Focusing on the Mental/Emotional Side of Breast Cancer

Internet Research Among Cancer Patients Cancer Nursing: Despite widespread internet usage, the issue of patient use of the internet for research has not been widely explored. The issues include ethics, recruitment, website development, data entry and analysis. Nursing Informatics combines computer science, information and nursing science to help the maintenance and processing of nursing data. This proposal encompasses CARE (care, administration, research, education). Research is the least developed area of nursing informatics. Nurse researchers tend to be slow in adopting virtual space for research. Oncology nurses are the most adapt at using the internet for research. This article will explore the practical issues of internet research by the cancer patient. http://www.cancernursingonline.com

Well-Being Following Breast Cancer Treatment Journal of the National Cancer Institute: This study finds that most women have a good level of mental health, but have many physical symptoms post-treatment, particularly if they underwent a mastectomy and/or chemotherapy. Earlier studies show that women find this to be a stressful time - fear of recurrence, the lack of constant support from their medical team, and lingering side effects of therapy. Little is known about the pattern of recovery after treatment. Sexual dysfunction was more prevalent in women who had undergone chemo. The authors recognize that more attention must be paid to symptoms that women report at the end of treatment, for their physical and emotional well-being. http://jncicancerspectrumoupjournals.org...

Health insurance Based on the generosity of a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute has written a Consumer Guide For Getting And Keeping Health Insurance . There is a separate guide for each state. The guide gives a brief summary of your protections. This is a good starting point for health insurance information. http://www.healthinsuranceinfo.net

Gene Expression Database The International Genomics Consortium (ICG) began work March 1, 2004 on the first national, public database of standardized, clinically annotated gene expression data. The goal of the ICG, a non-profit medical research organization, is to obtain and perform gene expression on an annotated set of tumor and normal tissue samples and to release all the data into the public domain without intellectual property restriction. This data bank will meet crucial research needs and establish a common vocabulary for all cancer researchers. http://www.intgen.org/expo_scientific_re...

Internet and Patient's Cancer Experience British Medical Journal: This qualitative study included 175 men and women, ages 19-83, who had experienced either prostate, breast, testicular, cervical or bowel cancer. The results proved that internet usage among the patients was wide spread. All patients reported using the internet immediately upon diagnosis, during all treatments and as a follow-up. The internet provided access to second opinions, support, experimental information, advice from other patients, interpretation of test results, lists of questions to ask doctors, and to raise awareness about all cancer issues. Patients often checked their physician's credentials and sought back up for the medical advice received. The internet affords the patient the opportunity to garner information, anonymously, often in the comfort of their own home and addresses needs that are unlikely to be met through conventional health care.

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