Helpful Websites

When you have questions about your health concerns, it is important to use reliable resources for your information. We encourage you to be a critical consumer of the information you find on the internet. You might wish to read the "Guide to Healthy Web Surfing" (link below), which provides some strategies for evaluating websites. We also strongly encourage you to discuss any information you find with your healthcare provider.

Guide to Healthy Web Surfing

The following comprehensive websites provide accurate and up-to-date information about cancer. All content on these sites is available in both English and Spanish. You may want to start at our website's in-depth Cancer Information section, which is composed of a collection of resources provided by the National Cancer Institute on a wide variety of cancer topics.

The National Cancer Institute
This website contains cancer information summaries, cancer statistics, a dictionary of cancer terms, a drug dictionary, clinical trials searches, cancer genetics information, and the “Understanding Cancer” series on the science behind the medicine.

Cancer.net
On this website, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) offers information for patients, families, and caregivers. Coverage includes detailed information about many types of cancer, basic cancer information, support, coping, and advocacy. There is also a medical illustrations gallery, a collection of ASCO Patient Guides, and a monthly “Ask the Expert” forum, inviting patients, families, and the public to ask leading cancer experts questions via an online chat forum.

The American Cancer Society
The ACS site has information for both healthcare professionals and patients that includes disease overviews, treatment options, prevention and coping strategies, and news.

Medline Plus
MedlinePlus offers authoritative information on all health topics from the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, and other health-related organizations. In addition to a comprehensive collection of cancer information and a selection of interactive health tutorials on a variety of cancer topics, features include videos of surgical procedures, health news, and a medical dictionary.

The following websites on specific cancer topics may also be helpful:

Cancer Symptoms
Cancersymptoms.org

Chemotherapy
Chemocare.com

Complementary Therapies
Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, About Herbs
MD Anderson Complementary & Integrative Medicine Education Resources

Nutrition and Cancer
Cancer Nutrition Info

Survivorship
Lance Armstrong Foundation

Bladder Cancer
American Urological Association

Bone Marrow Transplant
National Marrow Donor Program

Brain Tumors
American Brain Tumor Association

Breast Cancer
The Breast Cancer Resource Center (Santa Barbara)
The Susan B. Komen Foundation
Living Beyond Breast Cancer

Childhood Cancer
CureSearch
Candlelighter's Childhood Cancer Foundation

Colorectal Cancer
Colon Cancer Alliance

Gynecological Cancer
Gynecological Cancer Foundation

Head and Neck Cancer
Support for People with Head & Neck Cancer

Kidney Cancer
Kidney Cancer Association

Leukemia, Lymphoma & Myeloma
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Lymphedema
National Lymphedema Network

Merkel Cell Cancer
Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Multiple Myeloma
International Myeloma Foundation

Melanoma
Melanoma Patients’ Information Page

Ostomy
United Ostomy Association, Inc.

Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
Gilda’s Club

Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer Research Institute
Prostate Cancer Foundation
Us TOO!

Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

Sarcoma
Sarcoma Alliance

Skin Cancer
The Skin Cancer Foundation

Testicular Cancer
Testicular Cancer Resource Center

Thyroid Cancer
American Thyroid Association
Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association

Selection Process and Disclaimer
The Cancer Center of Santa Barbara provides this list of websites as a source of information. No direct recommendation of any content found on these sites is implied, and we strongly encourage you to consult your healthcare provider to review anything you learn through these websites, since he or she is best able to determine the relevance, if any, to your personal situation.
The websites listed here have been reviewed  by the Cancer Librarians section of the Medical Library Association and/or by the librarian at the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara. Our selection criteria include: credibility, content, currency, authorship, purpose, and audience.