Making sense of information about cancer

Cancer View Canada includes information that can be used for many purposes. You may:

• • Need information for yourself
• • Need information to help a friend or family member
• • Want to educate yourself

When you browse this portal or use the Cancer View Finder search tool, you may find differences in what various experts or health-care systems recommend. Different information sources may give advice that seems to conflict. Why is this? How can you make sense of it all?

Approaches may differ

Knowledge that comes from research is always changing as we discover more and more about an illness.

Different experts may interpret that new knowledge in different ways. For example, some experts are more likely to take on a new way of doing things right away, while others are more cautious. They may want to wait for the new knowledge to become generally accepted practice. This may occur in treatment approaches, but it also applies to prevention, screening, diagnosis, supportive care and other areas.

A person's particular situation, such as other health conditions they may have, also affects what is the best approach for that person.

Conflicts in recommendations can also occur because of how different health systems interpret what an approach is meant to do and how well it does it. For example, some experts may recommend offering a treatment with many fewer side effects even if this means that the treatment is slightly less effective. Health systems also pay close attention to costs and how worthwhile the likely benefits are to most people.

Your health system or provider's decisions about new knowledge affect you and your care. It is important that you have the chance to have the different recommendations and choices fully explained to you, and that you use this information to make informed decisions about your care.

Seek the support you need

You may come across recommendations that appear to conflict with each other, yet claim to be based on research. The best way to handle this is to take the information to a member of your health-care team and ask her or him to help you understand the information. This will allow you to discuss with your care provider what is best for you.

In addition to reviewing the information with a member of your health-care team, you may wish to seek support to help you cope better with your situation.

Resources on Cancer View Canada that may be helpful include:

• • The Canadian Cancer Society's Community Services Locator, a listing of organizations across Canada

• Our Online Supports Directory

• • Telephone or by email support available from the Canadian Cancer Society's support and information line at 1 888 939-3333 or by email.

The good news is that research from the wider health-care arena shows that patients who talk about their choices and decisions with their doctors actually have better outcomes.¹ Many care providers know this and will welcome your active participation in discussing the information you find.