Understanding Sarcoma gives busy health care professionals the educational resource they need. Patients are demanding more education, but find the information available on the Internet too fragmented and the studies in medical journals too advanced to help them. The OIES™ provides reliable, comprehensive and accesible cancer information. It educates your patients while allowing you to focus on individualized care.

Understanding Sarcoma is also an invaluable resource for clinicians dealing with this difficult condition. Featuring a clinical level with a detailed examination of patterns of spread and discussions of the principles of oncology, it introduces health care professionals to the central issues in the treatment of the disease.

What is Sarcoma?
This section gives patients and novice health professionals an important introduction to sarcoma. It includes a discussion of risk factors and statistics about the disease. Easy-to-understand interactive diagrams explain cancer, and the anatomy and physiology of the bones and soft tissues.

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Diagnosis
The Diagnosis section focuses on recognizing symptoms, understanding investigations and tests, staging sarcoma and evaluating prognosis. It describes the symptoms of sarcoma, the methods used to detect it (e.g., physical examination, blood tests, biopsy, x-ray, CT scan, MRI scan, ultrasound) and the various factors that influence prognosis. Illustrative graphics and animations reveal how different stages describe the extent of the disease and predict how likely the cancer is to progress.

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Treatments
The Treatments section discusses both treatment decision-making and the details of each of the primary therapies for sarcoma: surgery and radiation therapy. It clearly shows what to expect from each treatment approach, providing answers to the questions: Why are these treatments used? How do these treatments work? What will happen during my visits? How will I manage my side effects? For each type of treatment, narrated 3-D animations and diagrams reinforce the key concepts.

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Supportive Care
The Supportive Care section focuses on the medical, psychological and social services that help patients cope with the many challenges of sarcoma and its treatment. The topics include managing symptoms and side effects, physical rehabilitation, smoking cessation, diet and nutrition, pain management, relaxation techniques and complementary therapies. Sections on palliative care, spiritual support, psychological support and quality of life help patients address difficult emotional issues. Information on how to get in touch with support groups and services allows patients to seek out further assistance.

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Resources
In addition to the wealth of information contained in this program, the Resources section provides references to other printed and online resources. A comprehensive glossary contains the medical terms used in the program, with clear definitions and audio narrations that teach proper pronunciation.

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Clinical Level
The Clinical Level is directed at medical professionals and more experienced patients. Featuring discussions of the latest research and pathology studies, it introduces users to the principles of oncology and the key issues in the treatment of sarcoma.

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Interactive Learning

Anatomy Mode. Three-dimensional interactive images allow users to explore complex details of anatomy and understand the effects of cancer on the body.

Animations. Animations reveal simplicity in complex ideas and procedures. They demonstrate and reinforce key concepts in a dynamic, easy-to-understand format.

Patient Interviews. In the Patient Interview Videos, patients and caregivers tell their stories and offer their viewpoints. This unique component offers real-life examples of people dealing with every stage of cancer and allows users to share in the experiences of others.

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