Fernando Maluf is co-founder of the Instituto Vencer o Câncer and professor at the Faculty of Medicine of Santa Casa de São Paulo.

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