Cancer Links
Overview | Links | Other Centers | Jenifer Altman Memorial Lectures | PDF Downloads
- Mainstream Treatment Resources
- Support Resources
- Talking with other Cancer Patients Online
- Information on Complementary Therapies
- Complementary Treatment Centers Web Sites
- Custom Research
- Residential Support Programs for People with Cancer
Mainstream Treatment Information
Association of Cancer Online Resources
http://www.acor.orgACOR hosts a number of cancer-related resources written by patients or their caregivers. These are informative sites, written by patients about their experiences following cancer diagnoses.
National Cancer Institute
www.cancer.gov
1-800-4-CANCER
http://www.cancer.gov/newsletterThis site should be the first stop for any patient looking for up-to-date information on a cancer diagnosis and mainstream treatment opions. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) coordinates the government's cancer research program. NCI is the largest of the 17 biomedical research institutes and centers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NCI Web site provides easy access to the most current information on cancer. Many of NCI's patient education resources are located on the Web site, including full-text publications and fact sheets for cancer patients and their families. An easy-to-use site map will direct you to the various kinds of information available on this site, including descriptions of standard treatment protocols for both patients and physicians (Physician Data Query, or PDQ), "Cancer Facts" about Types of Cancer, and various publications about coping with treatment. Patients can also find a list of NCI-designated cancer centers and current clinical trials.
OncoLink: The University of Pennsylvania Cancer Resource
http://oncolink.upenn.edu:80/This site is one of the most comprehensive of all sites dedicated to cancer on the Internet. Oncolink provides information from the National Cancer Institute and from other sources as well. This site also has a helpful section on psychosocial support and methods of coping with cancer. It contains information on both conventional and complementary therapies and links to many other useful sites, as well.
American Society of Clinical Oncology
http://www.asco.org/This site is a primary interest to physicians. There are many links, however, to organizations of interest to patients, particularly in the area of social support for cancer. Some patients may find the abstracts for the ASCO publication Journal of Clinical Oncology useful. ASCO OnLine is provided as a service to members of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. The information and opinions of ASCO OnLine do not represent medical advice, and physicians must exercise their own professional judgement in treating patients. In particular, ASCO OnLine may contain information that is inconsisent with the Food and Drug Administration's approved labeling for therapeutic products. Therefore, the approved labeling should always be consulted before of product is used.
Rational Therapeutics
http://www.rational-t.comAs their name suggests, Rational Therapeutics was founded to fulfill a mission to advance the field of cancer treatment by studying the most rational and reliable indicators of positive response to therapy: each patient's own cancer cells. Their objective is to provide information that will enable cancer patients to make the best decisions about their own cancer care. Rational Therapeutics does not provide medical advice, but will provide in-depth analysis and evaluation of your cancer tissues. This will provide additional information to enable you and your doctor to make the best decisions concerning treatment for your particular cancer.
American Cancer Society (ACS)
1599 Clifton Northeast
Atlanta GA 30329-4251
1-800-ACS-2345
http://www.cancer.orgThe ACS Web site provides useful patient information concerning various types of cancer including free ACS written materials on cancer risk, prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment. Some not particularly sympathetic information on complementary therapies is also available, as well as information on support and coping with cancer. The site is searchable, making it easy to locate the information you are looking for. Links are also provided to many other on-line resources.
Support Resources
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship 1010 Wayne Avenue
Fifth Floor
Silver Spring MD 20910
301-650-8868
http://www.canceradvocacy.orgThe National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) provides support for people wishing to locate or form self-help groups, assists survivors with insurance and employment problems, provides speakers on a wide range of topics, promotes the interests of survivors through the media, testifies in state and federal hearings, and provides a variety of publications of interest to survivors, including The National Networking Directory of Cancer Support Services. The NCCS also publishes the Networker, a quarterly newsletter that discusses issues affecting survivors.
Cancer Care, Inc.
