Social networking has become a valuable resource for those who have been stricken with an illness, as well as their loved ones. Many are familiar with sites like MySpace or Facebook, but few people realize how similar concepts are being used to help those who find themselves suffering from various diseases.

Long gone are the days where doctors have the time to deal with each patient on a personal basis, and, unfortunately, this means patients are less likely to receive the full spectrum of what treatments, information, and support that is available to them.

Through social networking sites, patients have an incredible amount of resources available to them.  Blogs can provide up-to-date information on new treatments, breakthroughs, and clinical trials. Along with blogs these sites also include, chat rooms and discussion forums that make it easier for people to communicate with others who find themselves in similar situations. This allows patients to exchange different information, that otherwise would not have been available to them.

At the age of 41, Susannah Reid, was diagnosed with an extremely rare and aggressive form of cancer. She was told by her doctor that she wouldn’t live past two years. More bad news came when she was told that in her state, West Virginia, there weren’t any doctors who had experience with her form of cancer. Reid was eventually able to find a specialist, but her insurance company would not pay for out of state treatment.

Just when Reid thought there was nowhere left to turn, her sister, Beth Weiss, began searching the internet for information on Reid’s form of cancer. While searching, she came across ACOR, The Association of Cancer Online Resources. Through ACOR, Weiss was able to communicate with Dr. Doreen Kossove, a pediatrician who’s suffering from an advanced form of uterine leiomyosarcoma.

Over the span of a few months, Kossove was able to guide Reid and Weiss through the appeal process for the insurance denial they had previously received. Reid won her appeal and is now receiving treatment from experts on her disease at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts.

“Susannah never would have gotten the quality of care she has if not for ACOR and Dr. Kossove.” Weiss says.

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