Cancer Organizations

American Brain Tumor Association

Offers free publications on brain tumors, support group lists, and funds research.

2720 River Road, Suite 146
Des Plaines, IL 60018
1-800-886-ABTA (1-800-886-2282)
Web: http://www.abta.org
Email: info@abta.org

American Cancer Society

Offers a variety of services to survivors and their families through research, printed materials and educational programs. These programs include: CanSurmount, I Can Cope, Look Good Feel Better, Man to Man, Reach to Recovery. Dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem through research, education, advocacy, and service.

250 Williams Street, NW
Atlanta, GA 30303-1002
1-800-ACS-2345 (1-800-227-2345)
Web: http://www.cancer.org

American Dietetic Association

Offers information and assistance in nutritional issues for consumers and health care professionals.

American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR)

Offers information on cancer prevention, particularly through diet and nutrition. Also provides consumer and health professional brochures.

1759 R. Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
1-800-843-8114
Web: http://www.aicr.org
E-mail: aicrweb@aicr.org

Cancer Care, Inc.

Provides free professional counseling, support groups, information and education, and referrals to community services to survivors and their families with any type of cancer regardless of stage.

1180 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
1-800-813-HOPE
Web: http://www.cancercare.org
E-mail: info@cancercare.org

Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation

Provides information, peer support, and advocacy through publications and an information clearing house to families of children with cancer, survivors of childhood cancers, and health care professionals that work with them.

7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 460
Bethesda, MD 20814-3015
1-800-366-CCCF
Web: http://www.candlelighters.org
E-mail: info@candlelighters.org

International Myeloma Foundation

Supports education, treatment, and research for multiple myeloma. Also provides toll free hot-line, seminars and educational materials.

2129 Stanley Hills Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90046
1-800-452-CURE
Web: http://www.myeloma.org
E-mail: theimf@aol.com

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America

Supports research and provides printed materials and information on leukemia and related cancers such as lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and Hodgkin’s disease. Also provides patient aid, as well as patient and family support.

600 Third Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
1-800-955-4SLA
Web: http://www.leukemia.org
E-mail: frankbock@aol.com

Lung Cancer Alliance

Provides patients with lung cancer and their families support with programs in education, psychosocial support, and advocacy.

888 16th St NW Ste 800
Washington, DC 20006
1-800-298-2436 or (202) 463-2080
Web: www.lungcanceralliance.org
E-mail: info@lungcanceralliance.org

National Breast Cancer Coalition

A grassroots advocacy movement of hundreds of organizations and thousands of individuals working through a National Action Network with the purpose of eradicating breast cancer through action and advocacy.

1707 L Street NW, Suite 1060
Washington, DC 20036
1-202-296-7477
Web: http://www.natlbcc.org

National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship

Provides information and resources on support, advocacy, and quality of life for all cancer survivors and their families.

1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 505
Silver Spring, MD 20910
1-888-650-9127
Web: http://www.cansearch.org
E-mail: info@cansearch.org

National Cancer Institute

Provides printed materials and a nationwide telephone service to provide information on cancer treatment, resources, and research for cancer survivors and their families, and health care professionals.

1-800-4-CANCER
Web: http://www.nci.nih.gov

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

The Hospice Helpline helps callers to locate hospices in their areas.

1901 N Moore Street, Suite 901
Arlington, VA 22209
1-800-658-8898
Web: http://www.nhpco.org
E-mail: drsnho@cais.com

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

Funds breast cancer research, project grants, and local community screening and treatment projects. Their Helpline provides information on breast health and breast cancer.

5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 370
Dallas, TX 75244
1-800-IM-AWARE
Web: http://www.komen.org

US TOO International, Inc.

Provides information and emotional support to men with prostate cancer through newsletters and a network of support groups.

930 North York Road, Suite 50
Hinsdale, IL 60521
1-800-80-USTOO
Web: http://www.ustoo.com
E-mail: ustoo@ustoo.com

Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, Inc.

Provides information and support to anyone who has been touched by breast cancer.

