For a well-researched topic such as cancer, it’s hard to keep up with the proliferation of new treatments and their effects on prognosis. For many cancers, the rate of change is such that one wants to check for the latest information whenever the topic comes up, but where can this information be found quickly?

In BC, we’re lucky to have the BC Cancer Agency’s Cancer Management Guidelines, where you can quickly find information on diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up/survivorship care. The guidelines are available at www.bccancer.bc.ca/health-professionals/clinical-resources/cancer-management-guidelines [10]. 

The BC Cancer Agency also provides information written for the patient, available at www.bccancer.bc.ca/health-info/types-of-cancer [11]. Patients and their loved ones can use this site to learn more about their specific cancer and to find resources for support and advice on coping and life after cancer. Additional high-quality resources for patients may be found at MedlinePlus (http://medlineplus.gov [12]), a consumer health website. The patient handouts found on this site are all vetted by the (US) National Library of Medicine.

Recently, the College Library began including more articles about cancer treatments and survivorship care in Cites & Bytes (www.cpsbc.ca/library/cites-bytes [13]). These articles are grouped under the Cancer & Survivors heading in the Cites & Bytes highlights section. 

College registrants with library services may also request literature searches to locate the latest on cancer research and recommendations on our website (www.cpsbc.ca/literature-search-requests [14]), via email (medlib@cpsbc.ca [15]), or by phone (604 733-6671).
—Niki Baumann
Librarian
Library Services
College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC

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This article is the opinion of the Library of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC and has not been peer reviewed by the BCMJ Editorial Board.