Understanding Cancer

Cancer

Cancer is the general term for the abnormal growth of cells. Although cancer is usually thought of as one disease, it is in fact more than 200 different diseases. Each type of cancer behaves differently and so it is treated with different therapies. Your oncologist will be discussing the specifics of your cancer. If you would like to find out more, visit the web sites listed below.

Health Education

The Health Education Department is located on the first floor of the Cypress Building, next to the pharmacy. Health educators can help you find the information you need. They offer many classes including:

Tools for Fighting Cancer. This class provides a basic overview of cancer and how it grows and spreads. To register call (650) 299-2433.
Breast Cancer Survivor's Support Group. For more information call Janis Blue LCSW at (650) 299-3213.

The Health Education Dept. also has books and video tapes that can be checked out of the library. A few are:

Everyone's Guide to Cancer Therapy by Dollinger, Rosenbaum & Cable. 1994.

Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book by Susan Love 2000. Development in breast care, screening ,diagnosis, treatment, and research.

Many NCI booklets related to cancer topics are available.

Links:

• American Cancer Society
• Información de referencia sobre el cáncer
• National Cancer Institute
• National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship

Disclaimer
If you think you have a MEDICAL OR PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY or go to the nearest hospital. DO NOT attempt to access emergency care through this web site. An emergency medical condition is a medical or psychiatric condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in any of the following: serious jeopardy to your health, serious impairment to your bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part. An emergency medical condition is also "active labor," which means a labor when there is inadequate time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery or if a transfer poses a threat to the health of the member or unborn child.

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