Professional Medical Societies & Additional Related Organizations & Resources to Help You Learn More about Cancer and Your Options

ASCO OnLine: American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO): http://www.asco.org/

"An interactive resource for oncology professionals and cancer patients. Provides a range of professionally edited information".

American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR): http://www.aicr.org/

"Cancer risk can directly affected by lifestyle choices. Eating right, staying physically active, watching your weight and not smoking could reduce your cancer risk by 60% to 70%. The AICR is the nation's leading charity in the field of diet, nutrition and cancer prevention."

American Medical Association (AMA): http://www.ama-assn.org/"

A voluntary membership organization of physicians and "the patient's advocate and the physician's voice. It sets standards for the profession of medicine. It is medical education, "The Principles of Medical Ethics," the Journal of the American Medical Association, the AMA House of Delegates, policy matters affecting the fabric of American medicine and patient care, and much more." 

AMA Cancer Basics: http://www.amaassn.org/insight
/spec_con/cancer/cancer.htm  

AMA Women's Health & Breast Cancer: http://www.amaassn.org/insight
/spec_con/breast/brc.htm

American Society for Psychosocial and Behavioral Oncology/AIDS (ASPBOA) & International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS): http://www.ipos-aspboa.org/

"The ASPBOA was established to promote the psychological, social, and physical well being of patients with cancer, AIDS and allied diseases and their families at all stages of disease and survivorship through clinical care, education, research, and advocacy. The IPOS was created to foster international multidisciplinary communication about clinical, educational and research issues that relate to the subspecialty of psycho-oncology. The Society seeks to provide leadership and development of standards for educational training and research in the two psychosocial dimensions of cancer: the response of patients, families and staff to cancer and its treatment at all stages, and the psychological, social and behavioral factors that influence tumor progression and survival."

American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation (PSEF) Plastic Surgery Information Service: http://www.plasticsurgery.org/

This site provides extensive information about breast reconstruction as well as offering a plastic surgeon referral service." The following page on the site has additional breast cancer information: http://www.plasticsurgery.org/
advocacy/breast/bcamonth.htm

American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Nurses: http://asprsn.inurse.com

Established "to promote high standards of plastic and reconstructive surgical nursing practice and patient care through education, exchange of information, and scientific inquiry".

Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU): http://www.clinicians.org/

"For those clinicians who devote all or part of their practice to health care for underserved populations, delivering the highest quality of care is dependent on a firm understanding of the population they are serving and that population's needs. The ACU seeks to address the issues of access to and the quality of health care to these populations by: Enhancing the support these clinicians receive, Providing increased access to information relevant to their practices, Providing increased opportunities for them to interact and communicate with their colleagues, Increasing the understanding of this field of practice by promoting research, and Increasing the opportunities for education and training relevant to providing health care to underserved and vulnerable populations."

Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW): http://www.aosw.org/

"The primary professional discipline providing psychosocial services to patients, families and caregivers facing the impact of cancer diagnosis and treatment. They connect patients and families with essential community, national, and international resources. AOSW is dedicated to increasing awareness about the social, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of cancer patients. It supports its members’ commitment to helping and advocating for cancer patients."

Breast Doctor.com -- "Part of the YourDoctorTM Internet Healthcare Family: http://breastdoctor.com/

Extensive information on breast anatomy, breast health and breast cancer.

The California Women's Law Center: http://www.cwlc.org/

"A unique advocate in California, working in collaboration with others to address the comprehensive civil rights concerns of women and girls, offering "the first statewide Breast Cancer Legal Project to provide free legal assistance on the full array of legal issues which arise from diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer": http://www.cwlc.org/
BCLC.intro.html

Cancer Evaluation Center -- Rational Therapeutics: http://www.rational-t.com/index.html

"Rational Therapeutics was formed to fulfill a mission to advance the field of cancer treatment by studying the most rational and reliable indicators of positive cancer response: each patient's own cancer cells. Their role is to provide objective information so that motivated, self-empowered patients can make the best decisions about their own cancer care."

MammaCare®: http://www.mammacare.com/

The scientifically validated system for teaching physical examination of the breast. Originally developed at a major university under a grant from the National Cancer Institute, it is now available in three interactive training systems: The MammaCare® Personal Learning System, The Professional Learning System, and the Learning System for Clinical Breast Examination. Skill-based continuing education in MammaCare® is available to prepare health care professionals to teach MamaCare® as well as to perform skilled manual examination of the breast.

National Association for Women's Health (NAWH): http://www.nawh.org/

"A non-profit, non-partisan, professional membership association that brings together a growing constituency of professionals from a broad range of disciplines, all with a common interest in improving health outcomes for women. Established to: promote excellence and provide leadership, resources, and collegial support to all professionals who influence, develop, and champion quality health care programs for women."

