Resources and Links

WEBSITES

  • GENERAL

    • MEDLINE/PubMed
      http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi
      The National Library of Medicine’s free MEDLINE service, the primary tool for researching medical journals.
    • CRISP: Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects
      http://commons.cit.nih.gov/crisp/CRISP.Generate_Ticket
      CRISP is an extremely useful search engine that facilitates searches for ongoing NIH/NCI supported research programs throughout the country. Use search terms for specific complementary medical approaches to find sites, principal investigators, and detailed plans for ongoing research in cancer and other diseases.
    • CancerNet
      http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov/
      The National Cancer Institute’s cancer information website, which includes the PDQ searchable database of cancer clinical trials and reports on conventional treatment. On this site you can access CancerLit, the NCI’s bibliographic database
      containing more than 1.4 million citations and abstracts. Includes the CancerTrials section, a quick way to search for government and privately sponsored trials. Also, for an easy-to-use map to find NCI-designated cancer centers around the country, click http://cancertrials.nci.nih.gov/finding/centers/html/map/html.
    • Cancer Online
      http://canceronline.wiley.com/
      Cancer Online is a full-text, electronic implementation of Cancer,
      an Interdisciplinary International Journal of the American Cancer Society.
    • Steve Dunn’s Cancer Guide
      http://cancerguide.org
      Commonsense information on conventional and CAM treatments for cancer by Steve Dunn, a former cancer patient. Excellent information on kidney cancer.
    • Oncolink
      http://oncolink.upenn.edu/
      This site from the University of Pennsylvania provides helpful
      background information on conventional care for cancer, support and self-help
      groups. See the particular the section on breast cancer
    • Cancer Online
      www.canceronline.org/index.htm
      Good general information for patients.
    • The Rory Foundation
      www.cancer411.com
      A California Cancer Non-Profit Organization providing an easy-to-use website library and resource for cancer patients, their families and friends, doctors, surgeons and others
    • Cancer Links
      http://www.cancerlinks.com
      An absolute gold-mine of links to every aspect of every major type of cancer—treatment, financial help, supportive services, trials, information, support groups, etc. Includes a great section on links to CAM cancer sites (http://www.cancerlinks.com/alternative.html).
    • Wellness Web Cancer Center
      http://www.wellnessweb.com/CANCER/cancer.htm
      An interesting site that includes an online cancer consultation service by a New York-based medical oncologist, Dr. Jay Gold. Includes many helpful links.
    • Health Web
      http://healthweb.org/
    • HealthWorld
      http://www.healthy.net/womenshealth/

MAINSTREAM & EXPERIMENTAL THERAPIES

  • Oncotech
    www.oncotech.com
    This laboratory provides significant services to oncologists and their patients: they conduct "tumor profiling," or testing of tumor cells for molecular markers that can be a crucial guide for the use of innovative, experimental new therapies, particularly those that involve inhibition of cancer cell growth pathways, tumor angiogenesis, as well as gene therapies. The website details the services they provide and is highly informative, providing data and background on this approach that presages the future of targeted cancer therapies. American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
  • http://www.asco.org/prof/me/html/absmain/m_toc.htm
    ASCO sponsors the most significant annual meeting on new developments in cancer therapy, and they publish the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the leading mainstream journal of clinical cancer medicine. Their site publishes the most recent abstracts from their annual meeting, as well as abstracts going back three years. The searchable database of abstracts provides a wealth of information, and each year a modest number of studies of complementary medicine are published. The above URL directs you to abstract search page on the ASCO site.
  • American Association of Cancer Research (AACR)
    http://www.aacr.org
    Like ASCO, the AACR conducts a major meeting on cancer each year and published thousands of abstracts on its webside, another goldmine. The only difference is that it includes many more preclinical studies (lab and animal) in addition to some human clinical studies. Hit “Abstracts”, log-on, click “Pres. Search” tab, enter search terms.
  • Find Cancer Experts
    http://www.findcancerexperts.com/
    Provides a service to help find expert second opinions on medical treatment, pathology, etc.
  • PhRMA - Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America http://www.phrma.org/
    Information on clinical trials and new drugs in development. Go right to this URL:
    http://www.phrma.org/searchcures/newmeds/cancer2001/cancer01.pdf--
    It provides a remarkably helpful listing of 402 new drugs in clinical trial. Most are experimental new agents in government and/or pharmaceutical trials—phone numbers provided for information on trials.
  • Rational Therapeutics
    www.Rational-T.com
    Website of Ratoinal Therapeutics, a program run by oncologist Robert Nagourney, providing extensive information on his chemotherapy sensitivity assay, the philosophy behind his approach, and specifics on how to go about procuring this valuable service.

