How to Learn More About Cancer

For many people, one of the most difficult things about a cancer diagnosis is the unknown. Learning more about cancer can help you become an active participant in your cancer treatment and can help you feel more in control of the situation. Some people scour the Internet, check out every book about cancer from the library and speak to everyone they know who has been touched by cancer. It's important to understand the best way to conduct research about cancer and to understand the emotional impact that researching cancer can have. Below are some ideas to help make the time you spend researching cancer as effective as possible.
Where to Start
The Internet can be a convenient way to learn more about cancer, but it's important to begin your search at reputable websites. Remember that anyone can post anything on the Internet. You always want to know the source of the information you are reading to ensure it is trustworthy.
Here is a list of websites that are excellent places to begin your research about cancer online.
Livestrong.org provides a great deal of information for people wanting to learn more about different ways cancer can affect a person's life--the physical, the emotional and the practical. There is also a tool dedicated to helping patients with cancer treatment decisions.
Cancer.org is the site of the American Cancer Society. From the homepage you can click on the "choose a cancer topic" link to access information on numerous cancer topics, including information on specific types of cancer. There is also a link to books about cancer that you can print and take to your local library.
Cancer.gov is the site of the National Cancer Institute. The homepage links to information about common cancer types, childhood cancers and women's cancers, a general overview of cancer as well as information about clinical trials.
Be wary of websites that require you to log in and provide a lot of personal information in order to read the content. Sometimes it's more difficult on the Internet to determine when the information was written. Reputable websites usually include a date when the information was written or last reviewed by an expert in the field.
If you don't want to use the Internet, you can visit your local library and ask a librarian to help you find reliable books about cancer or on more specific topics like a type of cancer or type of cancer treatment. Some hospitals have health libraries where the staff will do the research for you and provide copies of the information they gather.
Let Your Doctor be Your Research Partner
Before you begin to research about cancer, ask your doctor for your exact diagnosis. Find out the stage of your cancer diagnosis. Have your doctor write down basic information to help you begin your research. Ask your doctor to recommend websites or books that can give you a general overview of your cancer or any other information relating to your treatment that you would like know.
Try not to rely just on your research to answer all your questions--your doctor is there to help answer your questions as well. When you research about cancer, it's not only about finding answers but also about finding the right questions to ask your doctor. Also, you want to make the most of your time with your doctor, so bring a list of questions or the few most important pieces of research you collected to your appointment.
If you bring something you learned through your research, like a possible treatment alternative, to your doctor and he disagrees with it, you can ask him to explain why. If you still think that it is something important you want to pursue, get a second opinion from another doctor.
Research May Affect You Emotionally
Sometimes during your research you may come across an unpleasant statistic or a possible side effect from your treatment that you weren't aware of. Remember that everyone's experience with cancer is unique and there's no research study or article that will be able to predict what your experience with cancer will be like.
Researching can become a compulsive habit when you feel the need to constantly be reading, talking and hearing about cancer. It can get overwhelming. Set aside a certain amount of time each day to research or have trusted family members or friends do some research for you. But remember to also take time to participate in activities you enjoy and that can help you cope emotionally with your cancer diagnosis. If you feel you are being overwhelmed with information and are unable to think clearly, a counselor or social worker may be able to help you process the information you have found. LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare, at (866) 235-7205, can connect you with counselors at no charge. These counselors can assist you in coping with your diagnosis and treatment decisions.