Specialized Online Reference Sites (2)

Breast Cancer Database. Pandey Lab and Institute of Bioformatics. 3 June 2008. http://www.breastcancerdatabase.org/.

This database is somewhat complicated, but is still a good reference for reporters. There are browsing functions and a query option. Some of the information is hard to understand, but if a reporter could get assistance from a doctor or other expert, the database would make more sense. The charts and interactive graphs make the database a complex site with various types of information.


Get Breast Cancer Support Today. 2006. Inflamatory Breast Cancer. 4 June 2008. http://getbreastcancersupport.com/breast-cancer-awareness/index.html.

This site is an online bibliography that provides many links to other breast cancer online references, including articles and other web sites. This site would be helpful to reporters who are just starting to research the topic because it provides such a large range of information. The linked articles are especially helpful when researching different treatment options and new research studies. There are articles added weekly that provide the most recent news on the topic.

Specialized Print Reference Books (2)

Turkington, Carol. The Encyclopedia of Breast Cancer. New York: Facts on File. 2005.

This encyclopedia provides a variety of information on the general topic of breast cancer. This reference book would be a good place to start for reporters who do not know much about the subject. There is a good bibliography in the book that would direct reporters to other books. It was published in 2005 which makes it somewhat dated considering new research comes out daily. However, this is still a good reference to start with.


Blachford, Stacey L., The Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders. Detroit: Gale Group. 2002.

This general encyclopedia provides information on various types of genetic disorders such as breast cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s. The articles describe different treatment options and conditions of the disease. In conjunction with the other reference book, this would also be a good place to start for new reporters just beginning to research the topic. An index and bibliography in the book is helpful as well. It is somewhat dated since the copyright date is 2002, but it still provides good basic information about the disease.

Trade Magazine or Scholarly Articles (3)

Wicha, Max S. “Cancer Stem Cell Heterogeneity in Hereditary Breast Cancer.” Breast Cancer Research 16 April 2008. 16 April 2008 .

This article is from the Breast Cancer Research web site that is an international peer-reviewed online journal providing the medical world with more information about new research. This site also allows visitors to link to other sites relating to breast cancer. This article examines the relation between breast cancer and heredity. It does not discuss treatment plans, but shows new research in the field. This would be useful for reporters and researchers focusing more on research of breast cancer. From this article, one can also find similar articles and resources.

Moayed, Farman A. et al. "Experimental Design Comparison of Studies Evaluating Doxorubicin Nanoparticles in Breast Cancer Therapy." Human Factors & Ergonomics in Manufacturing 18.3 (2008): 342-357.

This article would be helpful for reporters because it describes very recent advances in breast cancer research. In the article, a new study is highlighted surrounding the use of doxorubicin nanoparticles in cancer therapy (specifically breast cancer therapy). There are charts, diagrams and graphs that make the information easier to understand.

Hede, Karyn. "Doctors Seek to Prevent Breast Cancer Recurrence by Lowering Insulin Levels." Journal of the National Cancer Institute 100.8 (2008): 530-532.

This article from the Journal of the National Cancer Institute provides information on a recent study that shows that medicine used to treat diabetes may also help with preventing breast cancer. Metformin, a drug used to treat diabetes may also help treat breast cancer. This article would be helpful for reporters who are trying to understand new treatment options for breast cancer patients. The study showed that patients who had lower levels of insulin had better results from treatments.

Newspaper or Magazine Articles (3)

Zimmerman, Rachel, and Scott Hensley. "New Treatment Options for Breast Cancer." The Wall Street Journal (3 November 2004).

This article describes what is supposed to be a drug that stops the recurrence of breast cancer. Various studies are highlighted in the article that show that Aromasin is effective in preventing tumors and improving the quality of life for survivors. This would be useful for reporters because it shows different studies that have been done in the past and what they have found. The article focuses on both breast cancer in general and treatment options for patients.

Pollack, Andrew. "In Second Trial, Avastin Is Found Effective in Treating Breast Cancer." New York Times (13 February 2008).

