There's nothing more frightening than hearing the words "you have cancer" from your physician. With this diagnosis, many questions come to mind ... What's next? Will I survive? How do I tell my loved ones? The last is the most important for many people after receiving a cancer diagnosis: I need accurate information right now. Where do I go?
The College of American Pathologists unveiled new resources and features on its award-winning, cancer information website, MyBiopsy.org.
"Our newly, expanded website now offers information on more than 40 cancer topics and cancer-related conditions, to help cancer patients and their loved ones better understand their diagnosis -- when they need it most," said CAP President Stephen N. Bauer, MD, FCAP. "We re-designed the site with the patient in mind to offer even more resources and features in an environment that is easy-to-navigate to empower patients to make informed decisions about their health and feel less isolated."
Visitors to MyBiopsy.org can now access a comprehensive glossary of key medical terms in easy-to-understand language, tips on how to read a pathology report, and survivor stories. In addition, patients can share this information with family, friends, and other doctors through e-mail and Facebook. The site also offers a list of available treatment options; questions patients can print and take along to doctors' visits; and images of diseased and normal tissues and cells. Visitors can also link to MyHealthTestReminder.org, also developed by the CAP, to schedule potentially, life-saving cancer screening tests.
Each page on MyBiospy.org was developed by a pathologist and is available in HTML, PDF, and Word formats. The College plans to post additional cancer topics throughout the year.
During January National Cervical Cancer Awareness month, cervical cancer survivor, Nora Bowers, shares her story on MyBiopsy.org. Visitors can read her testimonial and/or watch a short video that explains how she was diagnosed and the pathologist's role in diagnosing cervical cancer. A new cancer survivor will be featured regularly on the site.
"As a physician who specializes in pathology, I know how devastating a cancer diagnosis can be for a patient," said Dr. Bauer. "MyBiopsy.org brings the medical expertise from the doctors who diagnose cancer directly to patients to help them gain a sense of a control."
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