Canadian Cancer Society

The official web site of the Canadian Cancer Society(http://www.cancer.ca/ccs/internet/frontdoor/0,,3172___langId-en,00.html) is a beautifully-designed, easy-to-use resource.? The focus is three-pronged:? providing information about cancer and related issues, providing support to those dealing with cancer, and providing opportunities to help in the fight against cancer. A drop-down list in the top lefthand corner allows users to move easily between the Canada-wide site and the various provincial web sites, which provide information such as local Cancer Society phone numbers, provincial cancer statistics, and local fundraising initiatives.? Each of the provincial sites has interesting and helpful information, but those recently diagnosed with cancer might be interested in looking at the Ontario site, specifically ‘Financial information’ (the bottom link under ‘Get information’).? Since the layout of each component site is the same, navigation is simple wherever you click. There is information galore on the site, not just about cancer itself, but also about advocacy issues, clinical trials, and even how to donate one’s hair for the making of wigs.? The link to the Cancer Glossary, which is one of the buttons in the top menu, contains an exhaustive list of terms that patients and their families will encounter in cancer literature and conversation with medical personnel. Smokers who are courageous enough to visit the site – they know what they are going to read, after all – should look for the link to Quit Smoking in the list headed ‘Get support’.? The Cancer Society provides a five-step self-help programme and Smokers’ Help Line to help smokers kick the habit.? For non-smokers whose friends or family members smoke, there is also information about helping someone quit.? If you are a smoker and need some incentive to stop, try using the smoking calculator to see how much money you burn by lighting up those cigarettes. Necessarily, certain information on the Canadian Cancer Society is relevant only to Canadians.? However, information about cancer and its prevention will benefit anyone anywhere who would like to know more about this dreaded disease, how to prevent it, how to fight it, and the treatments available.