Advice would be appreciated from Physicians on keeping up with New Info

[Mike03]

on cancer.

Is there some way to circumvent the huge cost for accessing new studies and peer reviewed papers published in the new journals, which are simply too expensive for most people to access on a paper by paper basis? All I want is to stay abreast of new findings, but I can't afford to subscribe to all the hematology, oncology journals, and so forth. Sometimes I can't even access the abstracts because there is a time limit on how long I have to print them out.

Also, medical books are so expensive. I have spent more than ten thousand dollars just on medical text books to try to keep up with the new books on Multiple Myeloma. They are each between a hundred bucks and two hundred and fifty dollars.

I just want to know how to keep up with the new information and help to keep my father alive.

[supernova]

1. Do you live near a major teaching hospital

You might be able to spend time in the medical library.

That's what I've done on occasion.

[Mike03]

3. I used to...

I'm a grad of USC and used to visit the medical libraries at UCLA, both of them in Los Angeles. But I'm out in the wilderness now.

Thanks to the internet, I can check it every day for new info. But I'm just worried there is something I'm missing. My father is at a very critical point in his treatment.

[GCP]

2. I'd try and be as near as a top-flight cancer center as possible

Sloan-Kettering in New York, Dana-Carver in Boston, for example. I've got a lot of education in healthcare but I'd never try to keep up with the latest research, it's too esoteric.

[Mike03]

4. I wish I could have gotten up to speed that fast.

This just happened in September, so I have had to become a medical student in just six months on a cancer I've never heard of.

But Dana Carver is the third or so leading insitute on this cancer. They are doing awesome work.

[shanine]

5. I think it's Dana Farber in Boston n/t

[GCP]

6. Oops - I always get that name wrong!

[TZ]

7. Your best bet is to look up clinical trials

Anything not advanced enough to be in human clinical trials is going to be no help to you.
Here's a couple of links:
http://www.centerwatch.com/
http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/search/

[Muttocracy]

10. another link

may lead back to that cancer.gov one but http://www.fda.gov/oashi/clinicaltrials/default.htm

and this one http://www.fda.gov/oashi/cancer/cancer.html

[brook]

8. The Mayo Clinic

website has extensive information on multiple myeloma: symptoms, causes, treatments, (traditional & trial) etc, which might be helpful to you.

I wish you and your Dad all the best.

Have been in similar circumstances - at the moment, a relative has an incurable,
final stage cancer. In this case, we just become the 'escorts' - an honor, when you consider it.

[Muttocracy]

9. I thought of mayoclinic.com too nt

[Muttocracy]

11. Amer. Cancer Soc. message boards

no experience myself, but maybe it would be helpful? Trying to get yourself up to the cutting edge of oncology must be exhausting and take all your time and energy. Be wary of driving yourself nuts with that, or blaming yourself if you don't "find" a "cure" somewhere.

Anyway, maybe you can buddy up with someone folks online on those boards or other ones and share info? Also might feel less lonely. Good luck! :hug:

http://www.cancer.org/asp/messageBoards/msg_global.asp?navToScreen=msg_0_5&sitearea=