Free Prostate Cancer Resources
The following prostate cancer resources provide a good range of information and are offered as a service to our patients and their families. All of the educational articles and pamphlets listed below are free to anyone interested. Some may have to be ordered but most can simply be dowloaded to your computer. When assessing the quality and validity of medical information on the internet, be cautious. MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, offers good advice for evaluating the quality of health information on Web sites.
Get the Support You Need>> Community resources offering support for men with prostate cancer and their families.
TODAY'S HEADLINES>> Current cancer news from various news feeds on the topics of Prostate/Prostate Cancer and Erectile Dysfunction. Provided by Medical News Today.
NEW! SURVIVORSHIP CARE PLAN AND POST-TREATMENT RESOURCES >> Trying to locate the resources mentioned in your Survivorship Care Plan? Click here for links and more detailed information.
The American Cancer Society offers detailed information about prostate cancer, its risk factors, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and more. Learn More>> Prostate Cancer Detailed Guide. Other informative articles relating to prostate cancer include:
- What should you ask your doctor about prostate cancer?
- Nutrition and Physical Activity During and After Cancer Treatment
- Sexuality for the Man with Cancer: An extensive guide to issues relating to sexuality and erectile dysfunction after cancer and cancer treatment.
- Overview Guide to Bone Metastasis
- Detailed Guide to Bone Metastasis
Other resources offered by the American Cancer Society include:
- Survivorship Care Plans: In 2006, the Institute of Medicine issued a report recommending that every cancer patient receive an individualized survivorship care plan that includes guidelines for monitoring and maintaining their health. In response to that report, many groups have now developed various types of "care plans" to help improve the quality of care of survivors as they move beyond their cancer treatment. Learn More>> Survivorship Care Plans
- Treatment decision tools, like the NexProfiler Treatment Option Tool, can help you make an informed decision about your treatment. Using this tool, you can access the detailed analysis of your specific condition, uncover a statistical breakdown of treatment types, and pinpoint the exact topics you should discuss with your doctor. The Cancer Profiler Tool for Prostate Cancer provides: Full disclosure of treatment options, side effects, and outcomes; personalized reports with pros and cons of treatment; questions to ask your physician; and access to relevant abstracts of medical studies. Learn More >> The Cancer Profiler Tool for Prostate Cancer
American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is a non-profit organization with more than 27,000 oncology practitioners as members, representing all oncology disciplines and subspecialties. Members include physicians and health-care professionals in all levels of the practice of oncology. Access to abstracts on cutting-edge research findings as presented at ASCO's 2010 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium Advance Management, Treatment of Prostate and Bladder Cancers, San Francisco, March 5-7, 2010. Studies include:
- Urine test for prostate cancer? March 4, 2010 -- A new urine test may reduce unnecessary biopsies for prostate cancer. Follow-up article by WebMD further discusses these study results.
The Atlanta Regional Clinical Oncology Program (ARCCOP) was initiated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in 1983 to provide community hospitals access to a wide range of clinical research studies. The NCI designates a CCOP once a hospital has met the stringent criteria set forth defining excellence in an oncology program. The Atlanta Regional CCOP is one of approximately 50 in the country. The Atlanta Regional CCOP consists of the coordinating institution (Saint Joseph's Hospital) and seven affiliate institutions, which virtually cover the entire metro Atlanta area. Visit the Atlanta Regional CCOP website for a list of Clinical Trials available in the Atlanta area for prostate cancer. Click here for more information on Clinical Trials for prostate cancer.
