Our online community of individuals interested in cancer: how and why

Abstract

Abstract This article discusses the types of Internet resources for individuals interested in cancer. Beginning with a background review of mailing lists, newsgroups and real-time communication, the article explores what makes a World-Wide Web site valuable to its audience. It also explores some of the motivation for building what became, in 1994, a revolutionary resource that changed the information flow in medicine to empower a community enlightened with knowledge at their fingertips. The article then explores the clinical uses of the Internet by physicians from a health care perspective. Finally, it concludes with a discussion of the paradigm shift created by this information empowerment, exploring both the opportunities and problems that remain to be solved in the next generation information resource.