March 29, 2002

In This Issue: 
Hospital Ranking, Brit's Skin Cancer Increasing, Lung Treatments Lacking, NSAIDs In Prostates, Advocates In Washington, Cancer and Sleep

NEW INFORMATION CENTERS: DRUGS, SIDE-EFFECTS, AND MEDICAL ILLUSTRATIONS

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THE LATEST NEWS
How Does Your Hospital Rank? Check Out The Doctor Survey

Men Taking NSAIDs May Lower Prostate Cancer Risk

Men's Skin Cancer Rates Alarming the British

Lung Cancer Treatments Lacking for Women, Minorities, and the Poor

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BREAST CANCER ACTIVISTS WILL MEET TO LEARN AND LOBBY
The National Breast Cancer Coalition convenes its annual Advocacy Training Conference for education and inspiration in Washington, DC. Experts will cover important breast cancer issues to an audience of key leaders and breast cancer activists. The National Breast Cancer Coalition lobbies for increased federal funding for research, and fights discrimination of patients in employment and insurance. The Advocacy Training Conference begins Saturday, April 27 and ends on Tuesday, April 30 with a full day of lobbying on members of Congress. 
http://www.natlbcc.org/bin/index.htm


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NEW INFORMATION CENTERS ON DRUGS, SIDE-EFFECTS, AND MEDICAL ILLUSTRATIONS
Our new Drug Center includes 330 chemotherapy agents and supportive care drugs as well as the combinations frequently used, with plain English descriptions of risks and benefits. The Side-Effects Center is unique on the internet for frank talk about what to expect from chemo, radiation, transplants, and other treatments, with a focus on how to deal with side-effects and when to call the doctor. Our new Medical Illustrations section shows organs with and without cancer to help visualize cancers of the blood, lymph system, and major organs. See the Information Centers on the homepage, www.cancerpage.matria.com.


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DOCTOR IN THE MOUSE: CAN'T SLEEP? SURF INSOMNIA
Insomnia and fatigue are common among cancer patients and not just because of chemo or pain. National Sleep Awareness Week is April 1 - 7, so BreastLink.com published two articles on insomnia and cancer, calling it one of the most common issues for patients. www.breastlink.com

The National Sleep Foundation covers the medical angle http://www.sleepfoundation.org 

Then, if you still can't sleep, read about public policy issues and real sleep-lobbyists on Capitol Hill at the National Sleep Awareness web site. http://www.nsaw.org/2002preview.html

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THANK YOU NOTE MADE OUR DAY 
A visitor sent this thank you note recently and we had to share it with our newsletter subscribers. 

"What a wonderful service you have. I just found your website last night. When I looked up some info on my mother's cancer, I found very thorough and understandable information on both her cancer and the chemo drug she is now taking. Your Ask Our RN service was a way for me to get my questions answered. Also, the response from the RN was very thorough and very friendly. I can't say thank you enough." 

And Thank You!