Useful Resources
Cancer
November 18, 2009
Doctors tend to shy away from using the word "cure" and cancer in the same sentence, but a wealth of promising research and medical developments in recent years has been extending lives and reducing the incidence of some cancers.
Science has produced the HPV vaccine to prevent a virus linked to cervical cancer as well as breakthrough drugs like Herceptin and Tamoxifen to keep breast cancer from recurring.
The overall cancer death rate fell 16 percent from its peak in 1991 to 2006, the latest year for which the American Cancer Society has information.
Still, cancer caused nearly one-fourth of all U.S. deaths in 2006, second only to heart disease.
Men are most likely to be diagnosed with cancers of the prostate, lung, colon and rectum; women are most commonly diagnosed with breast, lung and colorectal cancers.
An area ripe for exploration by journalists is the higher rate of certain cancers in different ethnic groups because of both cultural practices, diet, and, in some cases, a genetic predisposition. Updated March 2010
Resource Links
Blogs
Dana Jennings, an editor at the New York Times, blogs about his experience with prostate cancer.
Dr. J. Leonard Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, blogs on new developments in treatment and research.
NPR has created a community forum page called "Our Cancer" that also includes the archived blog kept by ABC News Nightline journalist Leroy Sievers until his death from cancer in August 2008. The page also includes interviews with the Peabody-Award-winning journalist himself.
Dr. Susan Love, a breast cancer expert, and others blog about the disease, including research efforts and treatment options.
Guidance for Consumers
Information on how cancer patients can manage their treatments' side effects.
A database of support groups and national organizations available to assist cancer patients.
General information links, a glossary of terms and a video library of cancer information.
An article on how patients can get involved in their cancer treatment decisions.
A brochure on the major, minor and unproven risk factors for cancer.
Nutrition and physical activity guidelines to reduce cancer risk.
A guide to choosing a cancer treatment program.
Advocacy
The world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists.
A survivor-led cancer advocacy organization pushes for high-quality cancer care for all Americans.
Nonprofit organization founded by cancer survivor and cycling great Lance Armstrong is well known for its LIVESTRONG movement.
Public Policy
Information on a federal-private partnership to identify emerging policy issues in the nation's anti-cancer efforts.
Details which states required health plans to cover patient care costs in clinical trials.
Information on legislative and regulatory issues relating to cancer.
Statistics, Trends and Research
Good, credible source for what's new in cancer research.
Fact sheet on the major milestones in the fight against cancer over the past century.
The latest headlines in cancer research.
A progress report on cancer trends.
State-by-state cancer statistics and links to nearly a dozen other sources of cancer data.
Annual facts and figures on cancer in the U.S.
Understanding Cancer
Provides a good overview of the differential impact of different cancers on various racial and ethnic groups.
Tutorial on understanding cancer.
A guide to cancer biology.
General information on all types of cancer.
