FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 1, 2007
CONTACT:
Heather Goethe
703-299-1016
CHICAGO -- At its 43rd Annual Meeting, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) for the first time will offer podcasts of breaking news on its patient information Web site, www.plwc.org. These pre-recorded audio files, commonly known as podcasts, will contain news highlights from the proceedings at the Annual Meeting, the largest yearly gathering of cancer specialists. In addition to news from the meeting, PLWC’s ongoing podcasts will address specific cancer-related topics to help people living with cancer cope with the disease and make informed decisions about their cancer care and treatment. ASCO’s patient information podcasts can be accessed through the Internet and downloaded to a computer free-of-charge by visiting plwc.org. In addition, podcasts can be readily transferred to an MP3 audio player, such as an iPod, for listening on-the-go.
Podcasts available (in addition to the Annual Meeting podcasts) for download on plwc.org include:
- When the Doctor Says Cancer: First Steps to Take
- Choosing an Oncologist
- Choosing a Cancer Treatment Facility
- Preventing Lymphedema After Breast Cancer Treatment
- Follow-up Care After Colorectal Cancer
“According to The Pew Internet and American Life Project, more than 22 million American adults own an MP3 or iPod player,” said Diane Blum, MSW, Editor-in-Chief, PLWC.org. “Adding this new technology to the site allows us to provide important cancer information in the format that is most accessible to the consumer.”
The topics selected for the podcasts complement the information presently found on plwc.org. The podcasts provide a quick, easily accessible way to access oncologist-approved cancer information.
The length of each podcast varies depending upon the complexity of the topic but will typically average about four minutes. Upcoming topics include:
- Explaining Medical Procedures to Your Child
- Coping with Fear of Side Effects
- Explaining Palliative Care
- Seeking a Second Opinion
- Teens: Cancer and School
In addition, free subscription services will be available so that new podcast offerings on plwc.org are automatically downloaded to the subscriber’s personal computer as soon as they are available. To subscribe, visitors will need to use subscription software, such as iTunes.
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is the world’s leading professional organization representing physicians of all oncology subspecialties who care for people with cancer. ASCO’s nearly 25,000 members from the United States and abroad set the standard for patient care and lead the efforts to discover more effective cancer treatments, increase funding for clinical and translational research and ultimately, improve cancer care for the estimated 10 million people diagnosed with cancer worldwide each year. ASCO publishes the
Journal of Clinical Oncology, the preeminent, peer-reviewed medical journal on clinical cancer research and produces People Living With Cancer (
www.plwc.org), a comprehensive consumer Web site providing oncologist-vetted cancer information to help patients and families make informed health care decisions.
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