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Useful Links
The amount of information available on the Internet is vast, perhaps even endless. It is difficult to narrow a search for reliable information. Knowing how to interpret that information to your condition or situation is even more difficult. I find that these resources contain useful information which has aided me in learning about cancer treatment options and strategies for reducing my risk of recurrence. It is not an exhaustive list. I will continue to add other resources and additional links to helpful information as I find them.

 

INDEX

 

Professional Organizations

Cancer Site Information
Survivor Resources
Medical Journals
Clinical Trial information
Complementary and/or Alternative Therapies
Nutrition Resources
Medical Decision Making
Miscellaneous

Medical Decision Making:

Cancer Facts A site that permits you to produce a free Cancer Profile™, an interactive decision support tool to help people with cancer make informed treatment decisions for an optimal outcome.
Cancer Survival Toolbox a series of programs and materials available to listen to on the Internet that will help you navigate the cancer survivor experience, including finding information and decision-making skills regarding treatment options. Developed by the National Coalition of Cancer Survivorship (NCCS).
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine questions to ask when considering using a complementary or alternative therapy for cancer treatment.
No Stone Unturned: Seeking Optimal Cancer Care practical information and strategies for achieving the best possible, most comprehensive cancer care. A lecture presented at Commonweal by Mark Renneker, MD., Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, November 23, 1999.

Professional Organizations:

The American Cancer Society a new feature of this website is the Community Resources Database (CRD) which contains more than 51 thousand entries, ranging from the availability of local transporation, exercise and nutritional resources to counseling options and available survivor networks. Click on your state.
American Dietetic Association
American Institute of Cancer Research

National Cancer Institute1-800-4-CANCER.  A very good place to start for up to date information about cancer and treatments available, including  clinical trials, for your particular type of cancer.  You can have much information sent to you for free. 
NIH - National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
University of Michigan  Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Cancer Site Information:

Bladder Cancer
 
  • Bladder Cancer Web Cafe a very thorough site dedicated to Bladder Cancer written by a breast cancer survivor whose helped her sister research options for bladder cancer
Bone Marrow Transplants
 
  • Bone Marrow Transplant Info/Net an on-line resource for anyone facing a bone marrow, stem cell, or cord cell transplant who needs quality information or emotional support.
  • BMTResources.org – a patient-developed site with helpful information starting from the decision to have this procedure through recovery

Brain Tumors
 

Breast Cancer
 
  • BreastCancer.net the BEST site for daily links to information about breast cancer and cancer in general. 
  • BreastCancer.org - founded by Marisa Weiss, MD, radiation oncologist, breast cancer survivor, and author of Living Beyond Breast Cancer. This beautiful and hopeful web site's mission is to help women make sense of the complex medical and personal information about breast cancer, guiding them and their loved ones to the best decisions for their lives.
  • The Breast Cancer Site a click on this site gives underpriviledged women access to free mammograms - please bookmark this site and visit it daily!

  • Living Beyond Breast Cancer™ founded by radiation oncologist, Marisa C. Weiss, MD. LBBC's programs include: large-scale educational conferences and teleconferences; a quarterly educational newsletter; a toll-free, 24-hour, peer support Survivors' Helpline; and a Young Survivors Network. LBBC publications include "Getting Connected": African-Americans Living Beyond Breast Cancer," and "Living Beyond Breast Cancer: A Survivor's Guide."

  • Pregnant With Cancer

  • The Sister Study new large study that will focus on determining risk factors (including the role that both heredity and environmental factors may play) in the cause of breast cancer.
    You are eligible to be in the study IF:

    • You are a woman who has never had breast cancer, and

    • You are currently between the ages of 35 and 74, and

    • Your sister was diagnosed with breast cancer.

    The Sister Study will begin enrolling participants in mid-2002. Call toll free 1-877- 4SISTER for further information.

