Tag: Cyberchondria

Cyberchondria, otherwise known as compucondria, is the unfounded escalation of concerns about common symptomology based on review of search results and literature online. Articles in popular media position cyberchondria anywhere from temporary neurotic excess to adjunct hypochondria. Cyberchondria is a growing concern among many healthcare practitioners as patients can now research any and all symptoms of a rare disease, illness or condition, and manifest a state of medical anxiety.

Noun – cyberchondriac.

05Oct 2023 by Ronny Allan 2 Comments

Dr Google will see you now

Patient Advocacy, Survivorship

Whenever I need to know anything nowadays, I mostly just look on the internet and sometimes I ask my virtual PA 'Alexa' to look for me! I even dabble in artificial intelligence (AI) (but I tread carefully on both). However, you need to be very careful in acceptance of what is credible information and what isn't. As a relatively experienced health blogger and activist, I like to think of myself as 'internet savvy', so I occasionally find myself using 'Dr Google' to diagnose my own aches, pains and unusual feelings (and I confess to using it to help others). I mostly find there are no real or definitive answers online for many patient- reported issues. All of that said, there is no doubt that I am a big supporter of…

What is Carcinoid Syndrome? Carcinoid syndrome (CS) is the most frequent hormonal complication accompanying neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) and is defined by chronic diarrhoea and/or flushing in the presence of systemic elevated levels of serotonin or its metabolite 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA). Importantly, other causes of these symptoms should be considered and investigated depending on the clinical presentation. CS […]

Somatostatin Receptor Positive Advanced Bronchial Neuroendocrine Tumors – PRRT vs Everolimus

I was delighted to see this clinical trial which looks at the efficacy of PRRT (Lu177) vs the efficacy of Everolimus (Afinitor). The latter is approved for the treatment of adult patients with progressive, well-differentiated non-functional, neuroendocrine tumors (NET) of gastrointestinal (GI) or lung origin with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic disease (US FDA wording, […]

Opinion: Let’s attack Cancer metaphors

Since I started blogging, I’ve read dozens of articles on the subject of ‘cancer metaphors’ and in particular their use in describing cancer experiences with the words ‘fight’, ‘battle’ and other ‘military’ sounding terms. The authors say that perhaps this is not the best language to use. One author used the term ‘violence’ to describe these […]

A review of November 2023 on RonnyAllan.NET – Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer

November is always busier as I help spread awareness for 10th Nov (remembering that every day is 10th Nov on my site!). I also managed to push out quite a few blogs, some ‘remasters’ from 2014 but with their originality from that time. Others include the ENETS Guideline series, a work in progress. I’m thankful […]

European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS) 2023 guidance paper for Digestive Neuroendocrine Carcinoma

This ENETS guidance paper, developed by a multidisciplinary working group, provides up-to-date and practical advice on the diagnosis and management of digestive neuroendocrine carcinoma, based on recent developments and study results. These recommendations aim to pave the road for more standardized care for our patients resulting in improved outcomes. However, it’s true to say that […]