Cancer Resources
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Many people (both patients and the people around them) associate cancer with hair loss. This may be the first outward sign that something isn't quite right. Prior to your own diagnosis, you may have seen other women who have lost their hair while they were having chemo.
The fact that you may be missing all or part of at least one breast is yet another piece of the cancer puzzle. Until you've been through it, you don't know what it will be like and how you will react to it. And there is no right or wrong way to deal with cancer. Everyone is unique just as the experiences associated with cancer are unique. What works for one person may not work for someone else. Hopefully, with a range of resources, you can find the answers that you need. |
What Internet sites should I use, if I decide to go there?
You may think big, but take small steps when collecting information. Many women stop using the internet once the fear it introduces is greater than the need to find answers. I was one of those women. Now that I am considered a survivor, I am less afraid (some fear still exists) to go on the Internet and I have come across sites I would have found useful during the diagnosis and treatment stages of my journey. No one gave me a list, so I am hoping that if I provide you with a series of links, you can go to a link, return to this site, and then go to another link. This should reduce the odds that you will find something you really don't want to see.
Use these links and you don't have to do a search and risk accessing and seeing information that you don't want to see. These are trusted sites, so you know that the information you see is accurate.
Medical Information
Use these links and you don't have to do a search and risk accessing and seeing information that you don't want to see. These are trusted sites, so you know that the information you see is accurate.
Medical Information
- American Cancer Society
- Breastcancer.org: articles, podcasts, breast cancer information
- Canadian Cancer Society: information about all types of cancer, including the ability to download booklets as you need them.
- Canadian Cancer Survivor Network: information about a variety of cancers as well as free webinars
- Canadian Breast Cancer Network: information about breast cancer (includes webinars)
- Dense Breasts Canada (includes online petition to sign and videos) and Dense Breast Info (Select the Legislation-->State Legislation Table to access "Comparative Analysis of State Density Inform Efforts and Insurance Coverage")
- Dr. Susan Love: Breast Cancer Explained
- Health Canada
- Healthline
- Health on the Net
- How to Read a Pathology Report
- Mediline Plus
- National Cancer Institute
- Rethink Breast Cancer: articles, breast cancer information, including a lot of great information for younger women
- World Wide Breast Cancer: Know Your Lemons Campaign
- Sleep and Cancer
- Twitter has so much cancer-related information and motivational words of wisdom. Why not check me out @kerr_debbie and @cancerflight
- Canadian Association for Nurses in Oncology: information that is specific to oncology nurses
- Verywell.com
- Asbestos-related cancer (mesothelioma): asbestos.com and mesothelioma.net
Chemo-Specific Sites
Support Groups/Forums/Blogs/Facebook Groups
- Willow: Breast and Hereditary Cancer Support
- ELLICSR: Health, Wellness, and Suvivorship Centre (Toronto area)
- CancerConnection.ca: forum for communicating with other cancer patients, survivors and caregivers.
- Best Breast Cancer Blogs of 2017 (Don't forget to check out my blog posts.)
- Facebook Groups (Breast Cancer Straight Talk Support, After Breast Cancer - Support The Girls!, Breast Cancer Slayers & Survivors!, Breast Cancer Survivor). These are closed groups that are meant for women who have or have had breast cancer.
Other Information
- Caringbridge.com is where you can share information and status reports with family and friends.
- Back to the Future in Health: complementary medicine I used when going through my cancer treatments
- How Stuff Works has multiple articles about how laughter (even forced laughter) can have a positive impact on the human body
- Eating Well During and After Your Cancer Treatments (suggested site from Katybeth)
What other resources are good?
There are a lot of books out there, so if you have read any good ones that helped you with your cancer experience, please let me know. If you haven't read my book, When Cancer Takes Flight, please check it out. Make this site even better by going to my Contact page and telling me which resources you've used and found helpful. I will add them to this site and others will benefit from your experience.