Maya Sophia Landesberg*, I Had Cancer.com, New York, United States Track: Business Presentation Topic: Business models in a Web 2.0 environment Presentation Type: Startup Pitch Submission Type: Single Presentation Building: Joseph B. Martin Conference Center at Harvard Medical School Room: C-Rotunda Room Date: 2012-09-15 01:45 PM – 03:45 PM Last modified: 2012-09-16

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The sheer abundance of health related information on the internet can be a be overwhelming for any patient. Thankfully the ability to utilize social media as a platform for open patient communicate about cancer has provided focused outlets for emotional support, and critical review of treatments and side effects. Information about clinical trials, specific doctors, recommendations on resources and personal experiences is shared by the online cancer community. When you or someone you care about gets a cancer diagnosis, you just want to get your questions answered by someone who knows what you are going through.

I Had Cancer (www.ihadcancer.com) is a new and international social support community that helps people deal with life before, during and after cancer by connecting them around shared experiences. Users can search the community by age, gender, type of cancer, type of user (supporter, survivor and fighter), year of diagnosis and location. A number of additional features help facilitate communication between users such as Dear Cancer, Discussions, Newsfeed, Resources and Events.

I Had Cancer is home to some of the most prominent cancer bloggers, authors and patient advocates in the Cancer sphere. The site is also home to the newly diagnosed, seasoned survivors and the caregivers currently supporting someone through this journey. While not every user will become an e-patient they can become a driving force of change if they chose to do so, all they have to do is log in.