ArticleJournal of assisted reproduction and genetics2025
Online discussions about cancer and fertility: an analysis of Reddit threads.
Article in Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Public Engagement with Lung Cancer Screening Information: Topic Modeling of Lung Cancer-Related Reddit Posts.Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.) · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundYoung patients may search the Internet and consult online discussion platforms for health-related information. This can be useful and supportive, but also problematic if misinformation is spread. Fertility-related information in the context of cancer is complex and confounded by uncertainty, which can cause misunderstandings and unnecessary burden.
methodsDiscussions on the online platform Reddit were searched and analyzed for questions around cancer and fertility. A mix of structured coding (e.g., number/types of questions) and qualitative analyses of user questions and comments were used to uncover salient content and interactions online.
resultsA total of N = 149 relevant threads were identified, posted on three subreddits related to cancer and fertility. Posted questions aimed at seeking either information (57.7%, n = 86) or advice/support (42.3%, n = 63). Information-related questions focused on medical aspects (e.g., fertility status, assisted reproductive technologies [ART]), financial aspects (e.g., health insurance), or medical decision-making (e.g., ART, fertility assessments). Advice-related questions focused on the emotional impact of (possible) infertility (e.g., coping, burden of unsuccessful pregnancy attempts). Analyses of n = 20 comment sections revealed six themes within answers to information-related questions (e.g., personal experiences/stories to provide advice, offering explanations/ suggestions). These interactions typically occurred in a respectful and supportive tone of voice. While misinformation was infrequent, users sometimes derailed into subdiscussions unrelated to the initially posted question.
conclusionOnline communities like Reddit offer a place where cancer patients/survivors may seek information and exchange ideas regarding their concerns in real time. Frequent topics of discussion can serve as areas of priority for developing educational and communication interventions in clinical care.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.