What is a CancerMap?

Each CancerMap is designed to help people understand what is happening, prepare for what comes next, and navigate the cancer journey with greater confidence.

About a 5-minute read
  • How CancerMaps Are Different

Cancer is full of unfamiliar challenges.

Whether you have been diagnosed with cancer or are supporting someone who has, a cancer diagnosis often means navigating unfamiliar territory while balancing life's other priorities and responsibilities.

Many cancer resources provide valuable information, but they are often organized around diseases, treatments, or organizations rather than the challenges people are experiencing. As a result, finding the right information can be difficult, and people may be left with more questions than answers.

A CancerMap takes a different approach by focusing on a specific cancer challenge and helping you get oriented. It explains why the challenge happens, what to expect, and what you can do. It also connects you to trusted resources and related CancerMaps that may be helpful both now and as your journey continues.

Just as a road map cannot predict every bump in the road, a CancerMap cannot predict every person's experience. It can, however, help you understand where you are, what may come next, and how to move forward with greater confidence.

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  • How They Helps

Each CancerMap is designed to help you get oriented quickly to what is going on. It explains why something is happening, what is likely to come next, and steps you can take to help yourself.

Every CancerMap follows the same familiar structure built around three questions:

  • Why is this happening?
  • What should I expect?
  • What can I do?

By focusing on these questions—and connecting you with trusted resources to learn more—a CancerMap helps you spend less time searching and more time moving forward with confidence.

  • How They're Organized

Understanding Cancer Testing
Symptoms → Testing → Diagnosis → Treatment
Page Summary
 
 
 Why is this happening?
 
 
 
 What can I expect?
 
 
 
 
 What can I do?
 
 
 
 Trusted Resources
 
 
 
 About this CancerMap
+ Author Information
+ Healthcare Context
+ Publication & Review History

Each CancerMap includes:

  • An explanation of why the challenge is happening, providing context so you can better understand your situation.

     

  • A preview of what to expect next, helping you prepare for upcoming tests, treatments, or decisions.

     

  • Practical guidance for moving forward, including recommendation from healthcare professionals and people with lived experience for actions you can take yourself.

     

  • Links to trusted additional resources connecting you to trusted organizations and related CancerMaps to help you understand the challenges in greater depth that you are facing now and may face in the future.

     

  • Information about who created the CancerMap, including the authors, contributors, healthcare context, and publication history.

     

Once you've used one CancerMap, you'll be familiar with how to navigate every other CancerMap.

  • How They're Created

Every CancerMap is created using the same process to ensure its content is accurate, practical, trustworthy, and easy to understand.

Identify a Cancer Challenge
Every CancerMap begins with a question or challenge that people commonly experience during their cancer journey.
Create the CancerMap
Expert authors combine explanations of why the challenge happens, what people can typically expect, and practical guidance from healthcare professionals and people with lived experience.
Add Trusted Resources
Resources from trusted organizations, related CancerMaps, and open-access scientific articles are selected to help readers find the information they need.
Review for Accuracy
Every CancerMap is reviewed before publication to help ensure it is scientifically accurate, relevant, current, and presented in a clear and practical way.
Publish & Update
The completed CancerMap is published on our website along with a printer-friendly version. The CancerMap is updated and revised as needed to ensure it is accurate and relevant.
  • How to Get Started

Each CancerMap is designed to help you understand what is happening now and prepare for what comes next.

Explore our growing collection of resources and start with the one that best fits with what you are facing right now — you don't need to read everything at once.

You can also access a printer-friendly version by following the link at the top of each CancerMap. Use it to print a copy for appointments, share it with family or friends, or provide it to anyone who prefers or requires information in a paper format.

  • Start with a CancerMap
    Go to our Resource section and choose the CancerMap that best matches your current question or challenge.

  • Explore Trusted Resources
    At the bottom of each CancerMap, explore content from trusted organizations and related CancerMaps to learn more.

  • Help Build Future CancerMaps
    Subscribe to hear about new CancerMaps, future resources, and opportunities to contribute.

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