The following is a selection of websites that provide high-quality health information for patients. This is not a complete list-many organizations provide accurate, up-to-date health information. The sites listed here offer carefully researched medical information based on the best available evidence. In some cases, however, organizations may also recommend approaches to diagnosis or treatment that necessarily involve consideration of a patient's own values as well as the medical evidence.

Breast Cancer Resources
Governmental Agencies
Professional Medical Societies
National Non-Profit Organizations

Breast Cancer Resources
Adjuvant!
http://www.adjuvantonline.com/
A woman and her doctor can use this Web site to help estimate her risk of breast cancer recurrence or death, how hormone therapy or chemotherapy might change her risk, and the side effects of treatment. Please work with your doctor to be sure that information from your pathology report is entered accurately-in some cases it can be difficult to interpret.

American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp
The American Cancer Society is a nationwide community-based voluntary health organization. The mission of ACS is to eliminate cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer. The ACS conducts research and offers education, advocacy, and service.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
http://www.plwc.org/portal/site/PLWC
People Living With Cancer, the patient information Web site of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, provides oncologist-approved information on clinical trials, coping, side effects, and more than 50 types of cancer and their treatments.

American Society of Plastic Surgeons
http://www.plasticsurgery.org/public_education/procedures/index.cfm
This Web page provides a basic understanding of breast reconstruction-when it's appropriate, how it's done, and what results a woman can expect. Color illustrations show what is involved with the different types of reconstructive surgery.

Breast Cancer Lighthouse (Michigan State University)
http://www.commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/bcl/main.html
This site presents womens' personal stories about breast cancer; offers links to related sites; and features sections on diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

The Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center
http://www.ucsfbreastcarecenter.org/
This site provides general information about breast care, and includes a section about breast reconstruction.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Breast Implant Information
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/breastimplants/
Information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about both silicone and saline breast implants.

National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund
http://www.natlbcc.org/nbccf/index.html
The "Guide to Quality Breast Cancer Care" is designed to help breast cancer patients think about their choices, learn about their options, and make decisions that are right for them.

National Cancer Institute/cancer.gov
http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/wyntk/breast
NCI is the government's principal agency for cancer research. This comprehensive site explains types of breast cancer, early detection, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, treatment side effects, and information on clinical trials. Information about follow-up care and living with cancer is also included.

OncoLink (University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center)
http://www.oncolink.com/
The University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center offers this site with pages about screening, risk factors and prevention, treatment, genetics, support groups, and news stories.

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
www.komen.org
The Komen Foundation aims to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening, and treatment. The Helpline is available to empower women and their families by providing them with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about breast health or breast cancer concerns.

Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization
http://www.y-me.org/
This organization works to decrease the impact of breast cancer, create and increase breast cancer awareness, and to ensure-through information, empowerment, and peer support-that no one faces breast cancer alone.

Governmental Agencies

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
www.ahrq.gov/
This agency examines what works and does not work in health care. AHRQ's mission includes translating research findings into better patient care. The Agency's research helps provide patients and their doctors with information to support effective treatment choices. Some materials are available in Spanish.

National Institutes of Health
http://www.nih.gov/icd/
The 27 Centers and Institutes that comprise the National Institutes of Health support and conduct research and offer information on a wide range of health issues, including aging, child development, cardiovascular diseases, arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions, cancer, complementary and alternative therapies, mental health, and the human genome project. Many Institutes offer materials in Spanish.

National Cancer Institute
http://www.cancer.gov
The National Cancer Institute offers comprehensive information on cancer, early detection, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and treatment side effects. Information about follow-up care and living with cancer is also included. Some materials are available in Spanish.

National Cholesterol Education Program
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd/
Information on managing high cholesterol from the National Cholesterol Education Program.

Professional Medical Societies
In addition to the sites listed here, many professional medical societies offer health information resources for patients on their websites.

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org
The AAOS offers information on spinal stenosis, herniated disk, and osteoarthritis, including hip and knee replacement surgery, as well as other orthopedic conditions.

American Urological Association
http://www.urologyhealth.org/
This site features information on a variety of prostate conditions, including benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer.

National Non-Profit Organizations
For many health conditions, there are national non-profit organizations that provide information, advocacy, programs, and services to patients.

American Diabetes Association
http://www.diabetes.org/main/application/commercewf
The Healthy Living section of this site includes tips and information about nutrition, exercise, and stress. The nutrition section describes healthy restaurant eating and features frequently asked questions, recipes, exchange lists, and a nutrition quiz. Some materials are available in Spanish.

American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org
The official Web site of the American Heart Association has sections on heart attack warning signs, risk assessment, CPR, nutrition, exercise, scientific publications, cholesterol, and special programs. Some materials are available in Spanish.

Arthritis Foundation
http://www.arthritis.org
The Surgery Center (http://www.arthritis.org/conditions/SurgeryCenter/default.asp)
offers information on the risks and benefits of joint replacement surgery to help patients decide when surgery is right for them.