American Urological Association Foundation, offers a wealth of patient education information, with all content reviewed by expert urologists. The Urology Health On-line Resource Center is a free service, created specifically for community groups, organizations and AUA members as a place to access valuable educational materials about urologic conditions. Visitors can download brochures and news articles for personal use or for printing and distribution to members of their organizations or community groups free of charge. Learn More>> Urology Health On-line Resource Center
Cancer and Careers is dedicated to empowering and educating people with cancer to thrive in their workplace by providing a comprehensive website, free publications, career coaching, and a series of support groups and educational seminars for employees with cancer and their healthcare providers and coworkers. Featured Article: Men, Cancer & Work: Coming to Terms with the "New Normal"
CancerQuest is a cancer education and outreach program at Emory University that provides reliable information about cancer biology and treatment. Understanding how cancer grows and spreads is important to stopping it from growing and spreading. Learn More>> Cancer Formation, How Cancer Spreads (Metastasis)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pamphlet, Prostate Cancer Screening: A Decision Guide, offers men insight into new (2010) guidelines for prostate cancer screening. Also available, Prostate Cancer Screening: A Decision Guide for African-Americans and La detección del cáncerde prostate: Una guía para hispanos en los Estados Unidos (in spanish). Learn More >> CDC Prostate Cancer Publications or other related CDC Publications. Free CDC Podcasts offer topics ona variety of cancer topics.
Harvard Medical School - Prostate Knowledge offers several excellent articles relating to prostate cancer:
- Understanding Your Prostate Pathology Report
- Living with Prostate Cancer including articles on erectile dysfunction, handling relapses, and living with prostate cancer.
Lance Armstrong Foundation's LiveStrong Program offers many resources for cancer survivors. One such resource is a partnership between LiveStrong and the Abramson Cancer Center (University of Pennsylvania) OncoLink Program. In 2006, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) researched the state of care for cancer survivors and found that little guidance is available for survivors and their healthcare providers to overcome the medical and psychosocial problems that may arise post treatment. The IOM suggests that once a person has completed cancer therapy, he or she should be provided with a summary of the treatments received and a follow up "care plan". This care plan should summarize the potential late effects, their symptoms and treatment; recommendations for cancer screening (recurrence or new primary); psychosocial effects (including relationships and sexuality/fertility); financial issues (work, insurance and employment); recommendations for a healthy lifestyle, genetic counseling (if appropriate), effective prevention options; referrals for follow-up care and a list of support resources. While this plan is extremely important, the amount of time it would require makes it unachievable for most oncology practices. The LIVESTRONG Care Plan hopes to take steps to making this a reality by developing a basic plan that survivors can review and discuss with their healthcare team. Learn More>> LIVESTRONG Care Plan (in English) and LIVESTRONG Care Plan (in Spanish)
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®), a not-for-profit alliance of 21 of the world’s leading cancer centers, is dedicated to improving the quality and effectiveness of care provided to patients with cancer.
- Treatment guidelines for localized prostate cancer.
- Treatment guidelines for advanced prostate cancer.
- Prostate Cancer Treatment Checklist.
- Nutrition and Cancer Recurrence.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has a booklet (NIH Publication No. 08-1576) about cancer of the prostate. Each year, more than 186,000 American men learn they have this disease. Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer among men in this country. Learning about medical care for prostate cancer can help you take an active part in making choices about your care. This booklet tells about: Diagnosis and staging, treatment options, tests you may have after treatment, and taking part in research studies. Learn More>> National Cancer Institute Prostate Cancer Page, Early Prostate Cancer Fact Sheet, Treatment Choices for Men with Early-Stage Prostate Cancer, Overview of Research Advances, and How to Find a Cancer Treatment Trial: A 10-Step Guide.
For those interested in gaining a more indepth knowledge of prostate cancer, the NCI Site-Specific Seer Training Module may be of interest. Sections include: Prostate anatomy including lobes and zones of the prostate, morphology & grade including Gleason's Pattern, and a review of treatment modalities including treatment options by stage and a description of surgical procedures, radiation therapy, and systemic therapy approaches.
For the latest information about prostate cancer, please visit the NCI Web site or contact their Cancer Information Service. They can answer your questions about cancer and can also send you NCI booklets and fact sheets. Call 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).
Medical News Today offers videos on prostate cancer and prostate health from their comprehensive consumer health video library. Learn More>> Medical News Today.
Topics include:
- What is prostate cancer?
- Diet and prostate cancer
- Hormonal therapy for prostate cancer
- Talking with your doctor
- And many more...
Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, offers health videos on topics such as human anatomy, surgical procedures and health news. Check your health by using the calculators and quizzes. Learn More>> Videos and Cool Tools.
Medline Plus also offers infromation on your prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines including side effects, dosage, special precautions, and more. Browse dietary supplements and herbal remedies to learn about their effectiveness, usual dosage, and drug interactions. Learn More>> Drugs, Herbs and Supplements.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center’s prostate nomogram is designed to help physicians and patients decide which treatment approaches will result in the greatest benefit. It is recommended that patients using the tool consult with a physician or other professional healthcare provider prior to making any treatment decisions. Learn More>> Prostate Cancer: A Conversation about PSA Screening, Active Surveillance, and Treatment Options
The Men’s Health and Wellness Center, Inc. is an Atlanta-based non-profit organization focusing on men’s health issues before and after a health crisis. Men’s Health Radio Podcasts feature local and national experts on a variety of men’s health topics. Learn More>> Men’s Health Radio Podcasts and Men’s Health Videos
OncoLink, a cancer support resource developed by the Abramson Cancer Center (University of Pennsylvania) offers many useful tools for organizing and managing cancer treatment, recovery, and life after cancer. Featured articles include:
- Finding an Oncologist
- Questions to Ask My Doctor
- Second Opinions
- The First Visit to a Specialist
- Managing Recurrence
- Deciding to End the Journey: Stopping or Taking a Break from Therapy
OncoLink features The LIVESTRONG Care Plan, an individualized survivorship care plan that includes guidelines for monitoring and maintaining optimal health after treatment is completed. Learn More>> LIVESTRONG Care Plan (in English) and LIVESTRONG Care Plan (in Spanish)
OncoLink also has a variety of helpful record-keeping logs (in pdf format) on their website that can be easily downloaded. The forms are designed to be printed and carried with you to appointments. You may want to start a binder or folder to keep them easily accessible and organized. As tests or therapies are completed, ask your nurse or doctor to record them on the chart. Available logs include:
- Physician Appointment List [30 KB]
- Physician List [30 KB]
- Medication List [136 KB]
- Family History of Cancer Record [29 KB]
- Chemotherapy History [29 KB]
- Radiation Therapy History [29 KB]
- Record of Hospitalizations and Surgeries [29 KB]
- Record of Radiology Studies [29 KB]
Partin Tables, developed at the Brady Urological Institute at Johns Hopkins in 1993 by urologists Alan Partin and Patrick Walsh, can help you and your doctor to predict the chance of organ confined prostate cancer. Based upon PSA, Gleason Score, and Clinical Staging, a probability is calculated for each of the following four: Organ Confined Disease, Extraprostatic Extension, Seminal Vesicle Invasion, and Lymph Node Invasion. Your number gives you a rough idea of how many chances out of a hundred a patient with your PSA level, Gleason score and clinical stage has for each of the four criteria. Learn More>> Link to Partin Tables.
Patient Resource Cancer Guide provides basic cancer information and information on cancer treatment facilities in the United States. Learn More>> About Patient Resource Cancer Guide.
Topics include:
- Ten things you should know about cancer
- Basic cancer terms
- Understanding Clinical Trials
- Prostate cancer section
- Understanding the side effects of cancer treatment
- Evaluating treatment facilities to determine which one is right for you
Resources and Survivorship Section features the following:
- Financial Resources
- Maximizing Insurance
- Finding Caregivers and Counselors
- Plus many more resources!
Pre-existing Conditions Insurance Program (PCIP) was created as part of the federal government's Affordable Care Act. The PCIP program provides a new health coverage option for you if you have been uninsured for at least six months, you have a pre-existing condition or have been denied health coverage because of your health condition, and are a U.S. citizen or are residing here legally. More information on PCIP is available online at www.pciplan.com.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation publishes a series of helpful guides as part of their commitment to connect men and their loved ones to the latest prostate cancer research information. Learn More>> Prostate Cancer Foundation.
