www.cancer.gov
An interesting site from the US National Cancer Institute which is part of the US Department of Health. It is of use to patients as the information related to various aspects of bowel cancer is well presented with a clear layout combined with good organisation of search results. Professionals and surgical trainees will also find it useful as it offers evidence-based reviews on screening, prevention and genetics of colorectal cancer and a formal ranking system helps the reader judge the strength of evidence reported. This is an excellent site with concise and comprehensive information on bowel cancer.****
www.beatingbowelcancer.org
This is a UK charity website, primarily patient-orientated which is easy to navigate with a high speed of loading the pages. It provides basic knowledge and information to patients about the disease, symptoms and treatment options and is probably a good starting point for patients wishing to do some further research. Whilst it is quite visually appealing, the section devoted to provide further links is limited, especially with regards to international sites. This site is simplistic but provides useful information to patients and relatives.**
www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk
Here is another UK charity site offering information aimed at educating the public and those concerned about bowel cancer. This is a very basic site and patients would probably need to seek information from elsewhere. The overall layout is uninspired and the home page is confusing as it is littered with adverts on how to win tickets for TV shows, football matches and other functions. It is rather disappointing to see that there are no links to other sites.*
www.cancerbacup.org.uk
This UK charity site is primarily aimed at patients although there is a link for health professionals. It provides detailed information on all types of cancer. The section on bowel cancer offers thorough explanations in language that is suitable for the reader with no medical background. There are many good sections on the site and one of the best features is that information is provided in 12 different languages with a reference to a free telephone number for advice. Overall, an excellent website containing an adequate amount of information.
www.besttreatments.co.uk
This is a website produced by the BMJ aiming to provide patients and healthcare professionals with evidence-based information on medical conditions and their treatment. The content of this site is informative, educational and well presented. The text is characterised by clarity and simplicity. Overall, the boring design and unimaginative format is well compensated by a sufficient number of references for both clinicians and patients. A site worth visiting.***