Social media has been an enabler of information dissemination, collaboration and coordination for reasons ranging from personal to political. In healthcare, information dissemination is a key mechanism of creating awareness, a crucial factor in the early detection and prevention of diseases.
A growing number of online users prefer to read their Facebook and Twitter feeds before watching the news, in fact, many get their news and other information solely through what their friends or news agencies they follow choose to post on social media.
That’s why many health-related organizations turn to social media to raise awareness about cancer. They also are spurring online readers to donate money to research programs striving to find a cure for different types of cancers, including rare ones like mesothelioma.
Major cancer awareness organizations have taken to the social sphere to educate and share their knowledge with the public.
The Facebook page of Stand Up to Cancer, a charitable program that raises money for cancer research, has more than 1.3 million likes and those numbers are growing.
As more cancer organizations learn what the members in their communities are looking for and provide it to them, they will start to feel the true power and reach of social media. It’s important to keep in mind that social media plays by different rules and a mistake can go viral faster than something of worth.
We hope worldwide cancer social media campaigns will continue spreading awareness, educating the public and raising funds for important breakthroughs leading to a cure.
