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Can you REALLY trust Dr Google? As study finds online searches could help spot deadly cancer a year earlier, why experts insist it's NOT a substitute for an actual doctor
Frantically looking our symptoms up online and self-diagnosing is something many of us are guilty of. But can we really trust Dr Google?
Just today, a reassuring study ruled we can.
In fact, researchers found women with ovarian cancer looked up tell-tale symptoms of the disease, such as weight loss and bloating, up to a year before being referred to a specialist.
Imperial College London scientists said their findings, based on Google histories of more than 200 women, had 'enormous potential' in early disease detection.
Other studies have also supported the use of Dr Google. A Harvard Medical School study of 5,000 adults in 2021, for example, suggested investigating your symptoms online can result in a correct diagnosis, contrary to popular belief.
A study by Imperial College London found looking up you symptoms online, could actually help you spot deadly cancer up to a year earlier
Googling symptoms might be doing noting but sending patients down a spiraling void of anxiety or making them dismiss something that should be seen to by a professional
Importantly, they found that doing so doesn't make you more anxious, despite what many doctors believe.
One of the researchers at the time even said: 'Our work suggests it is likely OK to tell our patients to "Google it". This starts to form the evidence base that there's not a lot of harm in that, and, in fact, there may be some good.'
Yet the reality is not as clear-cut as that and online searches should never become a 'substitute' for a real doctor, experts say.
Regardless of what studies may show, they argue that Googling symptoms may send patients into a spiraling void of anxiety, or make them dismiss something that should be seen to by a professional.
For instance, one innocent Google search to find the cause of your headache could cause you to unnecessarily worry you have cancer.
Testing that cyberchondria theory, MailOnline entered the term 'toe pain cancer' into Google. Dozens of results linked the everyday pain to serious illness
Testing that cyberchondria theory, MailOnline entered the term 'toe pain cancer' into Google.
Dozens of results linked the everyday pain to serious illness.
The vast majority of the results appeared to be rare cases of cancer in another part of the body having spread to the bones, typically the toes.
While toe pain can, in theory, be a sign of cancer, the NHS says such pain is likely to be caused by exercising too much or tight-fitting shoes.
Other far likelier causes of toe pain, say doctors, include ingrown toenails, bunions, chilblains as well a broken toe or gout.
On the other hand, online search results for 'unintentional weight loss' – considered a classic potential cancer symptom – scarcely made any mention of the disease.
Online search results for 'unintentional weight loss' – considered a classic potential cancer symptom – scarcely made any mention of the disease. Instead, MailOnline found Google's algorithm directed people to several resources about seeking support for eating disorders
Instead, MailOnline found Google's algorithm directed people to several resources about seeking support for eating disorders.
Unintentional weight loss was only directly mentioned as a potential symptom after almost a dozen results.
The NHS warns unintentional weight loss, the shedding of pounds without a reason like stress or exercise, is a potential sign of cancer.
It advises people to speak to their GP to help them determine the cause if they have noticed they've lost weight unexpectedly over the last few months.
Cancer is just one of the potential medical causes of unintentional weight loss.
Others include digestive issues like coeliac disease or irritable bowel syndrome, as well as other serious health problems like an overactive thyroid, type 2 diabetes or heart failure. All are health issues a patient can could need help and treatment for.
Similarly, some symptom checkers have been found to only be right in just a third of cases.
That's according to researchers at Edith Cowan University in Australia, who studied 36 online tools.
Online checkers gave the correct diagnosis as the first result just 36 per cent of the time.
Although many websites, including the NHS, provide accurate information, there are many people should be cautious of. As such, experts insist Dr Google should not be treated as gospel.
Thorrun Govind, former chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in England, told MailOnline: 'I recognise, because there is time required to access healthcare professionals, people may prefer to go online and try Dr Google.
'I think the problem is what they put into that search engine to find out what they're looking for.
'It also depends on what they get out of that search engine. Sometimes they may find something quite distressing, which they may need explaining to them.'
'Dr Google is not a substitute for a healthcare professional who can consider the individual in front of them and consider who they are, their risks and benefits of treatment and provide much more detailed advice.
'Advice that people find online is probably going to be more generic if they use Dr Google.'
Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies, said: 'While there are benefits in checking symptoms on verified and trusted websites such as the NHS website, unfortunately there are many unverified websites providing information on the internet and so people will need to be very cautious.'
She has come across cases where patients have trusted information online to self-diagnose and self-treat, but this had 'serious consequences'.
'Our advice is to always check with a healthcare professional if you have symptoms,' she said.
Pharmacies can also provide information and advice on medicines, minor conditions and treatments. They can also signpost to a relevant healthcare provider where needed.