1180 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036
(212)-302-2400
1-800-813-HOPE
http://www.cancercare.org/Cancercare is a nonprofit organization that provides a wealth of on-line, telephone and referral services including medical referrals, second opinions, counseling, financial assistance information for non-medical expenses, and local support referrals, such as housekeeping and health aids. A free hotline offers immediate assistance with medical information, one-to-one counseling over the phone, referrals to services in your local area, and free educational materials. Services also include telephone access to educational programs and on-line support groups.
CancerWeb
http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/cancerweb.htmlThis is a British site that offers a wide range of information on cancer, cancer diagnosis and treatment, and links to other organizations (including many in the United States), including support organizations for specific cancers. It also provides links to resources that provide emotional support, and links to cancer survivor stories and experiences.
Look Good...Feel Better: Some Beauty Tips
800-395-LOOK
http://www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org/Look Good...Feel Better (LGFB) is a free, non-medical public service program that helps women cope with the side effects of chemotherapy & radiation. Look Good Feel Better offers free workshops, literature & information on skin care, make up, hair loss & nail care. This public service program is an initiative of the member companies of the Canadian Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association.
The Web site gives a few beauty tips, but you can call the toll-free number to learn where to find a LGFB chapter in your local area (in Canada) that teaches women ways to cope with the side effects of treatment.
Cancer Free Connections
http://www.cancer-free.com/A site with the stories of many well-known and not-so-well-known cancer survivors, their strategies and other resources available to people in the fight for life.
The Cornell Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors in New York State (BCERF)
http://www.cfe.cornell.edu/bcerf/The BCERF web site is a comprehensive source of impartial, science-based information on the relationships between breast cancer and environmental risk factors. The newly enhanced site addresses the roles that pesticides, diet, lifestyle and genetics may play in breast cancer risk, and offers strategies on what women can do to reduce their risk of breast cancer.
Talking with Other Cancer Patients On-Line
OncoChat
http://www.oncochat.org/OncoChat is an online peer-support group for people coping with cancer and their loved ones. The home page contians links to help for new chat members You will need to download an Internet Relay Chat (IRC) application to use the service, but once you do this, you'll be all set to chat with other people who share similar experiences and emotions.
Listservs
A listserv is a discussion of a particular topic, which may have a mediator. Listservs are conducted entirely through email, although they may be archived in other parts of the Internet. These listservs have a high volume of interaction, which will fill up your email-box. You may want to try them one at a time. Also, when you subscribe you will receive a message that confirms your subscription; it also contains the information that will tell you how to unsubscribe.
CANCER-L Listserv
This listserv can be used for general cancer information. To subscribe send an email message to LISTSERV@WVNVM.WVNET.EDU Leave the subject line blank, and in the body of the message type: subscribe cancer [your first and last names]PAIN - L Mailing List
A listserv for people coping with chronic pain. To subscribe send an email message to LISTSERV@WVNVM.WVNET.EDU Leave the subject line blank, and in the body of the message type: subscribe pain-l [your first and last names].OncoPain Mailing List
Another listserv for people coping with cancer pain. To subscribe send an email message to LISTSERVE@MED.UCALGARY.CA Leave the subject line blank, and in the body of the message type: subscribe oncopain [your first and last names]Information on Complementary Therapies
National Center for Alternative and Complementary Medicine
(NCCAM, formerly Office of Alternative Medicine)
http://nccam.nih.govThis National Institute of Health web dscribes the mission of the NCCAM, its Program Areas (including cancer research at the University of Texas affiliated center described below), News & Events (including the current and back issues of the Center's newsletter, Information Resources and a new search engine providing access to more than 90,000 bibliographic citations from1966 to 1997 obtained from the National Library of Medicine's Medline database.
University of Texas Center for Alternative Medicine Research
PO Box 20186; #434 Houston, Texas 77225
http://www.mdanderson.org/cimerThe University of Texas is one of eleven Specialty Research Centers funded by the NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), formerly the Office of Alternative Medicine. Here you'll find analyses of the research on many therapeutic agents and regimens in complementary cancer therapy today. This outstanding web site provides the highest quality information about alternative and complementary therapies for cancer.
The Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine Research in Women's Health
For information by phone contact Christine Wade: 212-543-9536
http://www.rosenthal.hs.columbia.edu/Women.htmlThe Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine Research in Women's Health is a project of the The Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine at Columbia University. This Center (along with one at the University of Texas) is one of the Specialty Research Centers funded by the NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), formerly the Office of Alternative Medicine.
Besides their mission to facilitate research on womens's health issues, the Center is developing an information resource on alternative medicine for women's health, including cancer.
People Against Cancer
604 East Street, PO Box 10, Otho, IA 50569
515-972-4444
Fax: 515-972-4415
http://www.peopleagainstcancer.comPeople Against Cancer is an information resource for members in the area of "non-toxic innovative methods of cancer therapy." For Sustaining Members, People Against Cancer offers direct consultations with physicians and researchers throughout the world and counseling for those seeking guidance regarding treatment options.
The organization also publishes the newsletter "Options" and makes available a wide variety of educational materials, including books, articles, audio and videotapes. Members and their companions may receive substantial discounts on medical travel costs.
CancerGuide: Alternative Therapies
http://cancerguide.org/alternative.htmlThis site written by cancer survivor Steve Dunn conatins short evaluations of some of the better-known alternative cancer therapies that are available today and links to many complementary cancer centers. Dunn also provides information on how to seach the medical literature, how the evaluate research and how to decide if a clinical trial is right for you.
Ask Dr. Weil
http://www.drweilselfhealing.com/Dr. Andrew Weil, proponent of "integrative medicine" and Director of the Integrative Medicine Program at the University of Arizona gives well-balanced responses to questions from readers daily on his web site. Simply use the site search engine to find Dr. Weil's answers to questions about specific cancer issues.
Alternative Treatment Centers' Web Sites
Burzynski Research Institute
12000 Richmond Ave. Houston TX 77082
281-597-0111
281-597-1166 (fax)
http://www.cancermed.com/Stanislaw Burzynski is a controversial physician based in Houston, Texas, who treats advanced cancer patients with peptides and amino acids called antineoplastons, which he considers to be part of a biochemical defense system that parallels the immune system. On this Web site, you'll find information about clinical trials of antineplastons, a report on antineoplastons from the National Cancer Institute, and other information about Burzynski's therapy.
Cancer Hyperthermia Holistic Center
Valley Cancer Institute
12099 W. Washington Blvd., #304
Los Angeles, CA 90066
310-398-0013
310-398-4470 (fax)
http://www.vci.org/Hyperthermia is the use of therapeutic heat to treat cancer. The Valley Cancer Institute offers hyperthermic treatment in addition to conventional radiation and oncological therapy.
Kushi Institute: Cancer and Diet Information
PO Box 7 Becket, MA 01223
1-800-975-8744
http://www.kushiinstitute.orgThe Kushi Institute promotes the macrobiotic diet. Through eating a balanced diet centered around whole grains and predominantly vegetable foods, as well as living a lifestyle in harmony with nature, practitioners of macrobiotics believe that cancer can be prevented and sometimes relieved. They also have a week-long "Way to Health" program for cancer patients in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts.
Somatidian Orthobiology
PO Box 6231
Rock Forest
Quebec, Canada J1N 3C8
819-564-0492
http://www.cerbe.com/Gaston Naessens is a Canadian physician who has developed a new biological theory, based on the presence of "somatids" in the blood. Naessens detected these with a new type of microscope of his own invention. You can send away for books and videotapes about Somatidian theory, or for Naessens' product, 714X, which is a nitrogenated camphor-derivative mixed with mineral salts. The goal of 714X treatment is to direct nitrogen to cancerous cells in order to stop their toxic secretions, which are said to block the body's defense system.
Custom Research
The Health Resource, Inc.
