Introduction
The internet has a wealth of information on cancer. Unfortunately, either intentionally due to commercial bias or unintentionally due to outdated information, these resources can sometimes be misleading. Following are some links that could be helpful. Nevertheless, you should always scrutinize all the information found in the internet. If you have any cancer questions, talk with a qualified physician. Before donating money to a cancer charity, consider checking its rating. For example, Charity Navigator is one of various non-profit organizations that help charitable givers make intelligent giving decisions. If you have any suggestions to improve this page e-mail our webmaster.
Treatment Options
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has excellent information for both patients and health professionals on most cancer types. For a list of most adult cancer types and treatment information click here. For a list of most childhood cancer types and treatment information click here. Following are the NCI treatment patient information links on some of the most common adult cancer types:
If you have a medical background, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology might give you a more focused overview of your treatment options.
Free Online Radiotherapy Booklets and Pamphlets
- Radiation Therapy and You (free NCI booklet)
- Click here for various radiotherapy related pamphlets from the American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (available as a printable pdf files)
Videos and Books
The following books and videos received positive reviews by customers of Amazon.com. The books Tear Soup and The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: 20th Aniversary Edition were notable because they had a large number of favorable reviews.
for children who have cancer
Why Charlie Brown Why (1990, VHS). A new girl comes to the neighbourhood school and Linus is smitten with her. Unfortunately, she develops the symptoms of leukemia and must go to the hospital for cancer treatment. Linus and Charlie Brown help her through the traumas of chemotherapy as best they can while Snoopy plays at being the world's greatest doctor.
Why, Charlie Brown, Why?: A Story About What Happens When a Friend Is Very Ill (Hardcover) by Charles M. Schultz. Publisher: Ballantine Books
The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: 20th Aniversary Edition (Hardcover) by Leo Buscaglia. Publisher: Slack.
What Is Cancer Anyway?: Explaining Cancer to Children of All Ages (Paperback) by Karen L. Carney. Reading level: Ages 4-8.
Henry and the White Wolf (Hardcover) by Tim Karu, Tyler Karu (Illustrator). Reading level: Ages 4-8. Publisher: Workman Publishing Company. Henry, a very sick little hedgehog, receives treatment from the White Wolf that makes him feel even worse but eventually cures him, and through the ordeal he holds a stone to help him stay strong and brave.
Kathy's Hats: A Story of Hope (Hardcover) by Trudy Krishner, Nadine Bernard Westcott (Illustrator). Reading level: Ages 4-8. Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company. Kathy's love of hats comes in handy when the chemotherapy treatments she receives for her cancer make her hair fall out.
Gentle Willow: A Story for Children About Dying (Paperback) by Joyce C. Mills, Cary Pillo (Illustrator). Reading level: Ages 4-8. Publisher: Magination Press.
H is for Hair Fairy: An Alphabet of Encouragement and Insight for Kids (and Kids at Heart!) with Cancer (Paperback) by Kim Martin, Wend Boomhower (Illustrator). Reading level: Ages 9-12. Publisher: Trafford Publishing.
Chemo Girl: Saving the World One Treatment at a Time (Paperback) by Christina Richmond. Reading level: Ages 9-12. Publisher: Jones & Bartlett Publishers
for childhood cancer survivors
Childhood Cancer Survivors: A Practical Guide to Your Future (Childhood Cancer Guides) (Paperback) by Nancy Keene, Wendy Hobbie, Kathy Ruccione. Publisher: O'Reilly Media.
for children whose parents have cancer
Sammy's Mommy Has Cancer (Paperback) by Sherry Kohlenberg, Lauri Crow (Illustrator). Reading level: Baby-Preschool. Publisher: Magination Press. Sammy's mommy receives treatment for cancer, goes into the hospital for surgery, recovers at home, and shares her continuing love for him.
Paper Chain (Paperback) by Claire Blake, Eliza Blanchard, Kathy Parkinson. Reading level: Ages 4-8. Publisher: Health Press (NM).
Tickles Tabitha's Cancer-tankerous Mommy (Paperback) by Amelia Frahm, Elizabeth Schultz (Illustrator). Reading level: Ages 4-8. Publisher: Nutcracker Publishing.
Michael's Mommy Has Breast Cancer (Paperback) by Lisa Torrey, Barbara W. Walter. Reading level: Ages 4-8. Publisher: Hibiscus Press.
Our Mom Has Cancer (HC) (Hardcover) by Adrienne Ackermann, Abigail Ackermann. Reading level: Ages 4-8. Publisher: American Cancer Society. Two sisters, ages eleven and thirteen, describe what it was like for them when their mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery and chemotherapy.
The Year My Mother Was Bald (Paperback) by Ann Speltz, Kate Sternberg (Illustrator). Reading level: Ages 9-12. Publisher: Magination Press. Clare keeps a journal that describes the medical treatments her mother undergoes for breast cancer, her family's experiences, and her own feelings and concerns.
for children who have suffered a loss
Tear Soup (Hardcover) by Pat Schweibert, Chuck DeKlyen, Taylor Bills (Illustrator). Reading level: Ages 4-8. Publisher: Grief Watch.
Help Me Say Goodbye: Activities for Helping Kids Cope When a Special Person Dies (Paperback) by Janis Silverman. Reading level: Ages 4-8. Publisher: Fairview Press.
Sad Isn't Bad: A Good-Grief Guidebook for Kids Dealing With Loss (Elf-Help Books for Kids) (Paperback) by Michaelene Mundy, R. W. Alley (Illustrator). Reading level: Ages 9-12. Publisher: Abbey Press.
for parents who have a child with cancer
Childhood Cancer: A Parent's Guide to Solid Tumor Cancers, 2nd Edition (Paperback) by Honna Janes-Hodder, Nancy Keene. Publisher: Patient Center Guides.
Angels & Monsters (Hardcover) by Lisa Murray, Billy Howard. Publisher: American Cancer Society.
for parents with cancer
When a Parent Has Cancer: A Guide to Caring for Your Children (Paperback) by Wendy S. Harpham. Publisher: Harper Paperbacks.
Useful Links to Cancer Organizations
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the ACS has state divisions and more than 3,400 local offices.
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is a non-profit organization, founded in 1964, with overarching goals of improving cancer care and prevention and ensuring that all patients with cancer receive care of the highest quality.
The American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology's mission is to advance the practice of radiation oncology by promoting excellence in patient care, providing opportunities for educational and professional development, promoting research and disseminating research results, ...
Lance Armstrong Foundation
Children
CureSearch unites the Children's Oncology Group (COG) and the National Childhood Cancer Foundation (NCCF) through a shared mission to cure and prevent childhood and adolescent cancer through scientific discovery and compassionate care.
Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation
Lung
American Lung Association
Brain
Brain Tumor Society
Brain Tumor Foundation
Leukemia and lymphoma
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Lymphoma Research Foundation
Head and neck
Oral Cancer Foundation
Breast
Breast Cancer Resource Directory of North Carolina is the first comprehensive directory of resources for women with breast cancer in North Carolina. The directory includes over 300 pages of text and resources that are meant to help someone who has breast cancer find information and resources about the disease, treatment, side effects, support and many related issues. On our experience, patients have found this directory a great resource.
Y-ME
Prostate
The Prostate Cancer Coalition of North Carolina is a community of people dedicated to the defeat of prostate cancer. The website has useful resources for prostate cancer patients in general, as well as information useful for patients living in North Carolina.
Us TOO
Infertility
fertile HOPE
Finding Medical Articles
PubMed is a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine that includes millions of biomedical articles.
