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.

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

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.

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

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.

At some point, there is a good chance that you may need to search for a new oncologist (a doctor who specializes in cancer). This may be because you are moving to a new location or changing health insurance plans, or because your doctor is moving or retiring.

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.

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.

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

Cancer is a disease that requires specialized treatment, so it is important to find a treatment center that meets your specific needs. This includes finding the right oncologist and finding the right treatment center.

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.