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CancerResource: Introduction
- Look Forward With Hope
- Introduction
- Using CancerResource
- About CancerResource
- The American Institute for Cancer Research
- There are more than eight million cancer survivors in the United States.
- Cancer treatments have improved over the last twenty years. Many people go into remission; many become long-term survivors.
- Each cancer case is unique, but survival statistics are significant and helpful in planning treatment and looking at prognosis. Many localized cancers carry a prognosis for five-year survival of 90 percent or greater. For many cancers, five-year survivors are considered cured and have the same expected life span as others of their age and condition who never had cancer.
There has never been a time of greater hope in regard to cancer. Today, we know more about identifying and treating this disease than ever before. A diagnosis of cancer is no longer a reason to despair. Cancer patients now have a much better chance to overcome this disease and return to a full and active life.
Treating cancer is not a job for the medical professional alone. If you or a loved one have been told you have cancer, regard the diagnosis as a reason to learn more, to take action and to be an active participant in defeating this disease.
The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) has developed the CancerResource program to help cancer patients, their families and friends gain an understanding of the disease, the treatment options and the various resources available. The materials in the CancerResource packet provide information to help you be an involved, active participant in fighting cancer. In addition to this CancerResource guide, AICR offers a brochure called Cancer Information—Where to Find Help, a resource for locating and contacting organizations that provide cancer information, support or direct services. To order this publication, call AICR toll free at 1-800-843-8114.
Through a wide range of cancer education and research projects, AICR has helped millions of Americans learn more about cancer prevention. It has also received numerous requests for information about cancer and its treatment. Although AICR’s primary focus is on prevention, it recognizes its responsibility to provide understandable, reliable information that can help individuals through the difficult period following a diagnosis of cancer.
Individuals living with cancer need to make many decisions to ensure they receive the most effective treatment. It is the hope of the American Institute for Cancer Research that the CancerResource manual will aid in that process.
When you or someone you care about is diagnosed with cancer, the first response may be one of confusion, anxiety and fear. Yet, at that moment, there are many important decisions concerning treatment and care that must be made, and often they must be made soon.
CancerResource can help those affected by cancer regain a sense of control at this crucial time. Decisions about treatment and care can become more manageable when individuals understand the disease and treatment options and know where to turn for additional information and assistance.
AICR developed CancerResource with the guidance of professionals, who have a variety of medical, research and educational expertise. CancerResource is not meant to be a comprehensive resource. What is presented here should not replace your physician’s advice or information received from cancer treatment specialists. Rather, use CancerResource as a starting point to becoming better informed about cancer, what treatment options are available, and when and where to ask questions to get the information you need. You may choose to read CancerResource straight through or only turn to those areas of information of most interest to you.
As with any chronic illness, the patient is as much a part of the cure as the medicine. CancerResource is intended to help make cancer patients and their families informed, involved participants in overcoming this disease.
CancerResource is an information resource, not a substitute for medical care.
The American Institute for Cancer Research does not recommend any specific treatment. Treatment must be worked out for each individual patient by the health care team. The information that is given here is general and may not apply to your individual situation.
Cancer research and treatments are constantly developing. AICR has made every effort to ensure that the information provided here is as current and accurate as possible.
AICR is not responsible for any misinterpretation or misapplication of included information. We suggest that you read and consider the information we provided, and then discuss specific questions with your health care team.
The American Institute for Cancer Research
The American Institute for Cancer Research is the only national, major cancer organization focusing exclusively on diet, nutrition and cancer. Scientists have estimated that as many as 30 to 40 percent of all cancers are linked to dietary choices, and the National Cancer Institute currently estimates that as many as 35 percent of cancer deaths are diet related.
AICR has led the way in research and educational programs to help increase knowledge and understanding of the role diet plays in the cancer process, in the prevention of cancer and in its treatment. It has been a pioneer in encouraging research to help understand how dietary changes may be used to reduce cancer risk and to develop new nutritional means of treating cancer.
AICR is a non-profit organization, supported primarily by the donations of more than nine million individuals across the country. It does not receive federal funding.
AICR was founded in 1982 with the dual mission of both supporting cancer research and providing educational programs for cancer prevention. It has been one of the largest funding sources for research in diet, nutrition and cancer. In addition, it has also been a national leader in public health education programs, which have helped millions of Americans make changes to lower cancer risk. AICR's educational efforts include a national newsletter, Nutrition Hotline, television and radio public service broadcasts, children's programs, cookbooks, syndicated newspaper columns, and numerous educational booklets and brochures.
For additional information on AICR’s programs in cancer research and education, or for information on how to provide much needed support for its work, call AICR toll free at 1-800-843-8114.
