Mesothelioma Resources & Treatment
Your doctor
Your doctor is the FIRST and BEST resource for understanding mesothelioma. There is a wealth of information available on the Internet and it is natural to want to learn as much as you can about your diagnosis. However, only a trained physician can evaluate your circumstances correctly.
Once you have consulted your doctor, you may wish to take advantage of valuable research and support resources via the Internet. Another useful tool is, “The Cancer Patient's Workbook: Everything You Need to Stay Organized and Informed” (DK Books, 2001), an interactive guide that can help patients cope with their situation and best understand the treatment options available to them.
The American Cancer Society's Cancer Resource Center
As a non-governmental organization, the American Cancer Society is the largest source of private funds earmarked for cancer research. The ACS website is a very good place to investigate ongoing research and treatment options, and it also provides extensive links helpful to your medical research, including methods of detecting mesothelioma are covered here. ACS advises you to remember to discuss all concerns and questions openly with your doctor.
Methods of detecting mesothelioma are covered here. ACS advises you to remember to discuss all concerns and questions openly with your doctor.
National Cancer Institute
PDQ
The National Cancer Institute provides a computer service called PDQ to give up-to-date information on cancer issues for patients, their families, doctors and other healthcare professionals. Detailed information on detection, diagnosis, treatment, support groups, clinical trials and treatments is reviewed and updated each month by oncology experts.
You might want to visit the information written for patients first, in order to get a clear understanding of the issues discussed in layman's terms. For more detailed information, you can then explore the physician's track.
Cancer Information Service (CIS)
The National Cancer Institute offers an informational and educational service known as the Cancer Information Toll-Free Telephone Service (CIS). Information is available in Spanish and English, and is up-to-date and easy to understand. You can get information about recent scientific advances, cancer programs, prevention, early detection and other topics.
Contact the CIS, toll-free in the United States and Puerto Rico, at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237), Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., your time.
MEDLINE
Published by the National Library of Medicine, MEDLINE is a comprehensive index of medical citations and abstracts dating back to 1966. In the past, this database was available only to students, to doctors or by subscription. However, there are now several Internet resources which offer free MEDLINE access, including:
An additional benefit of these services is access to full-text versions of many of the articles. PubMed publishes a list of MEDLINE journals with links to publisher web sites. These publications and abstracts are not written for the layperson, so make sure you discuss any literature you read with your doctor before making any decisions about them.
OncoLink
The University of Pennsylvania maintains OncoLink, an outstanding resource on the web for information about all types of cancer and related topics. The homepage has information about clinical trials, symptom management, cancer support services, financial issues, book reviews and many other topics. OncoLink has mesothelioma patient information found under Patient Statement: Malignant Mesothelioma. For a more personal perspective, there is also an article entitled "Thoughts from a Mesothelioma Patient".
Lung Cancer Resources Directory
Lastly, for a broad resource on the cancer topic and links to specific web sites, consult the Lung Cancer Resources Directory.
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From offices in Oakland, California, Kazan, McClain, Lyons, Greenwood & Harley, PLC (Kazan Law) has been serving victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases for more than 36 years. For a no-cost evaluation of your potential case with one of our experienced asbestos lawyers, contact us today by calling 1-866-804-2311 or online.