Carcinoid Cancer
 
  • Carcinoid Cancer Foundation a nonprofit organization encouraging and supporting research and education on carcinoid tumors and related neuro-endocrine neoplasms. This website has extensive information about the special nutritional needs of people with carcinoid tumors written by a Registered Dietitian with over 20 years experience working with people with this diagnosis.
  • National Cancer Institute a good overview of Carcinoid tumors

Cervical Cancer
 
Childhood Cancers
 
  • Beyond the Cure This web site is dedicated to providing information pertaining to all areas of life for survivors of childhood cancers.
  • Children's Oncology Group offers evidence-based recommendations for the screening and management of the late effects that may arise due to the therapies used during the treatments of childhood and adolescent cancers.
  • CureSearch represents the combined efforts of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) and the National Childhood Cancer Foundation (NCCF), two organizations united by a common goal: finding a cure for childhood cancer. This website is designed to provide the most reliable and up-to-date information on childhood cancer for patients, their families, physicians and healthcare advisors. It will help you find experts in diagnosis and treatment at the Childhood Cancer Center nearest you. CureSearch is working to become the influential leader in childhood cancer advocacy and policy. Their goal is to raise awareness in order to secure additional federal funding for childhood cancer research and elevate childhood cancer to a national public policy priority.
  • Integrative Therapies Program (Columbia University Pediatric Oncology)
  • Living Beyond Cancer: Survivorship Issues and Challenges Among Pediatric Cancer Survivors President's Cancer Panel minutes from a town meeting held by NCI in Denver Colorado, September 2003, emphasizing the need for "late effect" clinics for long-term follow-up for pediatric and young adult cancer patients who are cured from their cancer but have significant potential for additional medical and pyscho-social concerns related to the diagnosis and treatments.
  • National Childhood Cancer Society The mission of The National Children's Cancer Society is to improve the quality of life for children with cancer by promoting children's health through financial and in-kind assistance, advocacy, support services, and education.
  • Neuroblastoma Memorial Sloan Kettering's Latest News in
    Neuroblastoma Treatment

Colon Cancer
 
  • Colon Cancer Alliance brings the voice of survivors to battle colorectal cancer through patients support, education, research and advocacy.
Head and Neck Cancers
 
Kidney Cancer
 
  • Kidney Cancer Association the organization of patients, families, doctors, and other health care professionals involved in kidney cance

Lung Cancer
 
  • Lung Cancer Online  A very thorough web site of information for those people with a lung cancer diagnosis. Maintained by a lung cancer survivor with helpful information all in one place, instead of buried in other larger sites
Lymphoma
 
  • Lymphoma Research Foundation a comprehensive site for information on the many types of lymphoma - a well-organized and extensive list of resources and links.
Male Cancers
 
  • MaleCare has in-depth information about all male cancers, including male breast cancer, ( including dozen's of pages in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Hebrew)

Melanoma

 
Multiple Myeloma
 
  • McCarty Cancer Foundation funds research and support groups for multiple myeloma. For further information, visit the website or call 800-746-0355.

Ovarian Cancer
 
  • "Conversations" an on-line supportive and informative newsletter for those with ovarian cancer. Great page of additional helpful organizations.
Pancreatic Cancer
 
Pediatric Cancer
 
Prostate Cancer
 
  • OncoLink good starting place for information about diagnosis, staging, treatment options.
  • Information on the SELECT Trial this NCI-sponsored research study is recruiting healthy men throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada for a prostate cancer prevention clinical trial, to determine if Vitamin E and Selenium can help prevent prostate cancer.
  • US TOO International the world's largest, independent, charitable network of support groups for men with prostate cancer and their families.
  • CaP Cure the world's largest private source of prostate cancer research funding.
Testicular Cancer
 

Thyroid Cancer
 
  • Thyroid Cancer Survivors Website a very thorough site designed by thyroid cancer survivors that can provide a wide spectrum of information for someone diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

Survivor Resources:

AmericanCancer Society - 2003 edition of "Nutrition and Physical Activity During and After Cancer Treatment: An American Cancer Society Guide for Informed Choices" - available to read and download for free.
The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) has recently launched a new section on their web site with helpful cancer survivor information related to nutrition and exercise.
Association of Cancer On-line Resources (ACOR)- a comprehensive web site with information about most types of cancer along with an extensive number of very helpful on-line discussion groups.
Cancer Care, Inc. this organization gives cancer survivors access to updated information along with the opportunity to participate without charge in teleconferences with medial experts about their own type of cancer.  The entire teleconference is also available to be listened to later on their Web site.
Cancer Guide an excellent site, maintained by cancer survivor Steve Dunn, which is dedicated to helping you find answers to your questions about cancer, and especially to help you find the questions you need to ask.
Cancer Survivors Project a new web site devoted to informing people about issues of concern for long-term cancer survivors (both children and adults)
Cancer Hope Network an organization that will find a cancer survivor (whose cancer and treatment matches yours) as a trained support buddy
Cancer Recovery Foundation This non-profit organization offers both knowledge and hope to cancer survivors to augment the benefit of their conventional cancer treatments.  Founded by Greg Anderson, cancer survivor and author of 9 helpful books, including "The Cancer Conqueror" and "50 Essential Things to do When the Doctors Says, 'It's Cancer'".

