Trusted links & further reading

How to use these links — and a word of caution

The internet is full of cancer information, and a worrying amount of it is wrong, alarmist, or trying to sell you something. The resources listed here are the ones we recommend to our own patients — well-established organisations with medical oversight, written specifically for patients, and free from commercial pressure.

Websites change, and links break. Where we give a URL, also note the name of the organisation — if a link no longer works, a search for the exact name (for example "Cancer.Net ASCO patient information") will usually find their current home page. Always look for resources that are clearly authored, recently updated, and reference-based rather than testimonial-based.

"A trustworthy cancer website tells you what we know, what we don't know, and where the evidence comes from. A bad cancer website tells you what to buy."

General cancer information — international

Specific cancer information

For deeper, specific information on a particular cancer, the major patient-facing organisations are usually the best starting point:

• Breast cancer. Breast Cancer Now (UK), Breastcancer.org (US), Susan G. Komen. Search for any of these by name.
• Lung cancer. Lung Cancer Research Foundation, Lungevity, Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation (UK).
• Colorectal cancer. Bowel Cancer UK, Colorectal Cancer Alliance (US), Fight Colorectal Cancer.
• Prostate cancer. Prostate Cancer UK, Prostate Cancer Foundation (US), ZERO Prostate Cancer.
• Lymphoma and leukaemia. Lymphoma Action (UK), Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (US), Lymphoma Research Foundation.
• Gynaecological cancers. Eve Appeal (UK), Foundation for Women's Cancer (US), Ovacome.
• Head and neck cancer. Oral Cancer Foundation, Head and Neck Cancer Alliance, Mouth Cancer Foundation (UK).
• Pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic Cancer UK, PanCAN (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network).
• Rare cancers. The Rare Cancers Alliance, Cancer52 (UK rare and less common cancers), individual rare-cancer organisations exist for most diagnoses — search by cancer name plus "foundation" or "society".

Side-effect management and supportive care

Resources for Pakistan

Patient-facing oncology resources written specifically for the Pakistani context are still limited, but the following are worth knowing about:

Financial assistance in Pakistan

Cancer treatment is expensive. Several routes can help patients who cannot fully afford care. Eligibility, paperwork, and availability vary, so apply early and to more than one source if possible.

• Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust. Zakat-funded treatment for patients meeting eligibility criteria. Apply directly through the hospital's patient affairs department.
• Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal. Government welfare programme that can contribute toward treatment costs for low-income patients. District offices process applications.
• Zakat funds at major hospitals. Most large hospitals in Pakistan have a zakat committee that supports eligible patients with treatment costs. Ask the hospital social work or patient affairs department.
• Patient Welfare Society / hospital welfare departments. Many hospitals have a dedicated welfare department that handles cost-assistance applications.
• Drug company patient access programmes. For several expensive targeted therapies and immunotherapies, the manufacturers run access schemes — sometimes free or heavily subsidised treatment for eligible patients. We can help you check and apply.
• Sehat Sahulat Programme. The national health insurance card programme covers treatment at empanelled hospitals — coverage and eligibility vary by province; check your card status.
• Edhi Foundation, Saylani Welfare, Chhipa Welfare and others. National welfare organisations may assist in specific circumstances.
• Family and community zakat. Local mosque and community zakat committees often have funds for medical needs; don't overlook this route.

Mental health support

If you are in crisis — having thoughts of harming yourself — please call a helpline immediately, contact us, or go to your nearest hospital. You are not alone in this.

Clinical trials

If you are interested in clinical trials, the global registry ClinicalTrials.gov is the most complete source. Search for "ClinicalTrials.gov" and use the search by condition and country. Trials in Pakistan are listed there along with trials internationally. Talk to us before pursuing any trial — eligibility is specific, and we can help you understand what is realistic.

What to be cautious of online

• Cure claims. Anyone telling you they can "cure cancer" with a herbal product, a diet, an oil, a supplement, a machine, or a special clinic abroad is either misinformed or deceiving you. Real cancer treatments — even very effective ones — come with honest discussions of their limits.
• Testimonial-driven sites. A single patient's story, however moving, is not evidence. Look for sites that cite studies, not just testimonials.
• "Big pharma is hiding the cure" claims. This narrative is popular and false. Effective treatments — even when their developers do not stand to profit — get published, reviewed, and used worldwide.
• Sites selling supplements alongside their information. The financial incentive distorts the content.
• WhatsApp forwards. The cancer "facts" that circulate on WhatsApp are very often wrong. If something concerns you, send it to us and we'll tell you honestly whether it has any basis.