This article highlights a new clinical trial that found that the drug, Avastin, is effective in treating breast cancer. The company that makes the drug is hoping that it will be approved for use. This is a useful article for reporters who are investigating new drug options for breast cancer patients. It would be helpful to look at some of the studies mentioned in the article to find out more information.

Rabin, Roni Caryn. “Breasts; Reducing your Risk for Breast Cancer.” New York Times (13 May 2008).

This article dispels some common rumors about breast cancer prevention and treatment while also providing information from the latest studies. This is a good article to start with when researching the topic. Some statistics in the article are helpful to understand the impact of this disease. There is information on genetics and lifestyles and how these affect a person’s risk for contracting the disease and recovering from it. The reporter suggests ways to prevent breast cancer and how to catch it in the early stages.

Recent Books (3)

Dixon, Anne-Marie. Breast Ultrasound: How, Why and When. New York: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier, 2008.

This book contains information on the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. It discusses various techniques used by different doctors and hospitals. The beginning gives a brief history of the topic and later, it specifically mentions to the use of ultrasound to diagnose breast cancer. This is helpful to reporters and researchers because it provides a detailed explanation of different diagnosis methods as well as intervention techniques and treatments. This is a good source for background information on the topic.

Peltason, Ruth A. I Am Not My Breast Cancer. New York: William Morrow, 2008.

This book describes various women’s experiences dealing with breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Peltason details specific cases of women with breast cancer and how they feel when they find out the diagnosis and later coping with the disease. This would be helpful to reporters because it provides a personal perspective on the topic. Although, I would not quote from this book, it is still beneficial to read the experiences of these women to gain a better understanding of coping with breast cancer.

Kendrowski, Karen M. Cancer Activism: Gender, Media, and Public Policy. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 2007.

This book focuses on breast cancer and prostate cancer and how they interact in the media. Although breast cancer is not the main focus of this book, it is still covered extensively. Topics such as grassroots organizations, public perceptions and policies are discussed in this book. This would be helpful to reporters who wanted to find out more about the politics of breast cancer research and treatments in the United States.

Multimedia Resources (3)

Rippon, Angela. “Breast Cancer: Prevention and Treatment.” Princeton, NJ: Films for the Humanities and Sciences. 2002.

This electronic video provides information on ways to prevent breast cancer and methods to treat it. It includes various risk factors associated with cancer in general as well as breast cancer specifically. Various treatment options are discussed in the film such as chemotherapy, mastectomy reconstructive surgery. This video would be helpful for reporters who want an overview of breast cancer risk factors and treatments.


Goldblum, Jeff. “DNA. Curing Cancer.” Princeton, NJ: Films for the Humanities and Sciences. 2004.

This digital film focuses on researchers who have found a link between DNA and certain cancers such as breast cancer. This link could lead to a cure for breast cancer because they have already found a way to cure other cancers. This is an interesting film to watch because it shows how closely linked DNA and cancer is and how close science is coming to finding a cure. Reporters would benefit from watching this film because it describes the disease in simple terms and is easy to understand. It also provides information on other advances with different cancers.

YouTube: Broadcast Yourself. 2007. "October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month." 1 June 2008. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4TDT8zNQm8. 

This video from YouTube highlights different risk factors, warning signs, and statistics surrounding breast cancer. It was done to increase awareness of the disease. This would be helpful to reporters because it provides a base of information in quick bullets. Also, there are different graphics in the video that show how to check for breast cancer and what some of the warning signs are. Granted, this specific information may not be useful in reporting, it is still important when trying to understand the implications of the disease (before and after).

Online Blogs (2)

Kups, Kathy-Ellen. "Life with Breast Cancer." Health Talk: Breast Cancer. 2008. 2 June 2008. http://blog.healthtalk.com/breast-cancer/life-with-breast-cancer/. 

This blog is written by a breast cancer patient. She discusses various topics in the news regarding breast cancer in her entries. This would be helpful for reporters because Kups provides an interesting view point on different political issues surrounding breast cancer and the healthcare system. She is clearly a liberal and supports the democratic party platform surrounding healthcare and breast cancer research. Although this might be bias, it is still worth looking at because she explains her side of the issue very well and is very knowledgeable about the topic.

