CERVICAL CANCER
Community
[Question to CCPI: What
kind of infomation should go here?]
I’ve Just Been Told I Have
Cervical Cancer
Very few things are
scarier than being told you have cancer. You may feel
like you’re in shock. You may not even want to believe
what the doctor has told you. And there are probably
so many questions you want to ask but think you can’t
because you don’t know where to start.
First of all, it’s okay
to be overwhelmed. And it’s okay to feel afraid. But
you shouldn’t let those feelings stop you from finding
out as much as you can about the cancer and about the
options you have. Because the more you know, the less
helpless and afraid you will feel. And the more you know,
the better you will be able to work with your healthcare
team to make the best choices for your treatment.
Source: Women's
Cancer Network
[possible] RESOURCES:
ASCO Answers is
a series of fact sheets that provides an introduction
to a specific type of cancer. Each fact sheet is a
PDF that includes an overview of what the cancer is,
an illustration of where the cancer starts, how it
is treated, terms to know, and questions to ask the
doctor.
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2008. 2 pages (pdf 320K). To download
the pdf please
click here.
To estimate your risk of cervical cancer and learn
about ways to lower that risk, take a few minutes to
answer some questions about your health, background,
and lifestyle. To take the interactive questionnaire
online please
click here
Cervical cancer is one of the most
preventable kinds of cancer. Once a leading cause of
cancer death in the US, cervical cancer is now much
less common. The reason? Regular screenings with Pap
tests that can help prevent the disease or catch it
early when it’s most treatable. And a new cervical
cancer vaccine for youth should boost the potential
of prevention even further.
The Women’s Cancer Network has produced a 20 page brochure
that covers cervical cancer, treatment options and a
resource guide.
To download the PDF file (240K) please
click here
EyesOnThePrize.org, a nonprofit online support group,
provides information and emotional support from the survivors'perspective
to women with gynecologic cancers, their families and caregivers.
As a support community for living with gynecologic cancer,
EyesOnThePrize.org offers survivor stories, answers to
questions, resources, discussion about cervical, endometrial,
uterine, ovarian, vulvar, gestational and other reproductive
cancers. The site includes: warning signs, risks, diagnosis,
treatment options and side effects for all gynecologic
cancers; links to related sites and opportunity to join
private discussion list; database of “on-the-ground” local
community GYN cancer support groups.
The National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC)
founded in 1996, is a grassroots nonprofit organization
dedicated to serving women with, or at risk for, cervical
cancer and HPV disease. Many questions women might have
about cervical cancer get answered by other women who had
gone though similar experiences. By sharing their stories
complex scientific questions can be addressed by other
women.
To visit site NCCC web site please
click here
Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP),
2 pages, color brochure (pdf 354K)
Cervical cancer is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV)
and can be prevented. Talk with your health care provider about screening for
cervical cancer. This brochure will help you make sense of cervical cancer,
HPV, and cervical cancer screening.
To download the pdf file please
click here
ACS: Overview: Cervical Cancer
How
Many Women Get Cancer of the Cervix?
Women's
Cancer Network
PDQ
Cervical Cancer for patients (PDQ as
it is commonly known stands for physicians data query.
The "patient links" link is less scientific,
but uses medical language for treatment options)
The Secretariat of the Pacific Community's
(SPC) Public Health
Programme is dedicated to improving the
health, and therefore the future, of all Pacific Islanders.
To see a list of selected publications from SPC’s Healthy
Pacific Lifestyle please
click here
To find out more about the Healthy
Pacific Lifestyle from the Secretariat of the Pacific Community's
webiste (SPC-HPLS) please
click here
Traditional Medicine
In many cultures traditional medicine
plays an important role in treating the sick or addressing
disease. Traditional medicine, and its practice and philosophical
and cultural manifestations differ greatly from culture
to culture. There is not one size fits all explanation
for traditional medicine. In many Pacific cultures
traditional medicine play a vital role in a communities
health care, but it is ultimately up to the individual
to seek help from traditional healers or not.
In the past decade the term ‘integrative
medicine’ has become more common, where both Traditional
and Western medical concepts can work hand in hand, focusing
on what is best for the patient. Many people may seek
the advise from the traditional healers in their culture,
but my be reluctant to disclose this to their Western
doctor. Traditional medicine can be very beneficial for
many ailments, although cancer is such a complex disease
that using traditional medicine alone might not be the
best available treatment option. Traditional medicine
has been very successful in treating e.g. nausea or rashes
that often go along with many cancer treatments and western
medicine might provide little relieve.
If you chose to consult a traditional
healer please try to discuss this with your doctor or
contact your cancer coordinator to find out what treatment
options are available on your island.
To find out more about CAM (complementary
and alternative medicine) form the National Cancer Institute
(NCI) please
click here
