Twitter May Be Valuable Pipeline For Cancer Patients Finding Clinical Trials

DETROIT (CBS Detroit) - Cancer patients might want to turn to Twitter for help.

Clinical trials offer promising, new treatment options for cancer patients reports WWJ health reporter Dr. Deanna Lites.

It turns out that Twitter may be a place for patients to learn about clinical trials.

After analyzing thousands of lung cancer tweets researchers from the University of Pennsylvania found that a surprisingly large number were about clinical trials.

Henry Ford Hospital oncologist Robert Chapman says it's not a bad idea because not enough patients take part in clinical trials.

"It's well known that patients who participate in clinical trials tend to have better outcomes then those who do not and so things that we can do to enhance public awareness and interest in participating in clinical trials can be a huge public service," said Chapman.

Dr. Chapman says right now there are over 250 active cancer clinical trials going on at Henry Ford Hospital.