IN AN ONLINE BREAST CANCER COMMUNITY BY

In this ethnographic study, I examined the interactions of an online breast cancer community to understand participants ‘ information behavior, the role of social support in participants ‘ lives, how being part of this community influences health decisions and practices, and how the community is integrated into participants ‘ everyday lives. Using archives analysis, participant-observation, and interviews, I learned that this community is a microcosm of daily life, comprising a complex culture that has a significant impact on many participants ‘ lives. Members of the community help each other as they deal with breast cancer, but the community also incorporates diverse interactions that exceed the boundaries of breast cancer, reaching into other health conditions as well as the challenges and joys of everyday life. Many participants noted strong emotional ties to others in the community, enhancing these ties through email, phone conversations, and face-to-face meetings. An important finding of this study is the social integration of participants beyond the scope of the online space through their communication practices as well as the lengths they go to when assisting each other