Edited by Dr. Richard Brown, this site provides links to cancer related sites throughout the internet. This site is logically layed out and is very easy to use. The cancer related topics are fairly comprehensive and the links are to institutions with sterling reputations.
This is a very well done site equipped with a search engine that enables you to find information on a broad range of topics including common illnesses, surgical procedures, medications, etc. I have spot checked several of the topics and they are well written and accurate. Use of the site requires a one time registration.
Noah provides an impressive array of links to other web sites that provide answers to a word search based inquiry. General health topics of interest are also covered.
Based upon questions submitted, this site provides answers to the most popular health topics. The answers provided were clear and authoritative. There were also extensive links to other sites and a word search engine provided. If you have a medical question to ask anonymously, surf to this site.
This site contains links to nearly 7,000 medically related sites and is well organized by topics or can be researched by a search engine. It is the most comprehensive that I have found so far and is easy to use. Produced by the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, you can find authoritative information on various medical topics. Go to the patient information section and you can make inquiries by organ system or medical department. One can also do a search on the "virtual hospital" but I have found that the results are quite esoteric in nature. Overall an excellent source of medical information. National Institute of Health (NIH)This governmental website has useful information regarding various topics including cancer and AIDS. There is a section on the NIH Consensus Development Program that evaluates new and or controversial medical technologies. This site is reasonably easy to understand if you are a non-professional, but you may have to tolerate long waits as this server can be quite slow.
Pharmaceutical Information Network
This is a very comprehensive site covering not only drug information but also information on medical topics, drug research, and links to other medical resources. The lay public may find using this site somewhat overwhelming as it is oriented more towards the healthcare professional, but if you need to find out about a prescription that your doctor gave to you, this is the site to visit.
National Committee for Quality Assurance
This is a non profit organization that has played a leadership role in evaluating the quality of HMO plans through accreditation and performance reviews. Though the layperson may find this site somewhat difficult to use due to its technical nature, it is well worth the effort to check out the accreditation report summaries if you are selecting an HMO. The list of accredited HMO's is rather short but should grow with time. Unfortunately, the comprehensive reports are only available by CD ROM at a minimum cost of $500. National Cancer Institute Part of the National Institute of Health, this site helps to answer questions regarding both diagnosis and treatment of various forms of cancer. If you are a cancer patient or researching the topic for a relative or friend, you will find reliable information here. The site is part of the NIH link mentioned above, but is much easier to find using this hotlink. Many thanks to Pamela Lyles, RN for suggesting this site.Lloyd Ito, MD
3/16/97