You do not have to look far for answers!

In continuing with my evaluation of websites run by educational institutions, I looked no further than the University of Virginia Health System. I arrived to this site after a preliminary search for "ovarian cancer" using Google. The page I was directed to fell under the category of "gynecological health" and was laid out in a simple question and answer format. The questions start off very basic by defining what ovaries are and then going into more depth about the diseases, its causes, risk factors, prevention measures, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. In short, the website is thorough yet concise in its overview of ovarian cancer, covering the majority of topics/questions that are frequently posed by patients. I found the layout of the website to be similar to that of an electronic encyclopedia. This page on ovarian cancer contained a diagram of the female reproductive system, as well as links to a glossary, additional online resourcs, and a site index. This website addresses numerous health issues, the popular topics such as breast health, diabetes health, heart health, and more generic health issues specific to gender, among other topics, are easily found at the top of web page, allowing the user to easily navigate from topic to topic. The University of Virginia is a legitimate institution, therefore one can safely trust the information presented on this site. I give this site a rating of 9 for its practical question and answer approach to discussing a health topic and its understanding of patient needs as seen with the website's attentive display of popular health topics.

Do not underestimate the value of educational sites

Educational institutions are a valuable source for current, reliable information on health issues. We often do not resort to them because we tend to associate educational istitutions with purely academia that would not see the need to maintain worthy websites. However, the academic credentials of an academic institution provide the legitimacy that is sometimes hard to find when using resources on the Internet. Search engines typically yield a number of commercial sites with the occasional government-run and/or organizational site, but it is rare to find an educational site from a basic search. Usually, through a more direct and specified search one may be linked to a scholarly article or journal published by an academic institution. However, it is also possible, although not that obvious that one can use .edu sites to find basic information on a topic. I visited a website run by the Cedars-Sinai Health System looking for a thorough definition of ovarian cancer and an overview of the symptoms, consequences, etc. associated with this disease. In addition to the usual items related to the hospital system, there is a tab on the top menu that links the user to a page of information on numerous health conditions. The conditions are alphabetized, so I was able to easily navigate my way to the page specifically on ovarian cancer. The page itself was very organized and easy to read. There was no unnecessary, extraneous information, just straight bulleted facts that one needs for a concise understanding of the disease. The page covers the definition of ovarian cancer, its symptoms, possible risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment. Well, one would ask, "What value does this information have if one can not follow through on its advice?" The website provides related resources available through Cedars-Sinai that range from gynecology to detection programs. I got the impression that this website was geniunely committed to helping individuals who seek a simple answer to their medical questions. The layout of the material on this site was presented in an easy to follow fashion. The site has easy to find contact information and states in a detailed terms and conditions' page that Cedars-Sinai Health System is behind all the content that is posted on the site. I give this site a rating of 9 for its overall resourcefulness.

An organization that has it all

The website for the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, NOCC, is by far the most impressive and attractive sites I have visited thus far in my research on the topic. Any visitor to the site is welcomed with a beautiful slideshow of images representing women, femininity, strength, and vitality all of which are NOCC's core values. The color scheme and graphics used throughout the site is also very complementary to the serenity and comfort that the coalition wishes to provide to women dealing with ovarian cancer and/or are recent survivors of the disease. The website organizes its contents in an easy and navigable layout. The side menu provides links to message boards, support services, and a variety of resources including books, periodicals, and links to other cancer centers. The main purpose of this website is to raise awareness and educate women about ovarian cancer. What I liked most about this website was the fact that that when it does not have the expertise or credentials to answer certain questions, the site makes suggestions for outside web sites that could be of better help. NOCC is a legitimate organization with a valid address and contact information. Its disclaimer acknowledges the coalition's role as a secondary source to a patient's primary health care provider. I found this website to be inviting, honest, and most importantly helpful. NOCC receives a solid rating of 10.

Support is just one click away

The last two blog entries have turned up unsuccessful as far as obtaining worthwhile information from .com sites. So where does one turn for support in ovarian cancer? The government is a great source for gathering facts, but government-run websites do not have the same level of personal connection to Internet users as say an organization made up of actual ovarian cancer patients and survivors. The organizational site I came across is that of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. The color scheme and layout were very warm and inviting, approrpriate for the sites purpose, which is to provide women with resources and current information on cancer support and how they can become a part of a greater community of survivors. This site is different from both the commercial and government-run sites in that it does not seek to educate as much as to inform. There are several ads on the home page, but they are all relevant and none are trying to promote a cause or sell something other than ovarian cancer. The site itself is navigable. There is a main menu with tabs that allow the user to access information on the alliance itself, an events calendar, further resources, and frequently asked questions. A similar main menu feature is arranged as a bar on the top of the home page. This alliance is in fact legitimate because it displays its contact information, headquarter's address and phone numbers on every page. This website is indeed a useful resource for women who are looking for support or to simply find ways to raise awareness about ovarian cancer. I give this website a rating of 9 for its focused and professional approach toward reaching out to women.

