Patient-Focused Educational Materials
Especially helpful for newly diagnosed patients.
Most clinicians are aware of the vast array of patient education materials available from the National Cancer Institute and American Cancer Society. Not as many may know that the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recently developed a line of patient-focused educational materials.
ASCO Answers guides to cancer are designed to help patients newly diagnosed with cancer understand their disease and treatment options. The comprehensive booklets contain information about diagnosis, treatment, side effects, and psychosocial effects of common types of cancer. There are specific booklets on lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, etc. The booklets also provide space for patients to record details about their diagnosis and treatment plan. In addition, there are check boxes to help patients keep track of the tests, procedures, and treatments they will be receiving Each guide can be purchased from the ASCO University Bookstore at cancer.net/estore, with a 20% discount for ASCO members and free shipping. In addition, one-page (front and back) introductions to specific cancer types (e.g. breast, colon, etc.), including an overview, an anatomical illustration of where it starts and possible areas of tumor involvement, how it is treated, terms to know, and questions to ask the doctor are available from ASCO.
