2011 Cancer Resource Guide

Cure in association with the American Cancer Society has published a superb booklet for people with cancer: the 2011 edition of their Cancer Resource Guide.

As a physician and long-term survivor who has written guides for patients (e.g., Diagnosis: Cancer. A Guide to the First Months of Healthy Survivorship), I've experienced the many challenges of crafting such a publication.

CURE's booklet -- available free of charge both online and in softcover -- does everything well. It:

• Highlights all key areas of survivorship
• Clarifies complex ideas without oversimplifying
• Balances the art and science of survivorship

Editor in chief Debu Tripathy, M.D. summarizes the achievement in his welcome page when he writes, "A humanistic and scientific approach with up-to-date information, new developments and key resources are all part of the toolkit that CURE’s 2011 Cancer Resource Guide delivers to you."

Otis W. Brawley, M.D., Chief Medical Officer & Executive Vice President of The American Cancer Society, wrote, "A well-informed patient has the ability to increase his or her chances of high-quality treatment. Numerous studies support the premise that a knowledgeable patient receives better treatment and is better able to stick to that therapy, resulting in better outcomes." He describes the booklet as "a resource guide that provides quick and concise answers to frequently asked questions. The guide also includes references to credible sources for more in-depth information to help you make informed decisions on your cancer journey."

For people striving to be Healthy Survivors, I highly recommend reading and sharing this resource guide.

Comments

[Finn]

Very timely; my colleague's best friend was just diagnosed with lung cancer and this guide may be very helpful for them.

[Jan Hasak]

Thank you so much for bringing this guide to our attention. I will add it to the Resources section of my website. I'm always looking for reliable, updated material.
Jan

[Marcia Anderson]

As a cancer center resource area, we get CURE publications quarterly and this guide yearly. Check your oncologist's office or treatment area for free copies. I particularly love the CURE qtly publication. It has ongoing columns related to a multitude of concerns- nutrition, caregiving, psychosocial and relationships, new books, explaining the value of complementary therapies, and every issue features an in-depth exploration about a specific cancer type. I find that for patients with that particular diagnosis, it is very reassuring to see that their own oncologist is up to date on the latest drugs and testing and clinical trials. It is difficult for print media to stay current with the changing face of oncology, but this magazine is exceptional and quite understandable for most patients and caregivers. I highly recommend the magazine AND the annual resource guide for all patients.