Patient Resources
ASCO Launches a New Patient Web Site
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has officially launched Cancer.Net, the patient information website. Visitors to Cancer.Net, formerly known as People Living With Cancer (PLWC), will have quick access to the same high quality, oncologist-approved cancer information previously available on PLWC, as well as the ASCO.org website and The ASCO Cancer Foundation website through direct links.
As part of the launch three new content areas have been created on Cancer.Net:
- Newly Diagnosed: First Steps to Take
- Survivorship: Next Steps to Take
- Advocacy in Action: Patient Advocacy and Public Policy
Cancer.Net is located at http://www.cancer.net/portal/site/patient
Patient Advocate Foundation
The Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF), a nonprofit organization that provides financial and informational assistance to cancer patients is available at http://www.patientadvocate.org/ PAF also sponsors a website for patients with CRC called The Colorectal CareLine. The website provides
- General CRC information
- Case management and financial assistance services through PAF
- Information on various pharmaceutical assistance programs
- Links to other reliable cancer sites for more information
The Colorectal CareLine site is located at http://www.colorectalcareline.org/
Chemo Brain – It Isn't All In Your Head
Long-term cancer survivors have complained about lack of concentration and inability to focus after receiving chemotherapy. This condition, referred to as “chemo brain,” is often considered controversial and lacking in evidence. However, new research now suggests a physiologic link to chemo brain. Daniel Silverman, MD, and colleagues from the University of California at Los Angeles reported for the first time that patients suffering from these cognitive symptoms have specific alterations in brain metabolism.
Dr. Silverman discussed his findings on a teleconference sponsored by HealthTalk, a resource for patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, on December 19, 2006. Click here for the transcript.
If you are a patient, there are many resources available to assist you or family members or friends through the journey of learning about CRC.
- Colon Cancer Fact Sheet (PDF)
- National Cancer Institute's colon cancer page for patients: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/colon/patient
- Stop Colon Cancer has some really great education materials for patients and family: http://www.coloncancerprevention.org/main.htm
- CDC's website that discusses prevention and treatment and basic colon cancer information http://www.cdc.gov/colorectalcancer/
- Drug specific searchable information in English and Spanish can be found at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html
American College of Surgeon's Oncology Group (ACOSOG), a national clinical cooperative group whose focus is surgically-based trials and information for patients. Visit our patient information page here, and for important information and clinical trials offered through ACOSOG. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact the ACOSOG office at 919-668-8400.
The American Society of Clinical Oncology, the world's leading professional organization representing physicians of all oncology subspecialties, has a Web site called People Living With Cancer. This site offers, to patients and family members, oncologist-approved cancer information on the following:
- Types of cancer
- Diagnosis and treatment
- Coping
- Survivor issues
- Finding an oncologist
- Clinical trials
This site can be accessed at http://www.plwc.org. A Spanish version of selected information is available here
The Oncology Nursing Society sponsors a Web site dedicated to symptom management. This site—which has received numerous awards for overall quality, content, creativity, site design, navigation, accuracy, and success in reaching its targeted audience-covers such information as
- Management of common cancer treatments symptoms, updated regularly
- Glossary of terminology
- "Ask an oncology nurse"
This site can be accessed at http://www.cancersymptoms.org
"Because Knowing Helps" is the motto for CancerSource, found at http://www.cancersource.com. Sponsored by Multimedia Oncology, this site has been in existence since 1999 and carries the HONcode (Health on the Net) designation, one of the highest stamps of ethical conduct for health care-related Web sites. Content includes the following:
- Diagnosis and treatment
- Coping with cancer
- Cancer basics
- Family supporting loved ones with cancer
- Q & A
- Work and money
- Life after cancer
CancerSource.com describes its patient community as cancer survivors, family members, friends, and those caring for patients valuable and credible online cancer resources available at: http://csweb03.cancersource.com/index.cfm
American Cancer Society (ACS)
Many materials are available from the ACS and can be ordered by calling 1-800-ACS-2345 or on the Web at http://www.cancer.org. Some publications and Web pages are available in Spanish. The patient-targeted materials include the following:
- After Diagnosis—An excellent patient and family book that is useful upon receiving a cancer diagnosis. This book guides the patient and caregiver through some terminology that may be used and helps patients prepare questions to ask the doctor. This material can be ordered by calling 1-800-ACS-2345.
- ACS: All About Colon and Rectum Cancer—This area of the Web site carries easy-to-understand information on colon cancer, divided into subjects that can be accessed as interest allows. It includes an overview, a detailed discussion, information on the colon cancer experience, and a resource area. That link is available here. An abbreviated Spanish version is Cáncer colorrectal (resumen) and may be accessed here
- Talking With Your Doctor—This pamphlet is packed with important information on how to open a dialog between patient and physician and how to "get what you need" from your doctor. It helps establish the patient-physician relationship, offers questions to ask the physician, and discusses how to evaluate changes in the relationship. This too can be accessed via the Web here
- Caring for the Patient With Cancer at Home—This great family resource covers every conceivable issue, from fear and anxiety all the way to approaching death. If family members are having difficulty managing patient care at home between office visits, this book will be of tremendous help. Excerpts may also be accessed via the Web here
- Sexuality for Women and Their Partners—Often, the subject of sexuality is lost in the diagnosis of cancer and discussion of treatment. This book, with its companion publication for men, addresses this frequently overlooked subject in a comprehensive, yet direct, manner. These publications are for patients and families who want to know more about the effects of cancer and its treatment but are "afraid to ask." Access on the Web also here
- Sexuality for Men and Their Partners—Order by phone or online here
- ACS: Cancer Drug Guide—Specific drug information can be accessed from most any Web page on the ACS site by clicking on the shortcut. This allows searching for information on most any cancer chemotherapy agent. Please go here
The ACS Web site also has information on legal, insurance, and financial issues that affect cancer patients. This site discusses
- The Americans with Disabilities Act, so that individuals with cancer understand their rights
- Advance directives (ADs), a subject of increasing importance. Who makes our health care decisions if we are unable to decide for ourselves? How do we activate that process? We should all consider completing ADs, whether we have cancer or not, and this site may help us decide if an AD is right for us.
- The Patient's Bill of Rights—Do you know your rights as a consumer of health care? Check this site to find out!
The Super Colon
In conjunction with March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, The Super Colon, an incredible, inflatable, 20-foot long, 8-foot high replica of a human colon, is teaching people all across America about colorectal cancer. As visitors walk through the Super Colon, they learn about the importance of colorectal cancer prevention, risks, symptoms and treatment options. Visitors get a close up look at healthy tissue, tissue with non-malignant colorectal diseases, as well as tissue with various stages of colorectal cancer. See www.preventcancer.org. Google Super Colon for more information on the travels of The Super Colon.
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