Google. Friend or Foe

TB90

This is a place to recommend your sites on Google that are accurate, current and accessible for all. Google is often mentioned as a place to avoid. A place to instil terror. Well it was a lifeline for me. And it did instil terror. How can we maximize this resource to our advantage? BC patients need info and need info in a timely fashion. Where else is this readily available? Symposiums are not accessible for all and doctors rarely have the time to provide all we need to know. Libraries? BCO members quote info and studies and I suspect many are found on Google. So rather than close the library door for fear of what may lurk there, let’s help others access what may promote their health and well being. Thanks in advance for posting

MinusTwo

NCI -

Mayo Clinic

Sloan Kettering

Stanford

MD Anderson

Beesie

• NCCN Guidelines.

https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/default_nojava.aspx

Anyone can access the Patient Guides; registration is required to access the Physician Guides but registration is easy.

• Moose and Doc

https://breast-cancer.ca/

TB90

I love Moose and Doc but would never have had the confidence to admit it, simply by its title. Now endorsed by Beesie, I can openly admit it.

WC3

I tend to use Google Scholar but the papers there are not intended for the general public and may be difficult for those without an academic background to draw proper conclusions from.

MelissaDallas

Memorial Sloan Kettering’s herb and supplement database for info on effectiveness (if any) along with interactions and estrogenic properties

https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/diagnosis-treatment/symptom-management/integrative-medicine/herbs/search

exbrnxgrl

On a more general note, there are a few things I look for when googling info on bc or most anything else for that matter.

- Date of information. When was the study/paper etc. published?

- Who did the research/study? Are they legit, credible sources? Yes, I know that faulty research and insufficient documentation as well as a few flat out falsifications exist in the world of scientific research. The faster those bad apples are exposed the better, but they still remain in the minority.

- Anecdotal evidence, what can I say? It can be uplifting and encouraging but it's not data.

Google can be helpful but make sure or the validity and credibility of what you read.

TB90

Thanks for the recommendations everyone.

Exbrnxgrl. Excellent advise. That’s why it is so helpful for recommendations of specific sites as so many of us can struggle initially with which ones are legit. I have since figured this out but even as I demonstrated above, I was leery of endorsing a site called Moose and Doc even though it really helped me.

When newbies come on board, we say, try not to stress and stay off of Google. I could do neither. So with suggestions here, hopefully they can read this and navigate Google safely.

Beesie

TB90, actually it was djmammo who gave me the confidence to admit that I love Moose and Doc. He posted a while back that it's one of his favorite sites.

EllieClark

Google makes the process of finding the right information easier and greatly facilitates our online travel.

MinusTwo

Ellie - welcome to BCO. When you get a chance, do go to My Profile and post your diagnosis & treatment information. It makes it easier to share.

Yes, Google is a wonderful place to find information. The problem is there's also mis-information & hype. It's challenging when someone's researching a symptom - such as a pimple, or a disease - such as breast cancer. You can "diagnose" your death w/o ever seeing a doctor to calm your fears & accurately review the question.

I can remember the days when our only resource was the dictionary or an encyclopedia. It's great to have knowledge at your fingertips - just sometimes hard to remember the web is not a doctor & certainly not the definitive answer. But for finding & listening to the old songs of the 50's at 3am - it's GREAT!!