Challenges and opportunities of the Internet for medical oncology

Purpose: The Internet, and in particular the world wide web (www), has a rapidly increasing potential to provide information for oncologists and their patients about cancer biology and treatment. A brief overview of this environment is given along with examples of how easily the information is accessed as a means of introducing the web page of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), ASCO Online. Methods: Oncology information sources on the www were accessed from the author's home using a 14.4 kbs modem, Netscape browser (Netscape Communications Corp, Mountain View, CA), and the locations recorded for tabulation and discussion. Results: Overwhelming amounts of oncology-related information are now available via the Internet. Conclusion: Oncology as a subspecialty is ideally suited to apply the newest information technology to traditional needs in areas of education, research, and patient care, Oncologists will increasingly act as informatino guides rather than information resources for patients and their families with cancer.