Abstract Breast cancer is a complex pathology and treatments nowadays is not a one size fits all. Social media has emerged as a prominent and widely used platform for sharing health-related information and also, one of the main sources for bread treatment information in patients. The objective of this study is to evaluate the role of social media in shaping women's knowledge, trust, and engagement with breast cancer treatment information, and to assess its influence on treatment-related discussions with healthcare providers To evaluate this, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in July of 2025 through an Instagram breast health account using Instagram survey tools. The survey included questions on demographics, engagement with breast cancer treatment-related content, trust in health information shared on social media, and whether any information encountered on social media influenced discussions or decisions made with their doctor regarding treatment. A total of 1026 respondents participated in the survey, all of whom identified as women, with the majority (43%) aged between 41 and 50 years. From this group of patients 94% participants reported searching for breast cancer-related information online, with Instagram identified as the primary source (82%), followed by other internet sites. Trust in online health information varied, largely depending on the credibility of the source (79%) and the platform on which the information was published. Age differences were observed in levels of trust, with younger (20-30 years old) women more likely to trust online information (25%) compared to older age groups. Women who reported higher trust in social media content demonstrated greater engagement with breast cancer treatment-related information and were more likely to report that such information influenced discussions and decision-making with their physicians (17%). Although the majority of women (73%) reported that online information did not alter their treatment plans or decision-making, a subset (10%)—despite not fully trusting all online content—expressed a willingness to discuss the information they encountered with their healthcare providers. In the current digital age, information is increasingly disseminated through non-traditional channels, with social media platforms significantly enhancing patient access to treatment-related content. However, the prevalence of misinformation on these platforms presents a challenge, as regulating the accuracy of shared content remains difficult. This underscores the critical importance of trust in the source of information. Healthcare providers should be aware of this trend and remain open to discussing online information with their patients to support informed decision-making. Citation Format: T. A. Piñeiro, V. Constanzo, A. Nervo, S. García, F. Colo, M. Daniel, L. Cosaka. Exploring the Role of Social Media in Shaping Breast Cancer Treatment Decisions Among Women abstract. In: Proceedings of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2025; 2025 Dec 9-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2026;32(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS5-10-13
Piñeiro et al. (Tue,) studied this question.