Cancer Info
Introduction
Monty’s Corner aims to providing you with access to the best information sources on childhood cancers, from around the world covering Diagnosis, Treatment, Prognosis, and Clinical Trials and so on…
The process we adopted to bring you this information was to review a broad number of sites from different countries. The material offered by these sites was assessed from the perspective of someone seeking a key set of information. We then chose and ranked these sites based on the quality of the information we have read.
What we mean by "Quality Information" is that when an information seeker reads a piece of text:
- does s/he understands the information easily?
- is s/he satisfied with the information?
- does s/he feel the need to go elsewhere to get more information on that particular topic?
Please note that we did not add the following as our scoring criteria:
- Correctness of information on a particular topic
- Comprehensiveness of the topics such as diagnosis and treatments.
We have reviewed websites providing cancer information originated from the UK, USA and Australia and gave a scoring of GOOD, MEDIUM or POOR.
- GOOD
- MEDIUM
- POOR
At the end of this short book, you will also find the sites which scored "poor".
We will appreciate if you give us feedback, make suggestions or tell us what other information you are seeking and cannot find.
We want to make sure that you know where to get the best quality information on childhood cancers.
Leukaemias AML ALL CML
Acute Lymphocytic Leukaemia (ALL)
| Society Name: | National Cancer Institute | Overall Score: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage: | Child/Adult | Origin: | United States |
| Disease: | |
Symptoms: | |
| Diagnosis Overview: |
• Blood and bone marrow tests • Possibly spinal tap |
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| Treatment Overview: |
• Chemo |
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| Clinical Trial? | Search for Clinical Trial details here. Active trials in the US and UK are covered. | Prognosis: | |
Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML)
| Society Name: | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | Overall Score: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage: | Children | Origin: | United States |
| Disease: | |
Symptoms: | |
| Diagnosis Overview: | Not available | ||
| Treatment Overview: |
• Chemo • Allogeneic stem cell transplantation |
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| Clinical Trial? | View Clinical Trial details here | Prognosis: | |
| Society Name: | Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (PDF) | Overall Score: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage: | Children | Origin: | United Kingdom |
| Disease: | |
Symptoms: | |
| Diagnosis Overview: |
• Blood and bone marrow tests • Lumbar puncture • X-ray |
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| Treatment Overview: |
• Chemo |
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| Clinical Trial? | Not available | Prognosis: | |
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
| Society Name: | Leukaemia & Lymphoma Society | Overall Score: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage: | Child/Adult | Origin: | United States |
| Disease: | |
Symptoms: | |
| Diagnosis Overview: |
• Blood and bone marrow and cytogenic tests |
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| Treatment Overview: |
• Oral CML Therapy • Stem Cell transplantation • Donor lymphocyte infusion |
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| Clinical Trial? | Not available | Prognosis: | |
Lymphomas
Hodgkin's Lymphoma
| Society Name: | Lymphoma Research Foundation | Overall Score: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage: | Child/Adult | Origin: | United States |
| Disease: | |
Symptoms: | |
| Diagnosis Overview: |
• Biopsy • Blood test • Bone marrow test • X-ray, MRI, CT, PET |
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| Treatment Overview: |
• Chemo • Radiotherapy • Stem cell transplantation • Bone marrow transplant • Biologic treatment • Vaccines and cell therapies • Alternative remedies |
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| Clinical Trial? | Search for Clinical Trial details on NCI site. Active trials in the US and UK are covered. | Prognosis: | |
Non - Hodgkin Lymphoma
| Society Name: | Lymphoma Research Foundation | Overall Score: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage: | Child/Adult | Origin: | United States |
| Disease: | |
Symptoms: | |
| Diagnosis Overview: |
• Biopsy • Blood test • Bone marrow test • X-ray, MRI, CT, PET • Cerebrospinal fluid examination • Molecular diagnostic tests |
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| Treatment Overview: |
• Chemo • Radiotherapy • Stem cell transplantation • Bone marrow transplant • Novel Agent • Alternative remedies |
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| Clinical Trial? | Search for Clinical Trial details on NCI site. Active trials in the US and UK are covered. | Prognosis: | |
Sarcomas
Osteosarcoma
| Society Name: | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | Overall Score: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage: | Children | Origin: | United States |
| Disease: | |
Symptoms: | |
| Diagnosis Overview: |
• Biopsy • Blood tests • Plain x-rays and MRI • CT scan of chest and radionuclide bone scan |