Sally. "My Relationship with Breast Cancer." 2008. 2 June 2008. http://pinkribbonsally.wordpress.com/.

This is a very helpful blog for reporters because Sally is aware of breast cancer research news and updates. Also, along with her blog, she has links to other breast cancer sites and blogs. Sally researches this topic throughly and pays attention to news outlets and provides information to her readers. She is knowledgeable about the subject and her blog would be a good resource for reporters looking for trends and the latest news in the field. 

International Sites (2)

The International Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 2008. 2 June 2008. http://www.ibcrf.org/index. 

This is an international site that supports breast cancer research across the world. The site provides information about new researchers in the field as well as new studies. The foundation  accepts donations to fund new researchers in the breast cancer world. This site would be helpful for reporters because it provides information about breast cancer treatments and survivors around the world. The statistics given on the site include those of the entire world compared with those of the United States.

International Breast Cancer Study Group. 2008. 2 June 2008. http://www.ibcsg.org. 

This site is dedicated to improving the lives of breast cancer patients through clinical cancer research. It is funded by various companies and also accepts donations. This site would be helpful to reporters because it provides links to various news articles and news within the site. Researchers associated with the group want to improve the overall quality of life for breast cancer patients and survivors. 

Statistical Sources (2)

American Cancer Society. 2008. "Breast Cancer Facts and Figures: 2007-2008." 2 June 2008. <http://www.cancer.org/docroot/STT/STT_0.asp>.

This website provides yearly statistics on all types of cancers and has a separate category for breast cancer. Information such as death rates, risk factors, prevention methods and treatment options are provided. This would be helpful for a reporter because it provides an in depth look at the facts surrounding breast cancer - showing what works and what does not. Also, statistics from previous years are included on the site which would be helpful to compare data.

Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results. 2008. National Cancer Institute. 2 June 2008. <http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast.html>.

This website is published through the National Cancer Institute which is funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. There are up-to-date charts and graphs comparing breast cancer rates with age and race. This would be useful for reporters because the charts and information are easy to understand and interpret. The site provides overall mortality rates for breast cancer as well as breaking that figure down by race and age group. This data would be helpful when comparing these factors.

Government Documents (2)

"Screening for Breast Cancer: U.S. Preventative Services Task Force." 2008. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 2 June 2008. <http://www.ahrq.gov>.

This site is supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. This government document describes the effectiveness of getting breast cancer screenings and encourages women to get screened. This would be helpful for reporters because it shows the benefits of getting screened. It also provides information on screening rates as related with effectiveness. It says that a woman who receives a cancer screening has a much lower mortality rate.

Office of the Spokesman. "U.S.-Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research." 12 June 2006. U.S. Department of State. 2 June 2008. <http://www.state.gov>.

This document was published in an effort to raise international awareness of breast cancer. This would be useful for any reporter who is doing more of an international focus of the topic. This would be a good starting point for a more in depth look at how breast cancer effects other nations in the world. The document proposes a six month partnership to promote awareness about breast cancer in the Middle East with help from groups like the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Government Agencies (2)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2008. The Department of Health and Human Services. 5 June 2008. <http://www.cdc.gov>. 

This site provides an overview of most of the diseases affecting the American population, including breast cancer. The most recent and accurate information about breast cancer research and treatments can be found on this site. This would be useful for a reporter because it is very credible. All the information published through this site has to be accurate. For this reason, a reporter could use this site to double check sources and facts. 

National Cancer Institute. 2008. U.S. National Institutes of Health. 5 June 2008. <http://www.cancer.gov>. 

This site is similar to the CDC site in that it provides general information about all types of cancers. It would be helpful to reporters who are trying to get a feel for the basics of cancer research and what has been done in the past. This site provides statistics about breast cancer, as well as information about treatment options and clinical trials. There are also links to other research sites and information that would be helpful for anyone reporting on the issue.

