In our January health report, Pat Haire looked at new innovations in treating prostate cancer. If you or someone you know faces this deadly disease, here are some helpful resources from the National Cancer Institute's Web site (www.cancer.gov).

Important questions that the patient might want to ask their doctor before their treatment:

What is the stage of the disease?

What is the grade of the disease?

What are my treatment options? Is watchful waiting a good choice for me?

Are new treatments under study? Would a clinical trial be appropriate for me?

What are the expected benefits of each kind of treatment?

What are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment? How can the side effects be managed?

Is treatment likely to affect my sex life?

Am I likely to have urinary problems?

Am I likely to have bowel problems, such as diarrhea or rectal bleeding?

Will I need to change me normal activities? If so, for how long?

Booklets About Cancer Treatment:

Understanding Treatment Choices for Prostate Cancer: Know Your Options

Chemotherapy and You: A Guide to Self-Help During Treatment

Helping Yourself During Chemotherapy: 4 Steps for Patients

Radiation Therapy and you: A Guide to Self-Help During Treatment

Eating Hints for Cancer Patients

Pain Control: A Guide for People with Cancer and Their families

Get Relief From Cancer Pain

Booklets About Living With Cancer:

Taking Time: Support for People With Cancer and the People Who Care About Them

Facing Forward: Life After Cancer Treatment

When Cancer Recurs: Meeting the Challenge

Advanced cancer: Living Each Day

Booklets About Cancer Research:

Taking Part in Clinical Trials: Cancer Prevention Studies

Taking Part in Clinical Trials: What Cancer Patients Need to Know

If You Have Cancer.What You Should Know About Clinical Trials

National Cancer Institute Informational Resources:

Telephone

Cancer Information Service (CIS)

Toll-free: 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237)

TTY (for deaf and hard of hearing callers): 1-800-332-8615