National Consortium of Breast Centers, Inc.: http://www.breastcare.org

Established "to promote excellence in breast health care for the general public through a network of diverse professionals dedicated to the active exchange of ideas and resources, including to: 1) serve as an informational resource and to provide support services to those rendering care to people with breast diseases through educational programs, newsletters, a national directory, and patient forums; 2) encourage professionals to concentrate and specialize in activities related to breast disease; 3) encourage the development of programs and centers that address breast disease and promote breast health, and; 4) facilitate collaborative research opportunities on issues of breast health."

National Guideline Clearinghouse(TM) (NGC): http://www.guideline.gov/
body_home_nf.asp?view=home

"A public resource for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. NGC is sponsored by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research in partnership with the American Medical Association and the American Association of Health Plans." A helpful resource to learn more about various treatment options and protocols for specific types and stages of breast cancer and breast cancer-related disease management.

National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC): http://www.4women.gov/

"A one-stop gateway for women seeking health information. NWHIC is a free information and resource service on women's health issues designed just for you, whether you're a consumer, a health care professional, a researcher, an educator, or a student." Topics include information about breast cancer and information is available in English and Spanish.

Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Online: http://www.ons.org/

A national organization of healthcare professionals dedicated to excellence in patient care, teaching, research, administration and education in the field of oncology. The vision of ONS is to lead the transformation of cancer care by initiating and actively supporting educational, legislative, and public awareness efforts to improve the care of people with cancer. The site is a cancer information service for health care providers, people with cancer and their families and friends.

Pharmaceutical Information Network: http://pharminfo.com/
disease/cancer_db.html

This site includes: a Cancer Information Center; Information from reputable sources; Information about specific types of cancer; An archive of articles from publications; Information about drugs used in the treatment of cancer including links to entries in DrugDB, an acclaimed database of information about specific drugs; links to web sites and other Internet resources for cancer information, including news groups, e-mail lists, and web sites.

American Association of Health Plans (AAHP): http://www.aahp.org/
menus/backtomain.cfm...

In 1996, The Commonwealth Fund provided a grant to the American Association of Health Plans (AAHP) to identify models of delivering care to women through health plans. The Fund views highlighting exemplary models as important to improving health care for women throughout the managed care industry. This series is based on findings from that work. Gleaned from more than 1,000 health plans across the country, this series showcases exemplary practices and programs in four women's health topics: breast cancer, domestic violence, obstetrics and prenatal care, and hormone replacement therapy and other mid-life issues.

Association of Cancer Online Resources: http://www.acor.org/

Offers access to 79 electronic mailing lists and a variety of unique websites. The mailing lists are specifically designed to be public online support groups providing information and community to patients, caregivers or anyone looking for answers about cancer and related disorders.

American Society for Psychosocial and Behavioral Oncology/AIDS (ASPBOA) & International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS): http://www.ipos-aspboa.org/

The ASPBOA was established to promote the psychological, social, and physical well being of patients with cancer, AIDS and allied diseases and their families at all stages of disease and survivorship through clinical care, education, research, and advocacy. The IPOS was created to foster international multidisciplinary communication about clinical, educational and research issues that relate to the subspecialty of psycho-oncology. The Society seeks to provide leadership and development of standards for educational training and research in the two psychosocial dimensions of cancer: the response of patients, families and staff to cancer and its treatment at all stages, and the psychological, social and behavioral factors that influence tumor progression and survival.

California Cancer Registry: http://www.ccrcal.org/

"A collaborative effort involving the California Department of Health Services, ten regional registries, hospitals, cancer researchers throughout the nation and the Public Health Institute. Their database includes information on demographics, cancer type, extent of disease at diagnosis, treatment, and survival. With this high quality data, leading cancer researchers are able to advance scientific knowledge about the causes, treatment, cures and prevention of cancer."

California Medical Association: http://www.cmaa.net/default.html

An organization of physicians' spouses dedicated to the health of California through education, community service programs and legislation. Provides leadership and resources for community health education and services in their respective communities.

California Wellness Foundation Work and Health Links: http://www.tcwf.org/links/
work_and_health.htm

Provides a wide variety of relevant and useful links.

Division of Cancer Prevention and Control (DCPC): http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/

"Part of the CDC's National Center For Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, implementing programs for the nation. DCPC focuses its cancer prevention and control resources in six priority areas: The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, The National Program of Cancer Registries, Skin Cancer Primary Prevention and Education Initiatives, the Prostate Cancer Control Initiative, Colorectal Cancer Control Initiative. and the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program."

Community Voices: http://www.communityvoices.org/

Across the U.S., 13 communities form the building blocks of a national effort to heal the healthcare system. The effort is called Community Voices: HealthCare for the Underserved and it is a five-year W.K. Kellogg Foundation national initiative.

Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF) - Breast Cancer Home Page: http://www.feminist.org/other/bc/bchome.html

"The FMF views feminism as a global movement dedicated to equality and seeks to eliminate discrimination of all kinds -- sex, race, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, disability, and marital status." The site includes a breast cancer links page.

