Cancer Information in the Media

Knowledgeable patients with provocative questions are nothing new for oncologists. Nearly every physician has encountered patients who pull out a newspaper or magazine article reporting research findings and ask, “What about this for me?” If the question doesn’t come from the patient, it is likely to be posed by a caregiver. Many patients now also research health information on the Internet.

Of course, not every patient comes to a doctor’s appointment armed with the latest information from the news media, but the number is bound to grow. The American Cancer Society estimates that 76% of all cancers are diagnosed at age 55 or older. As the first wave of baby boomers reaches 55, this new generation of patients can be expected to take part in decisions about their health care in ways prior generations never considered.

What is the state of cancer information in the mainstream news media? Generally, quite good, within the limits of the print space, air time, and reporting talent available. Journalists sometimes misunderstand scientific information or try too hard to make cancer stories “sexy.” Their sources sometimes use too much jargon, misstate the facts, or even regret their accurately reported words once they hear or read them. But, by and large, the increase in both the quality and quantity of media coverage of cancer has been impressive in the past 20 years.

Consider this: A recent Gallup poll reported that 63% of Americans surveyed are either “very” or “somewhat” worried about cancer, while another university-sponsored poll found that 71% of respondents believe that the cancer mortality rate will drop by 50% in the next 15 years. What do these polls tell us? Cancer is a subject of serious concern to the public, but there is optimism about it as well. News media coverage of cancer tends to reflect both the worry and the hope of Americans.

Today, the Internet is providing people with unparalleled access to health information. For example, a Google search for “prostate cancer treatment” yielded 69,500 entries in less than a half second. Even the esoteric term “antiangiogenesis” generated 11,600 references just as quickly. A recent Harris Poll survey found that 111 million U.S. adults have sought health information online. In other words, there is a lot of health information available, and there are a lot of people seeking that information.

My sense is that many doctors appreciate the give-and-take with patients who are well informed about their illnesses and interested in their care. I suspect that such patients sometimes can be challenging and demanding. But these patients are often the fighters, and I’ve been told they also tend to be the ones who work hardest to comply with treatment plans.

For more information on this topic or for questions about M. D. Anderson’s treatments, programs, or services, call the M. D. Anderson Information Line at (800) 392-1611 (in the United States) or (713) 792-3245 (in Houston and outside the United States).

Other articles in OncoLog, November 2004 issue:

• The Youngest Cancer Patients
• Meeting the Rising Demand for Outpatient Care
• In Brief: Research News from the Laboratories and Clinics at M. D. Anderson
• House Call: Going Beyond the Headlines

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