Did You Know?

Connecting with the Cancer Community Using Social Media

Have you heard of “social media?”  Maybe you are already part of a social networking community, participate on message boards or share photos.  Or, perhaps you need more information before getting started. With a few tips and how-to’s you can connect with friends from the past, meet new people or just share your thoughts and opinions.  As a Cancer Fighter, you can connect with other cancer patients, share your experiences and provide support for others fighting the same battle. 

What is Social Media?


Social media offers online tools for users to author content, share multi-media including photos and videos, and connect with others. Users can interact with one another through social media in many forms, such as email, instant messaging, posts, message boards, photos and tweets.  Without any experience you can comment, connect, and share content with either a “friend” or a community of individuals with similar interests.   

Social media includes blogging, social networking, forums, social news and others.  Many people use “traditional” social networks, which do not have a specific focus and usually have open memberships. No matter your beliefs, views or interests, you can connect with others. By selecting “friends” or “connections” you grant access to your information only to trusted participants.  Within this community you can join groups or identify your interests. 
  
How Cancer Patients are Using Social Media

Cancer patients and our Cancer Fighters are using social media to share their story, make friends and find information. Todd Gillett, Cancer Fighter, uses Facebook to keep in touch with friends and find old friends.  His parents moved around a lot when he was growing up and he lost touch with childhood friends.  He recently reconnected with his best friend from elementary school who he hadn’t been in touch with in over 20 years. 

Some cancer patients have found that blogging is a great way to share their thoughts and feelings. Blogging is similar to journaling. Jeanne Sather was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 43, and began to write about the ups and downs of cancer treatments and living with the disease.  Jeanne started a blog, Assertive Cancer Patient, where she shares her thoughts and feelings from a cancer patient’s point of view.

There are even online dating websites just for people with cancer.  C is for Cupid and Prescription4love are online dating/friendship websites for people affected by cancer.  The websites are comfortable and confidential environments for you to meet others connected to cancer.  Sharing your cancer journey is a common bond that can bring two people together on these websites.

Why Should I Participate in Social Media?

The popularity of social networking continues to grow as three out of every four adults use social networking tools to connect with others.  Social networking has a range of benefits for all types of people. As a Cancer Fighter, you can use social networking to connect with others, share your story and find information. See the list below of why people use social media and the benefits.

1. Connect and converse with others.
2. Ask questions and find answers.
3. Share your experiences and opinions through blogs, tweets, posts, emails or message boards.
4. Offer help and advice to others. 
5. Discover the opinions of others and consider new views.
6. Find information at your fingertips.
7. Make new friends and meet people you otherwise might not come into contact with.
8. Find old friends and reconnect.
9. Make connections and find new (employment) opportunities.
10. Stay up to date and current on the latest news.

Do you already use social media?  If so, tell us how and why on our message board. 

Tips for Using Social Media

Using social media can be rewarding and has many benefits, but keep in mind a few simple tips before sharing too much information on the internet. 

• Social media is a public exchange and everything you put out there can be seen by everyone on web.  In many cases it can even be permanent. Remember, before you share any information about yourself or write a message to consider its contents.  Before you hit send or post ask yourself, “Would I be embarrassed to read this aloud to my employer?”
• Use caution when mixing social networking with your professional life.  If you are “friends” with your co-workers or boss, you shouldn’t post any message that might damage your relationship with them. 
• Check the privacy settings on your account and limit what people can see on your profile. Use those settings and make sure that only your friends, people that you personally know, can see what you post.
• Be careful about what personal info you include—don’t ever share your address, email or phone number anywhere.  Besides all of the wonderful people you will meet using social media, there are also scammers and predators that are looking to take advantage of internet users. 
• Don’t “accept” friends that you do not know.  Again these may be predators looking to steal your information or infect your computer with a virus. 
• If you read something on the internet that seems too good to be true, it probably is!

These are just a few tips to remember when you are using online social media.  If you follow these precautions you will have a safer and better experience online. 

Description and Examples of Social Media

Blogs: Users post stories, ideas and thoughts as a way to express themselves.  Most blog sites allow you to determine who has access to read your blog. 
Examples: Blogger, Xanga, Blog for a Cure, My Cancer

Microblogs: A form of blogging that allows users to post 140 character “updates” or “happenings”.  Your friends or contacts can subscribe to get your updates. 
Examples: Twitter, Tumblr, Yammer

Social Networks: Users create a profile, share information and connect with one another. Members of this community create a network of friends and associates. 
Examples:  Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace

Wikis: Participants can collaborate and develop shared content.
Examples: Wikipedia, Wikia

Pics/Videos: Websites that allow you to post and share photos and video files. 
Examples: flickr, YouTube, Photobucket

Forums:  Members post and respond to one another on message boards.  There are many message boards focused on different hobbies, specific interests, religions, groups, etc. 
Examples: CancerCompass, EmpowHer, HealthBoards, BigBoards

CTCA Related Social Media Sites

Facebook:
Cancer Center
Cancer Compass
CNCA
Joe Bacal – Control Amid Chaos

Twitter: www.twitter.com/cancercompass
http://twitter.com/joebacal

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/1cancercenter

More Information
 How to Use Social Media
http://www.interactiveinsightsgroup.com/blog1/socialmediabeginnersguide/

Social Networking in Plain English
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a_KF7TYKVc