Jacobs Institute of Women's Health: http://www.jiwh.org/

A not-for-profit organization "dedicated to advancing knowledge and practice in the field of women's health. Members of the Jacobs Institute are a multidisciplinary group of health care providers, researchers, policy makers and advocates with the common goal of improving the health status of women".

Lange Productions: http://www.langeproductions.com/breast.html

Offers a variety of complete, accurate and sensitive breast health resources for patients and health care professionals including the Be a Survivor trilogy covering topics from biopsy to nipple reconstruction. Lists questions to ask your healthcare professional. Includes combined wisdom of over twenty leading medical experts and stories from patients who have "been there before" provides a revealing perspective. Full color photos throughout this book. The book, CD-ROM and/or video are available for purchase. The video is currently available in Spanish, the book will soon be as well.

Mammography Quality & Radiation Programs: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/mammography...

This list of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Certified Mammography Facilities is updated weekly. You can access a listing by state and zip code of all mammography facilities certified by the FDA as meeting baseline quality standards for equipment, personnel and practices under the Mammography Quality Standards Act of 1992 (MQSA).

Mediconsult: http://www.mediconsult.com/mc/...

Visitors to this site can access breast cancer resources for patients including a Patient Support Forum and information on drugs and clinical trials. Established "to provide timely, comprehensive, and accessible medical information on chronic medical conditions, utilizing the latest available technology to deliver information efficiently. Completely independent of any hospital, drug company, HMO, hospital, or other health care organization in order to ensure unbiased, objective, credible information. All information that appears on the site must pass a rigorous clinical review process."

National Association of Professionals in Women's Health (NAPWH): http://www.nawh.org/

"A nonprofit, nonpartisan, professional membership association bringing together a growing constituency of professionals from a broad range of disciplines, all with a common interest in improving health outcomes for women. Established to promote excellence and provide leadership, resources, and collegial support to all professionals who influence, develop, and champion quality health care programs for women."

National Self-help Clearinghouse: http://www.selfhelpweb.org

"Provides information about and referral to self-help support groups and regional self-help clearinghouses; Assists human service agencies to integrate self-help principles and practices into their service delivery; Conducts training activities for self-help group leaders and for professional facilitators of support groups; Provides consultation to public agencies to promote their capabilities to encourage and sustain mutual support groups; Carries out research activities, including research about the effectiveness of self-help, the character of the self-help process, and relationships with the formal caregiving systems and Conducts media outreach, provides speakers, and publishes manuals, training materials, monographs and policy papers."

Office of Cancer Survivorship: http://dcp.nci.nih.gov/OCS/

Established "to provide a focus within the National Institutes of Health for the support of research and education aimed at professionals who deal with cancer patients and survivors. In so doing, the NCI recognized the large number of individuals now surviving cancer for long periods of time and their unique and poorly understood concerns. The objectives of the OCS are to :1) develop an agenda for the continuous acquisition of knowledge concerning the problems facing cancer survivors, including the medical, psychologic, and economic late effects of treatment; 2) support studies that aim to increase the length of survival for cancer patients, including those that involve prevention of subsequent disease and disability; 3) enable the dissemination of information to treating professionals concerning the problems and needs of cancer survivors; 4) assist in providing information to the public concerning the issues of concern to survivors; and, in general, 5) improve the quality of survival of all individuals diagnosed with cancer."

Center for Mind-Body Medicine: http://www.healthy.net/cmbm

"Mind-body medicine focuses on the interactions between mind and body and the powerful ways in which emotional, mental, social and spiritual factors can directly affect health. It regards as fundamental an approach which respects and enhances each person's capacity for self-knowledge and self-care and emphasizes techniques which are grounded in this approach. These techniques include self-awareness, relaxation, meditation, exercise, diet, biofeedback, visual imagery, self-hypnosis and group support. It explores and integrates the healing practices of other cultures, such as acupuncture and acupressure, meditation and yoga, as well as alternative Western approaches including herbalism, massage, musculo-skeletal manipulation, and prayer. It views illness as an opportunity for personal growth and transformation and health care providers as catalysts and guides in this process."

Commonweal Home Page: http://www.commonweal.org/

Commonweal is a small twenty-two-year-old health and environmental research institute. Their principal areas of work are "with (1) people with cancer and health professionals who work with people with life-threatening illnesses; (2) children and young adults with learning and social difficulties, and the childcare professionals who work with them; and (3) the global search for a healthy and sustainable future." The site has a high quality links page.

Health Journeys -- The Guided Imagery Resource Center: http://www.healthjourneys.com/

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM): http://altmed.od.nih.gov/nccam/

"Conducts and supports basic and applied research and training and disseminates information on complementary and alternative medicine to practitioners and the public."