Cancer Survivor Retreats - a sampling of some of the residential retreats available around the country:
 
  • Commonweal (West Coast) Smith Farm (East Coast)
    Both of these organizations offer a week-long retreat experience dedicated to people seeking physical, emotional, and spiritual healing in the face of cancer.
  • CancerFit
  • Wellness Retreat in Sedona, AZ 
  • Harmony Hill in Union, Washington, the Pacific Northwest’s only wellness and retreat center with a focus on providing assistance to those challenged by life-threatening or chronic disease, including cancer
  • Life Beyond Cancer - sponsored by US Oncology held at Miraval Resort near Tucson, AZ
  • Sunstone Cancer Support Foundation - an organization that offers day classes like yoga, meditation, healing touch, and general supportive care to cancer survivors in Tuscon, AZ. In addition, extended retreats for people diagnosed with cancer who can travel to Tuscon are scheduled several times each year.
Cancer Survivor's Bill of Rights
Cancer Survivors Network (sponsored by The American Cancer Society) call toll-free 877/333-4673 - communicate with others who have your type of cancer. You may also set up your own webpage through this website to communicate with your supporters.
Center for Patient Partnerships at the University of Wisconsin-Madison- An organization that helps patients with cancer and other serious or chronic diseases make informed decisions and get the care they need - acting in real partnership with health care providers. There is no charge for services and phone consultations are possible.
The Group Room® - the only live radio/web talk show specifically for those people diagnosed with cancer. This 2-hour call-in show is broadcast from many cities throughout the country, and is also simulcast over the web each Sunday afternoon. The Vital Options® website has an international list of cancer resources.
Living and Working with Cancer a resource and community for working women with cancer and their employers, co-workers, and caregivers.

Magazines

  • Cancer & You this magazine is this lifestyle publication on cancer and caregiving. It is available at all K-Mart, Rite-Aid & Meijers pharmacy locations nationwide.
  • Coping a consumer magazine for those whose lives are touched by cancer - subscriptions available - also found in oncology waiting rooms
  • CURE (Cancer Updates, Research, and Education) - a new quarterly magazine - Sign up for a free subscription here. Published by physicians with information about new treatments for cancer.
  • HEAL - a new free magazine focusing on the many issues of cancer survivorship. Sign up to receive your copy online or by calling 1-800-210-CURE.
  • MAMM Magazine - a consumer magazine focused on women, cancer and community, available in many large bookstores or call 1-888-901-MAMM or click here to subscribe.
MD Anderson Cancer Center's Medical Clinic for Cancer Survivors focuses on potential health problems that may arise from cancer or its treatments - also a survey to complete to help doctors learn what potential medical problems can arise after cancer.
National Coalition of Cancer Survivorship  the BEST place to start to learn a process for gathering reliable information regarding cancer treatment options from the Internet. Sign up on their web site to be kept informed about legislation and issues affecting cancer survivors.
Nueva Vida – a support network for Latinas with cancer.
Office of Cancer Survivorship (within The National Cancer Institute) The mission of the OCS is to enhance the quality and length of survival of all persons diagnosed with cancer and to minimize or stabilize adverse sequelae of cancer survivorship. 
Patient Advocate Foundation a national non-profit organization that serves as an active liaison between the patient and their insurer, employer, and/or creditors to resolve insurance, job retention and/or debt crisis matters relative to their diagnosis through case managers, doctors and attorneys. Patient Advocate Foundation seeks to safeguard patients through effective mediation assuring access to care, maintenance of employment, and preservation of their financial stability
OncoLink (University of Pennsylvania) one of the premier Internet sites for an extensive archive of reliable information about cancer.  The site is very easy to search.  Typing in "Nutrition and Cancer" brings up 400 pieces of information.