CLINICAL TRIALS

CAM THERAPIES FOR CANCER

  • Block Medical Center and Block Institute for Integrative Cancer Care
    http://www.blockmedical.com
    Arguably the foremost treatment center for integrative cancer care in the U.S., founded and led by Keith I. Block, M.D. Dr. Block and his team of nurses, physicians, psychosocial practitioners, nutritionists, mind-body clinicians, and a medical oncologist oversee the integration of cancer therapies individually tailored to the patient. He is also editor-in-chief of the leading journal in this field, Integrative Cancer Therapies. The website provides thorough information on the clincal and research activities of both the medical center and the Institute for Integrative Care, and provides updates on new developments in the field
  • National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
    http://nccam.nih.gov/nccam/an/general
    The NCCAM website, full of helpful information, a clearinghouse, and a section on CAM for cancer.
  • National Association of Alternative Medicine-Cancer Division
    http://naam-cancer.lle.org
    Provides an excellent listing of CAM cancer practitioners around the United States
  • Center for Mind-Body Medicine
    http://www.cmbm.org/
    Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington, D.C founded and directed by James S. Gordon, MD, offers education and training programs in mind-body-spirit medicine. Runs the annual Comprehensive Cancer Care Conference in Washington, and online transcripts from previous conferences represent a superb resource.
  • The Moss Reports
    www.ralphmoss.com.
    Website for Dr. Ralph Moss’s cancer reports, individually tailored reports on CAM therapies for specific cancers, compiled by a leading expert in CAM for cancer.
  • Commonweal Cancer Help Program
    www.commonweal.org
    Michael Lerner’s website for his residential educational healing retreats for cancer patients, which includes copious information on CAM and cancer, including the entire text of his superb, balanced 600-page book, Choices in Healing.
  • CANHELP
    http://www.canhelp.com/default.htm
    Patrick McGrady’s website for his service, which provides reports on CAM therapies for cancer; a somewhat narrow perspective but can be useful.
  • Center for Alternative Medicine Research in Cancer
    http://www.sph.uth.tmc.edu/utcam/
    One of the specialty research centers funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), National Institutes of Health, provides a rich information resource for alternative medicine cancer therapies, current research findings, and clinical trials. From the University of Texas Center for Alternative Medicine Research (UT-CAM), this site has an extensive listing of evidence-based CAM resources, including books and periodicals, peer reviewed journals, and other internet sites.
  • Mining Co. Guide to Alternative Medicine
    http://altmedicine.miningco.com/health/altmedicine/msub9.htm
  • The Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine of Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center
    http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/rosenthal/
    A research centers funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). The site provides quick, easy access to resources and links on CAM, women’s health and breast cancer, medical search databases, a list of citations on CAM treatments for breast cancer as well as a cancer education initiative.
  • The Aidan Clinic
    www.aidan-az.com/
    A treatment clinic employing novel anti-angiogenic and immune therapies (including dendritic cell vaccines), and some nutritional interventions (including high-dose Vitamin C) to cancer patients. Highly focussed and professional approach, the clinic is directed by a naturopathic doctor and biochemist, and overseen by a consulting medical oncologist.
  • The Cancer Cure Foundation
    www.cancure.org/
    A non-profit organization providing information on alternative cancer therapies, including referrals. Their website is stocked with good information and provides probably the best directory of complementary, alternative, and integrative cancer programs located both in the U.S. and abroad.