212 West Van Buren Street
Chicago, IL 60607-3908
1-800-221-2141
Web: http://www.y-me.org
E-mail: info@y-me.org

Additional Website Information:

American Botanical Council
http://www.herbalgram.org
1-800-373-7105

Food and Drug Administration
http://www.vm.cfsan.fda.gov
1-800-322-0178

Herbs Research Foundation
http://www.herbs.org
1-303-449-2265

Home Food Safety
http://www.homefoodsafety.org

National Cancer Institute—PDQ Clinical Trials Search Form—Patients
http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov/prot/patsrch.shtml

Office of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NIH)
http://www.cancer.gov/occam
1-800-4CANCER

Oncolink
http://www.oncolink.upenn.edu

President’s Council on Physical Fitness
http://www.fitness.gov
1-202-272-3421

Vegetarian Resource Group
http://www.veg.org

Readings on Nutrition and Physical Activity

1. Alternative Medicine: Expanding Medical Horizons, National Institute of Health. Washington, DC: NIH Publications #94-066; 1994. 1-202-512-1800 (A comprehensive resource on complementary and alternative medicine.)

2. Cassileth BR. The Alternative Medicine Handbook. New York, WW Norton & Company, 1998. (A comprehensive guide to complementary alternative medicine for clinicians and consumers.)

3. Collinge W. The American Holistic Health Association’s Complete Guide to Alternative Medicine. New York, Time Warner, 1996. (A complete guide of complementary and alternative therapies.)

4. Melina V, Davis B, and Harrison, V. Becoming Vegetarian: A Complete Guide to Adopting a Healthy Vegetarian Diet. Toronto, Macmillan Canada, 1999. (A complete resource for individuals interested in adopting a plant based (vegetarian) diet. Contains step-by-step information on how to eat a nutritious, well planned vegetarian diet.)

5. Wilkes GM. Cancer and HIV clinical nutrition pocket guide (2nd ed.). Boston, Jones and Bartlett, 1999.

6. Weihofen D. The Cancer Survival Cookbook. Minneapolis, Chronimed Publishing,1998. (A registered dietitian with over 20 years of oncology nutrition experience provides side effect management strategies and healthy eating suggestions, as well as snack and recipe ideas.)

7. Hoffman B and Mullan F. A Cancer Survivor’s Almanac. Available from the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship at 1-888-650-9127. (A publication that contains chapters on diet and nutrition for cancer survivors.)

8. McCullam P and Polisena C, (eds.). The Clinical Guide to Oncology Nutrition. Chicago, The American Dietetic Association, 2000. (A comprehensive resource by registered dietitians with expertise in oncology nutrition. The guide provides clinicians working with cancer survivors across the continuum of care with nutritionally sound and practical information and resources.)

9. Ottery FD. Definition of standardized nutritional assessment and interventional pathways in oncology. Nutrition 1996;12(1 Suppl):S15‑S19.

10. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, and Carotenoids. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine, Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2000.

11. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine, Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1997.

12. Dietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of MedicineWashington, DC: National Academy Press, 1998.

13. Messina M and Messina V. The Dietitian’s Guide to Vegetarian Diets: Issues and Applications. Rockville, Aspen Publishers, Inc., 1996. (Experts in plant based diets provide clinicians with practical and sound information on vegetarian diets.)

14. Eating Hints For Cancer Patients. Available from the National Cancer Institute at 1-800-4-CANCER. (A consumer friendly publication that provides practical eating hints for cancer survivors undergoing cancer therapy.)

15. The German Commission E Monographs, American Botanical Council. Austin, TX and Boston, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications; 1998. Available at 1-800-73-7105. (A comprehensive scientific review of herbals and botanicals.

16. Tyler V. Herbs of Choice, and Honest Herbal. New York, Haworth Pharmaceutical Product Press, 1999. (Two informative ready reference books on herbals and botanicals.)

17. Sarubin A. The Health Professional’s Guide to Popular Dietary Supplements. Chicago, The American Dietetic Association, 2000. (A complete resource that provides clinicians with resources on popular dietary supplements including vitamins, minerals and herbals.)

