Oncologist-approved cancer information from the American Society of Clinical Oncology

Cancer Basics

Find out about the basics of cancer care, particularly helpful if you or a loved one has been newly diagnosed with cancer.

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January 9, 2012

People with cancer have specific medical needs, especially during active treatment and in the time after treatment. These needs may become serious in the event of a natural or man-made disaster, such as tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, outbreaks of disease (such as the flu or measles), and terrorist attacks. Even if such an event is unlikely where you live, it is important to be prepared. This article will help you and your family plan for emergency situations.

April 7, 2011

Medical news can change often; one week, a new "breakthrough" is discovered, only to be disputed the next week. As a result, it is difficult to know what news to believe and whether a person should change a practice or specific habit. Finding answers to the following questions may help you better evaluate medical news.

April 6, 2011

After a diagnosis of cancer, patients and their families must make a number of decisions about cancer treatment, some of which are more difficult than others. These decisions are complicated by unfamiliar words, statistics, and a sense of urgency. However, it is important to allow time to research your options and ask questions. Decisions about cancer treatment are personal, and it is important that you feel comfortable about your decisions.

March 31, 2011

This is the first article in a three-part series, and it provides an overview of the basics of surgery.

March 16, 2011

The oncology community is focusing more attention on the differences in the occurrence, frequency, and survival of cancer of different populations in the United States. These populations may include members of minority populations, older adults of any race or background, and those who are poor or geographically isolated. Here, Cancer.Net talks with Derek Raghavan, MD, PhD, to learn more about health disparities in cancer.

February 23, 2011

Review helpful tips if you need to search for a new oncologist because you’ve moved, had a change in health insurance, or because your doctor has moved or retired.

February 3, 2011

If you are a person living with a rare cancer, or a parent of a child with a rare cancer, this article will provide tips and resources to help you obtain information about your specific diagnosis and treatment options.

January 18, 2011

Cancer is the leading cause of death for adolescents and young adults age 15 to 39. An estimated 70,000 people in this age group are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in the United States each year. And, while much progress has been made in the fields of cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, survival rates in 17 of the 23 types of cancers in older adolescents and young adults have not improved since 1990 and, in most of these, since 1975.

To improve cancer care for people in this often-overlooked age group, LIVESTRONG and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) have partnered to launch Focus Under Forty. It is an education curriculum for doctors, designed to build awareness and provide training to address the challenges in treating older adolescent and young adult patients with cancer.

Here, Cancer.Net talks with Archie Bleyer, MD, to learn more about the need for an initiative like this.

November 1, 2010

This article is the second in a two-part series designed to help you better understand cancer research. It outlines various types of study designs and provides tips for evaluating study results. Part I describes the publishing process, the format that journals and other scientific publications use to share findings, and how to find studies of interest to you.

October 25, 2010

Publishing research studies is the primary way scientific professionals use to communicate their findings. They may publish original research or write a review article, which evaluates the existing body of published research on a particular topic. Well-designed research studies can help answer important questions about the biology of cancer, investigate new treatments, and identify areas for further study.

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