SUPPORT GROUPS/SUPPORTIVE SERVICES

  • The Center for Mind-Body Medicine, Washington, D.C.
    www.cmbm.org
    The Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington, D.C., is headed by psychiatrist James S. Gordon, M.D., who is also Chairman of the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy. It is the leading center for education and outreach on mind-body medicine, offering a Mind-Body Skills training program for medical and mental healthcare providers of all stripes. Dr. Gordon and the Center founded the Cancer Guides training program, a weeklong intensive for heathcare professionals and committed volunteers who wish to provide informational and psychosocial supportive services to cancer patients toward achieving the goal of an individualized, integrative treatment program. The Center also runs the annual Comprehensive Cancer Care (CCC) conference, which in recent years has been co-sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, among others. The New Yorker magazine has called CCC "the most important alternative medicine meeting in America." Dr. Gordon and his colleagues also provide professional training for practitioners in utilizing mind-body skills for treating post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from wars or terrorism. (They have worked in war-torn Bosnia and Kosovo, and with firefighters and policemen traumatized by 9/11.) The CMBM website details all of the centers activities and offers transcripts of many of the CCC conference workshops and keynotes. |
  • Association of Cancer Online Resources
    www.acor.org
    Listings of online support groups.
  • Cancer Care
    www.cancercare.org
    The Cancer Care website, very useful for finding practical help for cancer patients, families, etc. Includes an excellent teleconference program.
  • Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization
    http://www.y-me.org
    Provides breast cancer information and a network of nationwide support groups.
  • Gilda’s Club
    http://www.gildasclub.org/
    Now a nationwide program, with clubs opening in various cities, providing support groups and other psychosocial resources to cancer patients in a non-hospital setting.

BREAST CANCER

  • Best Web Sites on Breast Cancer
    http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~jbonine/bc_sources.html
    Designed to help patients research treatment options. Provides a
    list of evaluated related links.
  • Breast Cancer Answers
    http://www.medsch.wisc.edu/bca
    Breast Cancer Answers is a service of the University of Wisconsin
    Comprehensive Cancer Center, providing information from
    reliable sources on breast cancer research, prevention, detection,
    diagnosis, stage and treatment.
  • Breast Cancer Citations
    http://www.cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/rosenthal/Breastca.html
    This resource from the R & H Rosenthal Center provides an extensive
    categorized list of breast cancer references relating to
    complementary and alternative medicine. All citations are from peer
    reviewed journals.
  • BreastCancer.net
    http://www.breastcancer.net
    Recent news on breast cancer, links to relevant articles and other
    resources.
  • The Susan G. Komen Foundation
    http://www.breastcancerinfo.com/
    One of the leading breast cancer support and information foundations, with a helpful website of resources.
  • National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations
    http://www.nabco.org/
    The National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations (NABCO) is the leading non-profit information and education resource on breast cancer and a network of over 400 member organizations nationwide.
  • National Breast Cancer Coalition
    http://www.natlbcc.org/
    A grassroots breast cancer advocacy organization.
  • National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
    http://www.cansearch.org/
    The leading nationwide organization representing the needs of cancer survivors, and educating patients and the public with enlightened information.

