This article explains how to access internet resources for people dealing with cancer, and provides a list of useful resources.
As mentioned in my previous post – https://drsurajmanjunath.com/guide-to-sourcing-best-cancer-treatment-information/ , a major source of information for cancer patients and their families is the internet. If used well, online resources can be very informative, useful, and up-to-date.
While never a substitute for a discussion with the oncologist/treating doctor, there are many benefits to researching online. One can go through and absorb information at one’s own time and pace. It can be accessed at any place, multiple times, and by multiple people together or separately. Content includes text, diagrams, pictures, voice podcasts, and videos. Spending time assimilating the knowledge can ensure all stakeholders are on board with the diagnosis, treatment options, plan of action, and what to expect during the course of treatment.
However, getting the right information can be challenging and frustrating. There is no restriction to posting on the internet, and separating genuine sources from misleading ones is not easy. A simple search using keywords may not always come up with resources in the patient’s best interest. And wrong information can be dangerous.
In my cancer surgery practice in Bangalore, I encourage patients and their caregivers to access good-quality information online. My own experience has been that patients with the right knowledge deal better with their illness and its treatment.
Personally, I recommend the following resources. The first four deal with all cancers – information about cancer in general, as well as about cancer of particular organs and types. The fifth one is specifically for breast cancer, one of the most common cancers seen in my practice. Each resource is of a high standard and any single one can provide all the information required – it is not necessary to go through all of them. The choice among these should be a personal preference based on individual ease of navigation or language.
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/
https://www.nccn.org/patientresources/patient-resources
https://www.breastcancer.org/ (for breast cancer alone)
I trust the reader finds these resources useful.
Statement of “no conflict of interest”: The author declares that there is no conflict of interest with any of the internet resources mentioned in this article. The author has no financial, commercial, legal, or professional relationship with any of these organizations, or with the people working with them, that can influence this post.