- An Introduction to Prostate Cancer is designed to help men, their families, and friends quickly understand the risk factors for prostate cancer, find out how it is diagnosed, and review different treatment options. (8 pages). Download Here>> Prostate Cancer Foundation.
- Report to the Nation on Prostate Cancer: A Guide for Men and Their Families provides in-depth information about the diagnosis of prostate cancer, the available treatment options at each stage of the disease, key issues men face at every step, and more. (108 pages). Download Here>> Prostate Cancer Foundation.
- Nutrition, Exercise and Prostate Cancer summarizes the “best of the best” data and information available in the research arena today. Newly revised in 2009, the guide can help everyone affected by or at risk for prostate cancer understand how to incorporate key nutritional and lifestyle strategies into their everyday life. (32 pages). Download Here>> Prostate Cancer Foundation.
- Straight Talk for African-American Men and Their Families provides special facts and guidance regarding African-American men and prostate cancer. Research shows that African-American men are 1.6 times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and 2.4 times more likely to die from it than Caucasian men. The guide includes personal thoughts from Charlie Wilson, D.L. Hughley and Snoop Dogg. (8 pages). Download Here>> Prostate Cancer Foundation.
The Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI) provides information as a free, educational resource to help patients understand their options to facilitate communication with their doctors and hopefully improve their outcomes. PCRI offers a Decision Aide which is intended to help men locate and utilize information that is pertinent to their situation. Information referenced is provided by PCRI and other sources to empower you to take charge of your treatment plan. PCRI Papers are available on the following topics:
- Basics of Prostate Cancer
- Undiagnosed
- Newly Diagnosed
- Local Therapies
- Systemic Therapies
- Androgen Independent PC
- High Risk Prostate Cancer
- Treatment Side Effects
- Article: The Gleason Score: A Significant Biologic Manifestation of Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness on Biopsy
Learn More>> Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI); Online Video Library; Extensive Prostate Cancer Resource Page
U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs - Vietnam veterans diagnosed with prostate cancer may qualify for service-connected disability compensation. Veterans who served in Korea in 1968 or 1969 may also qualify. Veterans are encouraged to submit a disability compensation application immediately after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Applications submitted before treatment begins may get a 100% disability rating for approximately 6 months. Veterans submitting the application after treatment may not qualify. Read More>> http://www.cpdr.org/patient/agent_orange08.pdf- For Disability rate table, go to: http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/
- To Apply: Go to VA website http://www.va.gov/ and click on “Compensations."
- Submit the application (VA Form 21-526) online OR Submit a hard copy application (available at CPDR or VA website).
- For more information, contact Ray Walsh, Vietnam veteran, prostate cancer survivor and Red Cross volunteer at Center for Prostate Disease Research, 703-425-1474 or email at raywalsh34@erols.com
WebMD has an extensive archive of articles and videos relating to prostate cancer and men's health topics. Learn More>> WebMD or Prostate Cancer Videos featuring Urologist, Dr. Sheldon Marks, MD.
Women Against Prostate Cancer is a national organization working to unite the voices and provide support for the millions of women affected by prostate cancer, and their families. WAPC advocates prostate cancer education, public awareness, screenings, legislation, and treatment options. Resources available include:
- Prostate Cancer, Intimacy and Sexuality Fact Sheet: Everything You Wanted to Know But Didn't Know to Ask
- Information about Penile Rehabilitation and Intimacy
- Treatment Decision Guide
- Understanding Clinical Trials
- Family Medical Tree tool to track prostate cancer and breast cancer in your family
Disclaimer: All links to other Web sites are provided solely as a convenience to our patients. If you use these links, you will leave the Prostate Cancer Center at Saint Joseph's (PCC) Web site. The PCC is not responsible for any content, materials or other information located on or accessible from any linked site. PCC does not endorse, guarantee, or make any representation or warranties regarding any linked site, or any content, materials or other information location on or accessible from such linked site, or the results you may obtain from using such linked site. If you decide to access any linked site, you do so entirely at your own risk. You should review the policies and terms of use associated with any linked site closely before using or submitting information to the linked site.
Last Updated: October 3, 2011 (RSH)