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| Treatment Overview: |
• Chemo • Surgey |
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| Clinical Trial? | Search for Clinical Trial details on NCI site. Active trials in the US and UK are covered. | Prognosis: | |
Ewing's Sarcoma
| Society Name: | National Cancer Institute | Overall Score: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage: | Child/Adult | Origin: | United States |
| Disease: | |
Symptoms: | |
| Diagnosis Overview: |
• Physical exam and history • Complete blood count • Blood chemistry studies • Sedimentation rate • X-ray, MR, CT scan (CAT scan) |
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| Treatment Overview: |
• Combination chemotherapy, Surgery and / or Radiationtherapy |
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| Clinical Trial? | Search for Clinical Trial details here. Active trials in the US and UK are covered. | Prognosis: | |
Rhabdomyosarcoma
| Society Name: | National Cancer Institute | Overall Score: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage: | Child/Adult | Origin: | United States |
| Disease: | |
Symptoms: | |
| Diagnosis Overview: |
• Physical exam and history • X-ray, CT scan (CAT scan), MRI, Ultrasound exam • Bone scan • Lumbar puncture • Biopsy • Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy • Light and electron microscopy • Immunohistochemistry study |
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| Treatment Overview: |
• Chemo • Surgey • Radiation therapy |
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| Clinical Trial? | Search for Clinical Trial details here. Active trials in the US and UK are covered. | Prognosis: | |
| Society Name: | Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (PDF) | Overall Score: |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage: | Children | Origin: | United Kingdom |
| Disease: | |
Symptoms: | |
| Diagnosis Overview: |
• Biopsy • X-ray, CT, MRI, Ultrasound exam • Blood and bone marrow tests |
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| Treatment Overview: |
• Chemo • Surgey • Radiotherapy |
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| Clinical Trial? | View Clinical Trial details here | Prognosis: |
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Kidney Cancers
Wilms Tumour
| Society Name: | National Cancer Institute | Overall Score: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage: | Child/Adult | Origin: | United States |
| Disease: | |
Symptoms: | |
| Diagnosis Overview: |
• Physical exam and history • Biopsy • Complete blood count (CBC) • Serum tumor marker test • Blood chemistry studies • Liver function tests • Renal function test • Urinalysis • Abdominal X-ray, CT, Ultrasound |
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| Treatment Overview: |
Depends on Stage, but
• Nephrectomy with lymph node removal followed by combination chemotherapy • Also radiationtherapy and Watchful Waiting |
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| Clinical Trial? | Search for Clinical Trial details here. Active trials in the US and UK are covered. | Prognosis: | |
Clear Cell Sarcoma
| Society Name: | Cure Search for Children's Cancer | Overall Score: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage: | Children | Origin: | United States |
| Disease: | |
Symptoms: | Not available |
| Diagnosis Overview: | Not available | ||
| Treatment Overview: |
• Possible radiation treatment |
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| Clinical Trial? | Not available | Prognosis: | |
Liver Cancers
Hepatoblastoma
| Society Name: | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | Overall Score: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage: | Children | Origin: | United States |
| Disease: | |
Symptoms: | |
| Diagnosis Overview: | Not available | ||
| Treatment Overview: |
• Chemo followed by total resection. Possibility of liver transplantation if whole liver affected. |
||
| Clinical Trial? | Not available | Prognosis: | |
| Society Name: | National Cancer Institute | Overall Score: |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage: | Child/Adult | Origin: | United States |
| Disease: | |
Symptoms: | |
| Diagnosis Overview: |
• Physical exam and history • Biopsy • Complete blood count (CBC) • Serum tumor marker test • Liver function tests • Abdominal X-ray, CT, MRI, Ultrasound |
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| Treatment Overview: |
• Depends on stage and other factors. Possibly surgery. |
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| Clinical Trial? | Search for Clinical Trial details here. Active trials in the US and UK are covered. | Prognosis: | |
Hepatocellular carcinoma
| Society Name: | National Cancer Institute | Overall Score: |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage: | Child/Adult | Origin: | United States |
| Disease: | |
Symptoms: | |
| Diagnosis Overview: |
• Physical exam and history • Biopsy • Complete blood count (CBC) • Serum tumor marker test • Liver function tests • X-ray, CT, MRI, Ultrasound |
||
| Treatment Overview: |
Depends on Stage, but normally
• Surgery • Combination Chemo • Chemoemobilization |
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| Clinical Trial? | Search for Clinical Trial details here. Active trials in the US and UK are covered. | Prognosis: | |
Cancers of the Central Nervous System
Gliomas
