Web Sites

Developing my website was a little time-consuming. The initial set up was probably a couple of months and for me, about 30-40 hours most weeks during that time. This is what was entailed:


1. Deciding the tone/message/image I wanted to convey.

Eg., I wanted upbeat, self-empowering, and to have something to offer to survivors of any cancer type. The front page is for all survivors. It’s focus is nonclinical and on what we can do for ourselves in the way of diet, supplements, stress reduction. Organizations doing great things for us. Nonclinical, light, and sometimes funny. Many of the other tabs are for people with specific cancers and some of it is more clinical (treatments, diagnostics, etc).

After I had the tabs figured out, I wrote a few articles for each of the tabs, and found great sites where I could get free images to go with the stories. I also hired a graphic designer to work with me on my logo.


2. Actually setting up the site:

I contacted a survivor with a beautiful website who steered me toward a web developer who was good and in my price range. The designer in turn recommended a web host with a good, inexpensive product. Developing my website was a little time-consuming. The initial set up was probably a couple of months and for me, about 30-40 hours most weeks during that time. This is what was entailed:


1. Deciding the tone/message/image I wanted to convey.

Eg., I wanted upbeat, self-empowering, and to have something to offer to survivors of any cancer type. The front page is for all survivors. It’s focus is nonclinical and on what we can do for ourselves in the way of diet, supplements, stress reduction. Organizations doing great things for us. Nonclinical, light, and sometimes funny. Many of the other tabs are for people with specific cancers and some of it is more clinical (treatments, diagnostics, etc).

After I had the tabs figured out, I wrote a few articles for each of the tabs, and found great sites where I could get free images to go with the stories. I also hired a graphic designer to work with me on my logo.


2. Actually setting up the site:

I contacted a survivor with a beautiful website who steered me toward a web developer who was good and in my price range. The designer in turn recommended a web host with a good, inexpensive product.

Of course we would suggest the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation, www.ibcresearch.org, which would include the website, Facebook page, and e-newsletter. Content is regularly updated and reviewed for accuracy and usefulness.

For current medical journal articles it is always best to go to PubMed and type in "inflammatory breast cancer" to locate the most recently published articles. Unfortunately those are often in subscription only journals so you may only be able to read the abstract but can contact the corresponding author for more information.

The National Cancer Institute has a good fact sheet:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/IBC

Many major medical centers have information about inflammatory breast cancer and those who see more cases may have some research data as well as clinical trials.

It's important to be cautious when exploring the internet for health related information. Not all websites have physician overview and may contain more personal opinion than unbiased medical information. Of course we would suggest the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation, www.ibcresearch.org, which would include the website, Facebook page, and e-newsletter. Content is regularly updated and reviewed for accuracy and usefulness.

For current medical journal articles it is always best to go to PubMed and type in "inflammatory breast cancer" to locate the most recently published articles. Unfortunately those are often in subscription only journals so you may only be able to read the abstract but can contact the corresponding author for more information.

The National Cancer Institute has a good fact sheet:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/IBC

Many major medical centers have information about inflammatory breast cancer and those who see more cases may have some research data as well as clinical trials.

It's important to be cautious when exploring the internet for health related information. Not all websites have physician overview and may contain more personal opinion than unbiased medical information.

Contact information should be listed somewhere on the website. This shows that the organization has nothing to hide and can easily be located, something which malicious or un-trustworthy websites may not have.

I NEVER give personal information to any website and if they are asking for it, I don't trust it.

Before I decide to trust a website or an organization, I research them. You can perform a simple name search on the Better Business Bureau's website to check out consumer complaints and to verify the organization's information. Also check out to RipOffReport.com and search for the organization; read about positive or negative experiences from users concerning the website of an organization of which you're unsure.

Go with your gut... my instincts have never let me down :-)
Contact information should be listed somewhere on the website. This shows that the organization has nothing to hide and can easily be located, something which malicious or un-trustworthy websites may not have.

I NEVER give personal information to any website and if they are asking for it, I don't trust it.

Before I decide to trust a website or an organization, I research them. You can perform a simple name search on the Better Business Bureau's website to check out consumer complaints and to verify the organization's information. Also check out to RipOffReport.com and search for the organization; read about positive or negative experiences from users concerning the website of an organization of which you're unsure.

Go with your gut... my instincts have never let me down :-)

The American Cancer Society: Breast Cancer Advocacy: PageServer?pagename='MSABC_FY09_advocacy"' site makingstrides.acsevents.org http:>http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/site/PageServer?pagename=MSABC_FY09_advocacy" target=_blank>http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/site/PageServer?pagename=MSABC_FY09_advocacy" target=_blank>http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/site/PageServer?pagename=MSABC_FY09_advocacy
Breast Cancer Awareness and Support: Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization http://talkabouthealth.com/%3Ca%20href=" target=_blank http: ? www.y-me.org> href="http://www.y-me.org/" target="_blank">http://www.y-me.org/" target=_blank>http://www.y-me.org/" target=_blank>http://www.y-me.org/
Breast Cancer Deadline 2020 http://talkabouthealth.com/%3Ca%20href=" target=_blank http: ? www.breastcancerdeadline2020.org> href="http://www.breastcancerdeadline2020.org/" target="_blank">http://www.breastcancerdeadline2020.org/" target=_blank>http://www.breastcancerdeadline2020.org/" target=_blank>http://www.breastcancerdeadline2020.org/ Here are a couple:

Medical News Today: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/breast_cancer/
Science Daily: http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/breast_cancer/
Topix: http://www.topix.com/health/breast-cancer