Website links

Cancer types and treatments

The sites listed below each provide information about many types of cancer, symptoms, treatments, clinical trials, coping with cancer, screening and diagnosing cancer. (The funding source for these sites is shown in brackets).

  • The Cancer Council SA provides information and links to local services, counselling and support groups (charity organisation).
  • Better Health Channel http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/dc_cancer?open Health and medical information for consumers, quality assured by the Victorian government (Australian government).
  • HealthInsite is an Australian government initiative to provide reliable health information (Australian government).
  • American National Cancer Institute is a comprehensive site reflecting the Institutes role in coordinating cancer research programs on cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and control (US government).
  • "People Living with Cancer" has oncologist approved cancer information from the American Society of Clinical Oncology & The ASCO Foundation (US non profit professional organisation representing physicians who treat people with cancer)
  • American Cancer Society provides comprehensive information for consumers and health professionals (charity organisation).
  • National Comprehensive Cancer Network – provides patient information in alliance with the American Cancer Society (http://www.nccn.org/patients/default.asp) (Clinical professionals from 21 US cancer centres contribute to this not-for-profit alliance)
  • CancerHelp UK http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/ provides detailed patient information about specific cancers, symptoms, treatments, side effects and clinical trials (check out the 'Site Map'). It is part of Cancer Research UK http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/ a leading charity in the UK dedicated to cancer research. Other sections of the Cancer Research UK site are: Cancer & Research, Cancer Statistics, Cancer prevention (charity organisation).
  • CancerBackUp UK Cancerbackup's mission is informing, understanding, supporting ..to give cancer patients and their families the up-to-date information, practical advice and support they need to reduce the fear and uncertainty of cancer (charity organisation).
Treatments

Understanding tests and results

  • Cancer World Media Resources links to sites that may be useful aids for understanding medical terminology and for definitions. The Cancer Media Service (CMS) is a resource for journalists operated by the European School of Oncology (ESO). The CMS aims to improve the quality of cancer journalism by helping to put news about cancer in context and explaining the science behind the stories.
Complementary Therapies and Integrative Medicine Complementary or Integrative Medicine is used alongside conventional cancer treatments for symptom relief. Survivorship These resources may help you, your family and friends weather the physical, emotional, psychological, social effects after a cancer diagnosis.
  • Exercise guidelines for cancer patients – in the SA Cancer Support Groups Newsletter ‘Mosaic’ May 2007 issue p2-3. Go to the Mosaic articles at the bottom of this webpage -
  • Breast Cancer Network Australia can provide useful resource packs –
    • My Journey Kit, for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer The kit has been put together in consultation with women who have experienced breast cancer and includes an information guide and personal record. This kit also includes the NBCC book ‘A Guide to Women with Early Breast Cancer”, some of BCNA’s brochures, a state based resource sheet and a copy of our free quarterly magazine The Beacon. BCNA distributes this kit free of charge to women diagnosed with early breast cancer in the last 12 months.
    • Hopes & Hurdles, for women living with secondary breast cancer. Women shared their experiences, practical tips, and strategies to get through tough times and their gems of wisdom. The Pack is includes a range of booklets, brochures, and CDs, including a CD for men whose partners have advanced breast cancer.
Support Clinical Trials General advice about Clinical Trial participation,

Search for cancer trials: Be aware that websites based overseas may describe Cancer Trials that do not have any recruitment centres in Australia.

Special groups We recognise that some groups and populations have special needs and interests when it comes to cancer treatment and care.
  • Adolescents and young adults with cancer Canteen (with links to other good teen and young peoples sites)
  • Carers Caring for the Caregiver
  • Culturally and linguistically diverse Multi-lingual cancer resources are provided by The Cancer Council South Australia (eg Arabic, Bosnian, Chinese, …Italian, Greek, … Russian, Serbian, Somali, Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese)
  • Gay or Lesbian 'It's a real bugger isn't it dear? - Stories of different sexuality and cancer' This booklet details the personal journeys, through stories and poems, of GLBTIQ people who have had cancer.
  • Rural and Remote Patient Assistance Transport Scheme (PATS). The South Australian Patient Assistance Transport Scheme (PATS) provides some financial reimbursement to country patients and approved escorts with the cost of travel and accommodation when they are required to travel over 100 kilometres (each way) to receive specialist medical treatment that is not available at their nearest centre.
Palliative Care
  • CareSearch is an evidence-based resource for palliative care professionals, patients, carers and the general community.
  • Palliative Care Council SA is a valuable information resource on palliative care services provided in South Australia and nationally.
  • Palliative Care Australia has launched a new national online directory of palliative care services. Visitors to the website will be able to type in the postcode where they live and see the contact details for the service/s that cover that location.
Coping with loss and grief
  • Grief Link is a South Australian site (see Topics: Cancer, or Coping with Grief, or Helping the bereaved)
Financial issues
  • Medicare Online Service for Consumers Medicare Australia has launched a secure online service for consumers that allows them to view their Medicare Safety Net balance, Medicare benefit tax statement, organ donor registration details and children’s immunisation history, view and update some of their Medicare personal details, and request a duplicate or replacement Medicare card along with some transactions and enquiries.
    All holders of a Medicare card who are over 13 years old and currently living in Australia can register for the online services
  • Superannuation
    Australian Prudential Regulation Authority - regarding early release of superannuation http://www.apra.gov.au/Superannuation/Early-Release-of-Superannuation-Benefits.cfm
Advocacy Health and Cancer advocacy organisations
  • Consumers Health Forum of Australia is the national voice for health consumers. It helps shape Australia’s health system by representing and involving consumers in health policy and program development, and is an independent member-based non-government organisation for health consumers.
Complaints
  • Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner The HCSCC helps people – service users, carers and service providers – resolve complaints about health and community services, when a direct approach to the service provider is either unreasonable, or has not succeeded.
Multi-disciplinary team care Multidisciplinary care is a collaborative approach to treatment planning and ongoing care throughout the treatment pathway. Multidisciplinary care aims to ensure that members of the treatment and care team can discuss all relevant aspects of a cancer patient’s physical and psychosocial needs along with other factors impacting upon the patient’s care. Cancer Early detection and Screening in Australia Cancer Organisations in Australia
  • Cancer Australia Cancer Australia is a national government agency, working to reduce the impact of cancer on all Australians. It aims to work in partnership with consumers, health professionals, cancer organisations, researchers and governments, to improve outcomes for all people affected by cancer and particularly for those people whose survival rates or cancer experiences are poorer. This includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people living in rural and regional areas, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people who are socio-economically disadvantaged.
  • The Cancer Council Australia is Australia's peak national non-government cancer control organisation, The Cancer Council Australia advises the Australian Government and other bodies on practices and policies to help prevent, detect and treat cancer. We also advocate for the rights of cancer patients for best treatment and supportive care.
Cancer Statistics
  • The Cancer Council SA has links to latest reports by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and SA Cancer Registry
  • Cancer in Australia 2006 Report (published July 2007) http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10476
  • UK Cancer Research CancerStats section contains the latest cancer statistics and information on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, screening and molecular biology and genetics of cancer.
  • US National Cancer Institute Cancer Statistics for ‘Finding cancer statistics’ and ‘Understanding Cancer Statistics’.
Shared health-decision making Finally, believe it or not, risk statistics can be made simple, and this may help you feel better equipped to actively participate in decisions about your healthcare.