This page is intended to help first-time interneters through what steps to take next.
Remember to Bookmark this page - so that you can find it again.
As a patient, family member or carer, you will want to find out as much information as possible - as quickly as possible.
Visits to your Doctor
Your head may be in a spin - full of different thoughts. Take a notepad. You will not remember everything the doctor tells you and you will not remember to ask every question you intended to ask. Take a very close friend or family member with you, ask them to take notes and if necessary to ask questions for you. Investigate your cancer first, then you will be able to ask questions of your doctor from an informed base. This is so that your doctor does not need to spend so much time explaining the basics to you. You can then get on with discussing your treatment options.
Find out the exact Type and Stage of the Cancer
You will get this information from your doctor. Also, after hospital tests, your doctor will also know your CA-125 count. It is a rough guide to how well the cancer is responding to treatment. If you post a message to a support list, forum or newsgroup it will be helpful if you include these details.
Subscribe to a support list
These lists are free and are populated by people like you, also people who have lived with Cancer for a while and there may sometimes also be some doctors there. Often people will be able to offer practical advice for something that they have already been through. The list of Internet email support lists is here.
CompuServe
The Cancer Forum (GO CANCER) is an excellent source of support and information. If you are not already a member, it may be worth joining for the extra source of information.
Usenet
The alt.support.cancer newsgroup is well worth checking, although it's not as structured and controlled as the Cancer Forum, some good contacts can be made.
Web sites
Now you know the Cancer type, you can start to check the relevant sites from the links section.
CancerLink