For-Profit Businesses (2)

Cancer Treatment Centers of America. 2008. 3 June 2008. <http://www.cancercenter.com>.

This site provides care for breast cancer patients. There are several resources for patients such as various treatment options and profiles of doctors. This would be helpful for reporters because there are links to different treatment options for patients. These would be useful when trying to understand what is available to patients. The CTCA consists of a network of hospitals and cancer centers that provide the best care for patients.

"Breast Cancer Treatment." 2008. MyBreastCancerNetwork.com. 3 June 2008. <http://www.heathcentral.com>.

This site provides information for patients and survivors of breast cancer. It is a for-profit organization associated with the site Health Central. On the site there are many helpful links for reporters. These include: risk factors, prevention techniques, symptoms, diagnosis, etc. Through these links, reporters can learn more about what survivors and patients have to go through with the disease. 

Non-Profit Associations (2)

Evelyn H. Lauder, Founder and Chairman. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.2008. 15 April 2008 .

This is the official site for the Breast Cancer Foundation. It provides a network of survivors and information on new research and where the money donated to the foundation goes to. The site provides information on the history of the foundation and what the foundation hopes to do in the future. The mission is explained and the major donors are cited. This is a great tool for reporters and researchers because it provides many links to other sites and gives basic information on most topics relating to breast cancer.

breastcancer.org. Breastcancer.org. 2008. 23 May 2008 .

This website is titled the same as its address, but it seems to be credible and important to the field. It provides information to survivors and current breast cancer patients. Recent research news and new treatments are posted on the site. This would be a good source for reporters because it sums up the topic and provides a good base. The information on options of treatments is especially helpful.

Expert Sources (5)

Tiller, Laura, Director of Human Resources, Bigg's Hypermarket, 2015 Weber Road, Loveland, OH, 45140, 513-575-5229.

Laura is a breast cancer survivor who is willing to talk about her experiences. She is currently the Director of Human Resources at Bigg's and a mother of two children. She would be able to provide a unique perspective on the subject that can only come from a survivor. She is easy to contact and is very knowledgeable about treatment options.

Chodosh, Lewis A., M.D., associate professor, University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, 215-898-1321.

Dr. Chodosh is one of the leading researchers of breast cancer. His laboratory conducts research on the influence of genes and other factors on the development of breast cancer. He is currently on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania in the School of Medicine. He is also the Editor-in-chief of the online peer-reviewed journal, Breast Cancer Research. He would be a great source for reporters because of his extensive background in breast cancer research and all of its facets. 

Miller, Kathy D., M.D., associate professor, Indiana University, School of Medicine, 535 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, 317-274-1690.

Dr. Miller is currently an associate professor at Indiana University. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation sponsors Dr. Miller so she can research new treatments for breast cancer. She has experienced patients coping with breast cancer and would be a good source for this. Her background on the subject and depth of knowledge make her an appropriate source for this topic.

Grana, Generosa, M.D., F.A.C.P., associate professor, Cooper University Hospital, 900 Centennial Boulevard, Suite M, Voorhees, NJ, 08043, 856-325-6750.

Dr. Grana is regarded highly in her field by her peers and patients. She would be a good expert to talk to because she is so versed in the topic. She has experienced patients and treatment methods and would be able to speak about the effectiveness of the various types. She is also knowledgeable about hospitals and the health care system for people diagnosed with the disease. She also speaks at various breast cancer events so she would be a good source to explain some of the more difficult concepts. 

Allen, Robert J., M.D., plastic surgeon, The Center for Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction, 1776 Broadway, Suite 1200, New York, NY, 10019, 1-888-890-3437.

Dr. Allen is a plastic surgeon focusing on helping breast cancer survivors overcome some of the negative side effects of the disease. He wants every survivor to be able to lead a normal life after getting over breast cancer. He would be a good source for reporters to learn about how breast cancer survivors deal with the after effects of the disease. He would be knowledgeable about how his patients cope with the disease and what they can do after they beat the cancer.