| Society Name: | National Cancer Institute | Overall Score: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage: | Children | Origin: | United States |
| Disease: | |
Symptoms: | |
| Diagnosis Overview: |
• Immunohistochemistry study • Light and electron microscopy • Cytogenetic analysis |
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| Treatment Overview: |
Depends on type, but
• Chemo • Surgey • Radiationtherapy |
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| Clinical Trial? | Search for Clinical Trial details on Clinical Trial.gov site | Prognosis: | |
Neuroblastoma
| Society Name: | National Cancer Institute | Overall Score: |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage: | Child/Adult | Origin: | United States |
| Disease: | |
Symptoms: | |
| Diagnosis Overview: |
• Physical exam and history • Biopsy • Twenty-four-hour urine test • Blood chemistry studies • Cytogenetic analysis • X-ray, CT scan (CAT scan), Ultrasound exam • Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy • Neurological exam • Immunohistochemistry study • MIBG (metaiodobenzylguanidine) scan |
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| Treatment Overview: |
Depends on Stage
• Chemotherapy, Surgery, Radiotherapy and clinical trials |
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| Clinical Trial? | Search for Clinical Trial details on NCI site. Active trials in the US and UK are covered." target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View Clinical Trial details here | Prognosis: | |
| Society Name: | The Children's Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation | Overall Score: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage: | Child/Adult | Origin: | United States |
| Disease: | |
Symptoms: | |
| Diagnosis Overview: |
• Biopsy • Urine test • Blood tests • X-ray, CT scan, Ultrasound, PET scan, MRI • Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy • Bone scan • MIBG scan |
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| Treatment Overview: |
• Surgery • Chemotherapy • Retinoid therapy • Radiation therapy • High-dose chemotherapy/radiation therapy and stem cell transplant • Immunotherapy |
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| Clinical Trial? | Not available | Prognosis: | |
Other Types
Retinoblastoma
| Society Name: | The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust | Overall Score: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage: | Children | Origin: | United Kingdom |
| Disease: | |
Symptoms: | |
| Diagnosis Overview: |
• Eye exam, CT, MRI |
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| Treatment Overview: |
• Chemo • Surgey • Radiotherapy and enucleation • Cryotherapy • Radioactive plaque |
||
| Clinical Trial? | Not available | Prognosis: | |
| Society Name: | Through An Angel's Eyes | Overall Score: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage: | Children | Origin: | United States |
| Disease: | |
Symptoms: | |
| Diagnosis Overview: |
• Eye exam • CT or MRI • Ultrasound |
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| Treatment Overview: | Surgery if small, else radiation and chemotherapy | ||
| Clinical Trial? | Not available | Prognosis: | |
Germ Cell Tumours (Brain, Solid Tumour)
| Society Name: | National Cancer Institute | Overall Score: |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage: | Children | Origin: | United States |
| Disease: | |
Symptoms: | |
| Diagnosis Overview: |
• Physical exam and history • Biopsy • Serum tumor marker test • Blood chemistry studies • Cytogenetic analysis • Chest X-ray, CT scan, Ultrasound exam • Immunohistochemistry study |
||
| Treatment Overview: |
• Surgery • Watchful Waiting • Chemotherapy |
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| Clinical Trial? | Search for Clinical Trial details on NCI site. Active trials in the US and UK are covered. | Prognosis: | |
Appendix - Poor Information Websites
We have investigated the following websites but we felt that the provided information was not satisfactory for someone looking for information.
Acute Lymphocytic Leukaemia (ALL), Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
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Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group Leukaemia & Lymphoma Society |
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Teenage Cancer Trust |
Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
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St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group |
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Teenage Cancer Trust |
Wilms Tumour
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St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group |
Osteosarcoma, Ewing's Sarcoma
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Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group |
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Teenage Cancer Trust |
Gliomas, Neuroblastoma
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Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Brain & Spine Foundation The Neuroblastoma Society The Childhood Brain Tumour Foundatio |
Retinoblastoma
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National Cancer Institute Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group St. Jude Children's Research Hospital |
Contact us if you think the rating of those websites under the specified categories should be changed.