Do Social Media and Blogs Have a Positive Impact on Patient Quality of Life?

Last week, well-known Canadian blogger Derek Miller's final blog entry was posted on his site, penmachine.com. Miller, who died on May 3 at the age of 41, was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic colorectal cancer in 2007.

"Here it is. I'm dead, and this is my last post to my blog. In advance, I asked that once my body finally shut down from the punishments of my cancer, then my family and friends publish this prepared message I wrote the first part of the process of turning this from an active website to an archive," read the post.

In this era of social media and blogging, online interaction often surpasses time spent with friends and family in person. For many, it has also created an outlet for expression that perhaps didn't exist for them before.