18. Murphy G, Morris L, and Lange, D. Informed Decisions: The Complete Book of Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment, and Recovery. Atlanta, American Cancer Society, Inc., 1997. Second edition available Fall 2001. (A publication that contains chapters on food and nutrition, activity, and complementary and alternative therapies.)

19. Mahan LK and Escott-Stump S, (eds.). Krause’s Food, Nutrition, and Diet Therapy, 10th ed. Philadelphia, WB Saunders Company, 2000. (Contains chapters on medical nutrition therapy for neoplastic disease, and integrative medicine and herbal therapy.)

20. Nutritional Management of the Patient Experiencing Cancer. Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society Press; 1994. (A complete resource that provides clinicians with practical nutritional management strategies for cancer survivors.)

21. Bloch A. Nutrition Management of the Cancer Patient. Rockville, Aspen Publishers, 1990. (Experts in nutrition and oncology provide clinicians with sound advice and information on managing the nutrition needs of cancer survivors across the continuum of care.)

22. Nutrition for the Person with Cancer: A Guide for Patients and Families. Available from the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345.

23. Brown JK and Hartmuller V. Nutritional resources for patients with cancer and health professionals. Cancer Practice 1998;6:125-128.

24. Physician’s Desk Reference on Herbal Medicine. Montvale, Medical Economics Company, 1998. (A comprehensive reference of herbals and botanicals.)

25. Recommended Dietary Allowances. Food and Nutrition Board. 10th ed. Washingtion, DC: National Academy Press; 1989 (An informative scientific review of the recommended daily allowances of vitamins and minerals.)

Glossary

Body Mass Index (BMI): weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (W/H2). This is the most widely used index of body fat levels, also called Quetelet’s Index.

Cancer Survivor: a person is considered a cancer survivor at the time of diagnosis and for the balance of life. This is a self-defining concept that may be inclusive of other terms such as victor, conqueror, etc.

Chemoprevention: prevention of disease using drugs, chemicals, vitamins or minerals.

Clinical Trials: studies of new treatments in patients are called clinical trials. Clinical trials are only done when there is some reason to believe that the treatment being studied may be of value to the patient.

Dietary Reference Intakes: developed by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Science, DRI is an umbrella term that encompasses four types of nutrient intakes for healthy individuals: adequate intake (AI), estimated average intake (EAR), recommended daily allowances (RDA), and tolerable upper intake levels (UL).

Flavonoid: a type of phytochemical known as phenols that protect plants from oxidative damage; they have properties which may decrease the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases.

Health Care Provider: an individual or group of individuals that provide for the medical management and care of patients. These individuals may be medical doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, registered dietitians, radiation therapists, naturopathic physicians and chiropractors.

Healthy Body Weight: a person’s body weight that is an appropriate weight for height and consists of appropriate amounts of muscle and body fat ( for most people this is equivalent to a BMI of 20 to 25).

Macronutrient: calorie-containing nutrients such as the proteins, carbohydrates and fats that your body uses for energy to fuel body functions.

Micronutritent: essential non-caloric nutrients needed for body functions, and maintenance and repair of body tissue such as vitamins and minerals.

Nutrition Expert: an individual specially trained in nutrition. This person could be a physician, registered dietitian, nutritionist, or nurse.

Nutrition Assessment: a thorough evaluation of a person’s eating habits and nutrition status by a specially trained nutrition expert.

Oral Nutritional Supplements: commercial or homemade drinks that provide calories, protein, vitamins and minerals. These drinks can be a valuable source of nutrition when a person is unable to eat enough to meet their nutrition needs.

Phytochemical: non-nutrient compounds naturally occurring in plants that show potential for the prevention and treatment of cancer and other chronic diseases.

Randomized Controlled Trial: when it is not clear whether a new treatment is better than the proven standard of care, a method of selection called randomization is used to determine which treatment the patient will get in the study (trial). Randomization is like a flip of the coin to determine which treatment is assigned.

Recovery: the period of time from completion of therapy (chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery) through several weeks or even months. The amount of time is different for each person and how fast a person recovers should not be compared to others. This is an important time to eat as nutritiously as possible to rebuild and repair the body from the increased demands of therapy.