Cancer Resources on the Internet

Cancer Resources on the Internet shows cancer patients, their families, and oncology health care professionals how the Internet can be used to locate information about the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of different forms of cancer; to locate specialized treatment centers around the world; to facilitate support groups; and to provide a mechanism for individuals to share experiences and stories. This book includes a discussion of the quality of information on the Net (and how to assess it); evaluations of Web sites in terms of content, clarity, and user-friendliness; and advice on how to conduct a focused, subject-specific search. Arranged in an order that gives a general starting point and then leads to more specific needs, Cancer Resources on the Internet helps you by:

providing an overview of cancer resources available on the WWW--how to overcome the sheer quantity of information and find the most relevant sites
discussing the National Cancer Institute's CancerNet, including ways to access the network and links to other resources
detailing OncoLink, the first multimedia cancer information resource on the Internet offering state- of-the-art, quality information
reviewing NCI's comprehensive cancer center's 26 web sites--from patients'and referring physicians'viewpoints
showing how to find information on breast cancer on the Internet--Web-based resources on risk factors, early detection, treatment, psychological aspects, and breast cancer in men
discussing different types of Internet resources (mailing lists, newsgroups, and real-time communication) and using cancer information to show how health care information can be transferred from physician to patient and back again
illustrating a practical use of Internet Relay Chat (IRC)--how it offers accessibility to shut-in and convalescing patients and instant, real-time support
guiding you through the process a newly diagnosed Hodgkin's Disease patient might use to find information and support on the Internet
reviewing resources found on the Web about alternative and complementary therapies for cancerInformation resources on the Internet about cancer, from Web sites to listservs and chat groups, are plentiful. In fact, cancer patients and oncology health care professionals were some of the earliest users of the Internet as a health information resource. Using cancer as the focus of this book provides a helpful overview of the various health care uses of the Net.