Previvorship in the platform society
Cancer genetic risk in the digital age
With the increasing use of predictive genetic testing, a rising number of people are becoming previvors: healthy individuals coping with the awareness of having a genetic predisposition to cancer. Previvors are faced with the possibility of prevention, which could take the form of constant screening or, in some cases, preventative surgery.
Research shows that social media often help people live through illness, yet we know very little about how they shape life choices related to preventing illness. In this project, we focus on raised cancer risk linked to BRCA 1/2 and Lynch Syndrome gene mutations to investigate how social media influence the way people understand and experience this risk.
📣📣 Would you like to know more about cancer genetic risk? Have a look at the Lynch Syndrome animation designed by our student in residence Yifeng Zhang or check out this info page.
Risk
Now more then ever we are used to thinking about the health risks that surround us. But how do we plan and understand life, illness and responsibility when risk is written in our genes?
Platforms
Our everyday social media shape the stories we read, the information we share and the connections we make. How does this influence our means to prevent a disease that is "very likely" to come?
Read more about social media platforms.
Expertise
In the general void of information about genetic diseases, if we test positive for a cancer gene mutation, how do we combine technical knowledge and everyday life for understanding and managing health and prevention?
Identities
How do we learn, live, construct and perform our self on and through digital platforms when coping with genetic risk is part of our everyday life?
