Breast Cancer Resources at The Library for Healing

If you are a woman who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, here are some heartening facts: breast cancer survival rates have been steadily increasing since 1990 by an annual rate of 2.3 percent each year. The greatest increase has been in women under the age of 50. The overall five-year survival rate is 88 percent.

Being well-informed about the disease will be a key component in helping you make knowledgeable decisions regarding your options for treatment.

By now, you've probably been bombarded with information. Though you may be feeling overwhelmed, remember, knowledge is power. Embrace what you already know, then seek out even more. The more you know about this complex disease, the better. A firm grasp on all the facts will serve as an able partner in helping you rise to meet this challenge.

Navigating the road to recovery requires strength and determination, often at the very time when you may feel helpless and out of control. Familiarity with the "territory" will help you plot a course by which you can clearly identify and evaluate your choices in formulating a personalized treatment plan.

Your health care providers will serve as a major resource in helping you sift through the stores of collected knowledge - knowledge that will allow you to take an informed and active role in planning your treatment. Their guidance, the straight facts and support from those who love you will become your greatest allies.

Where Do I Go For Information?

The Library for Healing at Baptist Medical Center Downtown has partnered with health care providers and breast cancer survivors to provide you with resources and treatment information to help you and your family make educated decisions.

The Library provides books and journals, DVDs, personal DVD players, Internet access and support group information. There is no charge for materials, which may be reviewed in the library or checked out. Here, you'll find a comfortable relaxed atmosphere in which to read, study or just relax, along with library staff who will offer you individual assistance in gathering information.

Among our breast cancer resources, you will find:

• Current medical information
• Diagnosis and treatment information
• Personal accounts of survivors and their families
• Materials concerning spiritual guidance
• Workshops on various topics
• Hands-on learning tools
• Buddy Check 12 packets

A full list of available materials will be faxed or e-mailed to you upon request.

Begin your search for information at one of these recommended Web sites:

• Local resources: www.e-baptisthealth.com (Keywords: breast cancer)
  Information on Baptist Health's full-time breast clinicians, women's health educators, Baptist Cancer Institute, The Library for Healing, clinical psychology and pastoral care.
• Recommended by breast cancer survivors:
  www.breastcancer.org
  Easy-to-use resource offering excellent pictures, diagrams and explanations of breast cancer topics and treatment options.
• A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health (English and Spanish):
  www.medlineplus.gov (Keywords: breast cancer)
  Clearinghouse for other Web sites and search engines with more than 100 resources in easy-to-explore formats.

In-depth Web site offering various topics:
www.komen.org or 800.426.9273 (English and Spanish)
Includes breast cancer facts; information on screening and detection; complimentary and alternative medicine; support resources: interactive tools; educational resources, and grants and funding.

Dedicated to pre-menopausal women diagnosed with breast cancer:
www.youngsurvival.org or 877.972.1011
Includes statistics and survival stories, educational programs, research and trials, and an excellent list of resource links.

Provided by Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania:
www.oncolink.com (Keywords: breast cancer)
Links to up-to-date resources on topics such as types of cancer, National Cancer Institute (PDQ database) articles, coping, resources, ask-the-experts, Oncolink Library and cancer news.

Additional online resources can be found in The Library for Healing.

Direct Access to Resources at Baptist Health:

Breast Care Coordinator, 904.202.2083
Breast Cancer Resource Provider, 904.202.4325
Pathology Breast Consultation, 904.202.1707

The nature photos on this page were taken by the late Marci Kazmiercak. A laboratory technologist at Baptist Downtown for 22 years, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2005 and died unexpectedly on January 10, 2006. Click here to see more of Marci's photographs.