RA Bloch Cancer Foundation Richard A. Bloch (co-founder of H&R Bloch and head of the RA Bloch Cancer Foundation) provides an important message of HOPE for all cancer patients, no matter what your diagnosis, no matter what you have been told regarding your prognosis. The full text of the following three book titles listed below are available online thru the R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation, or you can call them and they will send you the the books FREE of charge (800-433-0464). This organization is truly committed to patient empowerment!

  • Guide for Cancer Supporter
  • Fighting Cancer, A step-by-step guide to helping yourself fight cancer
  • Cancer, There's Hope
Young Adult Cancer Resources
 

General Resources

  • CURE Magazine good article on the young adult cancer experience

Retreats/camps with programs for young adult cancer survivors:

Medical Journals:

Cancer Table of Contents with very brief summaries can be viewed.  Abstracts of articles can then be found by searching MedLine using the lead author's last name.
Journal of the National Cancer Institute You can view some content for free, but full access to the site is for paying subscribers.
Lancet Use search tool on this wesite to find articles relevant to your interests or questions.
Links to 21 Oncology (Cancer Journals) mostly just abstracts available on-line
The Oncologist full text articles and abstracts available on-line.
Medscape Oncology many full text articles on various cancer topics - can also see daily summaries of presentations at The American Society of Clinical Oncologists meetings - can search this site easily
New England Journal of Medicine Online
PubMed This web site is the National Library of Medicine's compilation of over 9 million medical literature citations in Medline. You may easily search for research and medical information on a multitude of topics by typing in key words. An example would be "Breast Cancer and Herbs".

Clinical Trial Information:

FDA's Oncology Tools also includes information and advice about contemplating the use of and access to unapproved drugs
Center Watch: Clinical Trials Listing Service a listing of over 41,000 clinical trials designed to be a resource for both patients and health care professionals.
National Cancer Institute's Clinical Trials information on Clinical Trials and Center News. Information about NCI's clinical trials using complementary and alternative medicine can also be found through this website.

Complementary and/or Alternative Therapies:

Alternative Health News Online daily updates by a journalist
Alternative Medicine an extensive listing of journals available on various aspects of alternative medicine.
Alternative Medicine Sources (University of Pittsburgh)
Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine peer-reviewed journal edited by Larry Dossey, MD, this journal is often available at large book stores.
Ask Dr. Weil
BC Cancer Agency - this web site has extensive scientific reviews of many types of complementary therapy for cancer
CAM on PubMed a new access to a comprehensive database of medical and scientific journal citations directly related to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), is now offered through the
 
  • PubMed When searching from the NCCAM Website, your searches will be automatically limited to CAM-related citations. If you search directly from PubMed, you need to limit the search to the CAM subset. First, click on the "Limit" function. Next, select "Complementary Medicine" on the Subsets pull down menu.
Cancer Decisions by Ralph Moss - sign up for his free email newsletter that includes his assessment of various conventional, complementary, and alternative cancer therapies.
Center for Mind-Body Medicine - sponsors an annual conference open to both the public and health care practitioners that features information about complementary and alternative therapies for cancer.
Choices of Healing by Michael Lerner, PhD; the entire book is on the Internet.  In my opinion, it is the fairest analysis of many alternative strategies for cancer treatment.
Dietary Supplement Information
 
  • ConsumerLab.com this new company's mission is to provide consumers and health care professionals with results of independent tests of dietary supplement products that affect health and well-being. Results of testing dietary supplements, by specific brand name and product, are posted on this website to help you choose a product that provides the full and accurate content of what is listed on the label. However, no claims for safety or efficacy of specific products are made on this website. ConsumerLab.com recently added two new services to its website:
    • search feature
    • section on recalls and warnings
    • Natural Health Encyclopedia - extensive information about herb-drug interactions and other information about dietary supplements.