564 Locust Street
Conway, AR 72032
(800) 949-0090 or (501) 329-5272
Fax (501) 329-9489
http://www.thehealthresource.com/The Health Resource, Inc., is a medical information service that will provide you with an individualized research report on your specific type of cancer. These reports "survey both mainstream and alternative treatments for your type of cancer and examine profiles of patients with the same type of cancer who either recovered or well-outlived their life expectancy." The reports also include information on experimental treatment and clinical trials and "the top conventional cancer specialists who have had success in treating your type of cancer." The Health Resources will "identify alternative cancer clinics whom we consider to be reputable and who have had success in treating your type of cancer." The Health Resource, Inc., also provides a newsletter and an up-date service. Reports on cancer topics are $375 (plus shipping) and are shipped in 4 to 5 working days. Reports also come with a money-back guarantee.
The Moss Reports
144 St. John's Place, Brooklyn, NY 11217
718-636-0186
http://www.ralphmoss.com/Ralph Moss, Ph.D., is science writer and vocal advocate of alternative approaches to cancer. His "Moss Reports" are custom reports costing $275.00, including 2-Day Priority shipping inside the continental U.S. Each report is between 40 and 60 pages and is personally researched, written and updated by Dr. Moss. Reports are available for a wide range of cancer diagnoses. In the report you will learn Dr. Moss's views on such things as: the most promising alternative treatments for your type of cancer, such as nutritional, immunological, herbal and biological approaches; an overview of your conventional treatment options, an assessment of your chances for success with those treatments, information on which supplements you should avoid, and more. Resources are given, including the names, addresses and phone numbers of practitioners who may be able to help. There is also a section on diet, less-toxic drugs, food supplements, and herbs.
CANHELP
http://www.canhelp.comThrough his service for people people with cancer, Patrick McGrady assists patients to make informed decisions regarding cancer treatments. McGrady has assembled a network of practitioners in the area of complementray treatment for cancer to provide you and/or your physicians with up-to-date data and an understanding of the range of treatment options that lie outside the mainstream. For a fee, patients can receive a CANHELP packet that contains a computer printout of relevant research and treatment information from medical databases, a personal interpretation of these data for you and your physician and a synopsis of conversations on your behalf with CANHELP's network of medical advisors.
Residential Support Programs for People with Cancer
The following list identifies other Residential Healing Programs serving people whose lives have been touched by cancer. They are not-for-profit organizations that have been inspired by Commonweal's work and have developed quality programs of their own. Commonweal has offered varying degrees of consultation and training to these organizations. Even though we support their work, thoughtful inquiry should be used to insure that a particular program meets your needs. The Smith Farm Center for the Healing Arts has the most direct connection to Commonweal. Michael Lerner, president of Commonweal, is co-founder and president of Smith Farm. The administration office for Smith Farm is in Washington, DC and their retreat site is in Maryland, making participation more convenient for east coast residents. The wait time for programs tends to be shorter at Smith Farm and the other residential programs.
Smith Farm Center for the Healing Arts
Smith Farm Cancer Help Program
1632 U Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20009
202-483-8600
Contact: Shanti Norris
http://www.smithfarm.comHarmony Hill Cancer Retreats
E. 7362 Hwy 106
Union, WA 98592
360- 898-2363
http://www.harmonyhill.orgCallanish Healing Retreats
#314 - 2902 West Broadway
Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6K 2G8
604-732-0633
fax: 604-732-0689
email: info@callanish.org
http://www.callanish.orgTapestry Retreat
Dept. of Psychosocial Resources
Tom Baker Cancer Centre
1331 29th St. NW
Calgary, AB T2N 4N2
(403)-670-1767
helenmac@cancerboard.ab.ca
http://www.cancerboard.ab.ca/tapestryThe Light Center
1542 Woodson Road
Baldwin, KS 66066
785-255-4583
ltcenter@grapevine.netSunstone Cancer Support Foundation
2545 North Woodland Drive
Tucson, AZ 85749
(520) 749-1928
Contact: Lora Matz
lmatz@sunstonehealing.net
http://www.sunstonehealing.net