BOOKS

  • *Ader R, Felten DL, Cohen N. (eds). Psychoneuroimmunology, 3rd Edition. San Diego: Academic Press, 2001. [Expensive text: See Medical Libraries]
  • American Institute of Cancer. Dietary Phytochemicals in Cancer Prevention & Treatment, New York, Plenum Press, l996.
  • *Boik, John. Cancer & Natural Medicine. A Textbook of Basic Science and Clinical Research. Oregon Medical Press. 1995.
  • *Boik, John. Natural Compounds in Cancer Therapy: Promising Nontoxic Antitumor Agents from Plants and Other Natural Sources. Oregon Medical Press. 2001
  • Burton Goldberg Group, editors. Alternative Medicine. The Definitive Guide. Puyallup, Washington: Future Medicine Publishing INC., 1993
  • *Devita VT, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA. Cancer: Principles and Practices of Oncology. Philadelphia: Lipincott-Raven, 2001 [Expensive text: See Medical Libraries]
  • *Devita VT, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA. Biologic Therapy of Cancer. Philadelphia: Lipincott, 1995 [Expensive text: See Medical Libraries]
  • Diamond Wj, Cowden WL, and Goldberg B. An Alternative Medicine Definitive Guide to Cancer. Washington: Future Medicine Publishing INC., 1997
  • *Dollinger M, Rosenbaum EH, Cable G. Everyone’s Guide to Cancer Therapy: How Cancer is Diagnosed, Treated, and Managed Day to Day. Revised Third Edition. Tornonto: Somerville House, 1999
  • Fink, John M. Third Opinion. An International Directory of Alternative Therapy Centers for the Treatment and Prevention of Cancer and Other Degenerative Diseases. 2nd Edition. Avery Publishing, New York 1992.
  • Fugh-Berman A. Alternative Medicine, what works. Tucson, Odonian Press,1996
  • Gaynor ML & Hickey J. Dr. Gaynor’s Cancer Prevention Program. New York: Kensington Publishing Corp. 1999
  • *Geffen JR. The Journey Through Cancer: An Oncologist’s Seven-Level Program for Healing and Transforming the Whole Person. New York: Crown Publishers, 2000
  • *Gordon, JS & Curtin S. Comprehensive Cancer Care: Integrating Alternative, Complementary, and Conventional Therapies. Cambridge MA: Perseus Publishing, 2000
  • *Heber D, Blackburn GL, Liang W. Go, Vay. Nutritional Oncology. San Diego: Academic
    Press, 1998. [Expensive text: See Medical Libraries]
  • *Hess DJ. Evaluating Alternative Cancer Therapies: A Guide to the Science and Politics of an Emerging Medical Field. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1999
  • Jonas WB & Levin JS. Essentials of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins, 1999
  • *Lerner, Ph.D., Michael, Choices in Healing: Integrating the Best of Conventional and Complementary Approaches to Cancer. The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1994.
  • *LeShan, Lawrence. Cancer as a Turning Point. New York: Plume (reissue), 1999
  • Leshan, Lawrence. You Can Fight for Your Life : Emotional Factors in the Treatment of Cancer. New York: M.Evans, 1980
  • *Lininger SW, Gaby AR, Austin S, Brown DJ, Wright JV, and Duncan A. The Natural Pharmacy: Complete Home Reference to Natural Medicine. Rockland, CA: Prima Health/Healthnotes, 1999
  • *Lininger SW, Constantine G, Austin S, Batz F, Yarnell E, Brown DJ. The A-Z Guide to Drug-Herb and Vitamin Interactions. Rockland, CA: Prima Health/Healthnotes, 1999
  • Lu, Nan & Schaplowsky E. Traditional Chinese Medicine : A Woman's Guide to Healing from Breast Cancer. New York: Avon Books, 1997
  • *Moss, Ph.D., Ralph W. Cancer Therapy. The Independent Consumers Guide to Non-Toxic Treatment & Prevention. Equinox Press. New York 1993
  • Moss, Ph.D., Ralph W. Antioxidants Against Cancer. New York: Equinox Press. 2000
  • Novey DW. Clinician’s Complete Reference to Complementary/Alternative Medicine. St. Louis: Mosby-Year Book, 2000.
  • Ontario Breast Cancer Information Exchange Project. A guide to unconventional cancer therapies. Aurora (ON): R&R Bookbar 1994
  • Pelton R, Overholser L. Alternatives in Cancer Therapy. The complete guide to Non-Traditional treatments. Simon & Schuster Publishers. New York, 1993
  • *Pizzorno JE, Murray MT. Textbook of Natural Medicine. Churchill Livingstone, 1999 [Expensive text: See Medical Libraries]
  • Prasad KN. Vitamins in cancer: Prevention and Treatment. Rochester, Vermont: Healing Arts Press, 1994.
  • *Quillin, Patrick & Qullin, Noreen. Beating Cancer with Nutrition. Bookworld Services, 2001
  • Simone, M.D. Charles B. Cancer & Nutrition. A Ten Point Plan to Reduce Your Risk of Getting Cancer. Favery Publishing Group, Inc. NY. 1994.
  • Spencer JW & Jacobs JJ. Complementary/Alternative Medicine: An Evidence-Based Approach. New York: Mosby. 1999
  • *Spiegel D. Living Beyond Limits: New Hope and Help for Facing Life-Threatening Illness. New York Times Books, 1993.
  • Spiller, Gene & Bruce, Bonnie. Survivors Nutrition and Health Guide. Prima Publishing. Contains guidelines for easily digested foods for patients undergoing chemotherapy.
  • Temoshok L & Dreher H. The Type C Connection: The Behavioral Links to Cancer and Your Health. Random House, 1992
  • US Office of Technology Assessment (OTA). Unconventional Cancer Treatments. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1990.
  • Walters R. Options: The Alternative Cancer Therapy Book. Honesdale, PA: Paragon Press, 1993.
  • Woodell, Margaret J. & Hess, David J. Women Confront Cancer: Making Medical History by Choosing Alternative and Complementary Therapies. New York: New York University Press, 1998
  • *Yance, Donald R. with Valentine Arlene. Herbal Medicine, Healing, and Cancer: A Comprehensive Program for Prevention and Treatment. Chicago: Keats Publishing, 1999

*Highly recommended