Is it too good to be true?

I wanted to see where my search on ovarian cancer would lead me again using Google as a starting point. I quickly scanned the links to only then be drawn to a promising tagline that read, "Use 10 Basic Strategies to prevent and reverse ovarian cancer." Whether or not this would be a legitimate commercial website, I would soon find out. The website CancerFightingStrategies.com does not have the profession appeal or layout that one would find on more well-known sites. The website looks like it could have been designed by anyone with a computer. The language of the content also hinted at the lack of professionalism on the site. There is no clear organization of information and the introduction on the home page of the site seems more like a sale pitch than a genuine source of information. It is necessary to be cautious of the information on this site because like their disclaimer says, the statments made were not evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and should not be taken to be the truth. Still curious of the promises of the "10 Basic Strategies," I tried to find where on the site this information would be located. It certainly was not obvious from the home page and the links on their side menu were not obvious cancer strategies. The links were listed as "oxygenation", "Methylgloxal", and "Energetics", just to name a few. Someone without a medical background like myself, would have a difficult time understanding these terms. Even upon clicking on one of these links, I was directed to a page that contained a lengthy and verbose article on the history of that particular cancer strategy. There were also no citations to verify the sources of the claims made on the website. Do not let websites like this one fool you. The attractive tagline that comes up on a Google search does not necessarily mean that the website will deliver. This website fails to discuss its supposed topic of cancer fighting strategies and is not at all reliable thus earning itself a rating of 1.

Are commercial sites any good?

My previous blog entries have looked into the government's initiative to educate Internet users on the issue of ovarian cancer, but to most, government websites are not the first resource to come to mind when one wants quick and easy answers to their questions. My first instinct would be to use a popular search engine like Google to find related links. Upon doing so, I was presented with pages and pages of links. Amongst the many commercial websites, there are the occasional legitimate government-run and organizational sites. I chose to browse through one of the commercial sites listed in Google's "Sponsored Links" box for the Cancer Treatment Centers of America. At first, I was not sure if I was actually at a site dedicated to ovarian cancer because anyone who visits the site is immediately distracted by an automatic video of testomonies from ovarian cancer survivors and a large box containing contact information for obtaining treatment. I had to scroll further down the page to find an actual introduction. Even then, the information regarding ovarian cancer was very limited. This is definitely not a website that one should go to for accurate and detailed information. Although the layout is very attractive and the video feature is impressive, the website lacks in content. Given these limitations, I give this website a rating of 4.

Health.gov--an easy to use search engine for all of your health needs

Health.gov does not look like much at first glance, but I easily directed my attention to the numerous search links under the "General Health Information" subheading. My selection directed me to the National Women's Health Information Center, another government-run website with up to date information on the latest findings in female health. The search feature of this site was certainly impressive. A search for "ovarian cancer" yielded 107 results, but what I found most helpful was the list of "top news articles" that appeared on the results' page. The article I read, "Oral Contraceptives Cut Ovarian Cancer Risk" was based on information obtained from an Oxford University medical journal. The article was posted fairly recently, less than a month ago. The site itself is very inviting and user friendly. It lacked the artistic appeal of commercial websites, but the content of the website was nonetheless professional and reliable, knowing that the government is behind the service. I would give this site an overall score of 9 for its commitment to having up to date publications.

A TED Talk that makes science fiction reality

With an aging population and an overly drained health system, the medical community is seeking new ways to treat diseases. The longer a population lives, the more complicated and more expensive it is to care for debilitating illnesses. Early diagnosis before a disease can become symptomatic, followed by treatment in order to prevent the onset of a disease to a malignant state are ideally a doctor’s approach to curing a patient. However, science is showing that there is a new and even more effective way of treatment. Growing tissues and limbs were thought to be impossible in the past, but new and revolutionary breakthroughs are happening as we speak. This TED talk gives a glimpse inside the remarkable accomplishments being made in regenerative medicine. After watching this video, I could not help but be in awe of man's genius. Nothing is impossible in this world as long as we are willing to be adventurous and test the limits of science.