    Some information on this web site is available free of charge, but viewing full reports requires a reasonable annual fee.
  • The Natural Database this is a very thorough subscriber (ie, pay for view) website that is updated daily with scientific information about dietary supplements.
  • NSF International A non-profit organization, well regarded for its development of standards for certification of many different products, has developed a new standard for dietary supplements. As manufacturers choose to have their dietary supplement products certified for accuracy of their contents by this very rigorous initial and on-going evaluation process, those that pass will be listed by brand name on NSF's website and will also have the NSF seal on their label.
  • SupplementQuality.com the Internet's only website focusing exclusively on information and advocacy regarding the affordability and quality of dietary supplements for consumers.
Herbal Information - These websites give you helpful and reliable information about herbs.
 

 
Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
      (Columbia University)

Nutrition Resources:

ACS information of general interest regarding nutrition for cancer patients, including during treatment
American Dietetic Association has a link where you may find a Registered Dietitian in private practice in your locality
American Institute of Cancer Research the BEST source for up-to-date information about nutrition & cancer
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Arbor Nutrition Guide the most extensive collection of reliable nutrition links on the Internet
Cancer Nutrition Info, LLC - a website that explains the complex nutrition-cancer research in an easy to understand manner with practical tips regarding *what this means for you*. I highly recommend this web site.
Food and Health Communications, Inc. a thorough site with links to food companies that have Web sites.
Joanne Larson's Ask the Dietitian reliable nutrition information on a wide range of topics.  Joanne posts her answers questions readers submit.  The site has won numerous awards.
Journal of Nutrition
Nutrition in Southern Illinois also maintained by a registered dietitian and offers a wealth of reliable nutrition information and links to additional Web sites
Nutritional Analysis of Your Daily Food Intake easy and fun site to use to see how many calories, grams of fat and other nutrients you are consuming
Oncology Nutrition helpful nutrition and cancer information for patients and professionals - includes some member-only information for members of this practice group of the American Dietetic Association.
USDA's Nutrient Database
Vegetarian Resource Group the BEST source for accurate information about all aspects of vegetarian nutrition & cancer
Wellness Web nutrition information maintained by several registered dietitian and offers a wealth of reliable nutrition information and links to additional Web sites


Miscellaneous:

About.com Cancer Home Page - a wealth of cancer information and links to other Internet sites.
Cancer Fatigue - sponsored by Oncology Nursing Society 

Cancer Fit - group and individual exercise programs for cancer survivors in Sedona, AZ and Eugene, OR. You can sign up to receive an Email newsletter to keep you up to date with information about the benefits of exercise for cancer survivors.

Cancer Medications sponsored by the Cleveland Clinic - has good information about nutrition related side effects.
CancerPage.com contains an archive of news releases about cancer.
Cancer Pain
Chemo Count Cards- a series of upbeat greeting cards designed to send support and encouragement to a woman undergoing chemotherapy. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Young Survival Coalition, for young breast cancer survivors. Everyone should have these cards on hand to send a smile to that special friend, relative, or co-worker.

Health Journeys by Belleruth Naparstek; a wonderful E-mail newsletter with information regarding the benefits of creative imagery for many diseases, including cancer.  Includes research updates and many additional resources.

  • The following visual imagery tapes (or CDs) created by Belleruth Naparstek may be obtained free of charge from the respective company's oncology sales reps. Bug your nurse or social worker to obtain a copy for you!
    ** Cancer and Fatigue - GlaxoSmithKline
    ** Chemotherapy - GlaxoSmithKline
    ** Radiation Therapy - Roche
Hunger Site Home Page This is not a cancer site but please bookmark it.  The advertisers on this recently created Web site have pledged to donate money to help with both emergency and chronic hunger around the world.  This is a legitimate Web site that the United Nations World Food Program acknowledges.
Links to:
(a.) Cancer Resources
(b.) Comprehensive Cancer Centers
(c.) Disease-specific Cancer Resources
(d.) Cancer Associations and Societies
Intercultural Cancer Council - a site with a wealth of information about cancer for minorities and special populations.
Taking The Fear Out Of Cancer a very friendly and helpful site with supportive information for cancer patients. Has an exceptionally thorough list of links to websites providing specific cancer site information and support.
 

All links last checked December 2003, updated 4/04, 8/04, 1/06, 1/07

 

Diana provides these links for informational purposes. She reviews the information found in all links, but as the content of websites is constantly changing, she can not guarantee its accuracy. In addition, as Diana is a strong believer in the benefit of second medical opinions, she recommends that you never rely on only one source of information on the Internet for your important decision-making."

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