OncoLink, established in 1994, has earned a reputation as an authoritative web‐based cancer resource. Recognized as one of the best sites for cancer information, it is maintained by the doctors and nurses at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania. Its mission is to collect and freely disseminate accurate information to help cancer patients, families, health care professionals, and the general public.
Users of this website will not only find a wealth of information but will enjoy the easy navigational structure of the site. The home page presents daily news stories on cancer research, trials, and treatment from Reuters Health Information, updates on what's new to the site, and a featured article. To obtain oncology information, the user can select from six major topic areas: Types of Cancer, Cancer Treatment Information, Coping with Cancer, Cancer Resources and News, Ask the Cancer Expert, and the OncoLink Library. Each area is further subdivided into more specific topics for exploration. With each new topic selection the user is presented with a useful column of related topics. Many of the articles provided in the Cancer Types, Treatment Information and Coping with Cancer categories have been written within the last five years by doctors and the OncoLink team at the Abramson Center. Some have been provided by the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) CancerLit database, which unfortunately has been discontinued by the NCI. The OncoLink Library provides a variety of materials, from survivor stories, poetry, and book reviews to links to scientific research journals. However, no full text journal articles are provided, only table of contents and abstracts. Elsevier's sponsorship of OncoLink appears to have earned them a direct link to their OncoServe internet site and ScienceDirect database. Users may search the ScienceDirect database and view table of contents information but access to full‐text articles is only available through an institutional subscription.
Quick and advanced search options are offered if one prefers to search for specific information rather than navigate through the different areas. The advanced search option allows limited Boolean keyword searching and an author search. Limits by date, article type, or specific site area may also be applied. Users may wish to sign‐up to receive Oncolink's eNews, a free newsletter delivered via e‐mail. However, the eNews archive only lists issues from the year 2004 and the web page has not been modified in the past two months, leaving this reviewer to wonder if this is currently being updated. Another useful feature of the site is the Cancer Clinical Trials Matching Service, which offers a fast and accurate way to gain access to cancer trials at the University of Pennsylvania.
As a non‐profit organization, OncoLink receives funding through voluntary donations, educational grants and sponsorship by a variety of pharmaceutical companies and health care businesses. Although sponsorship ads are displayed prominently, they do not annoy or open pop‐up windows unless clicked. However, once the sponsorship advertisement is clicked on, they become extremely frustrating – one cannot escape – hoping to return to the site through the browser's back button only forces the user into a continual loop back to the pop‐up. This reviewer gave up in despair and re‐entered the original URL into the address bar.
This annoyance aside, OncoLink is highly recommended for anyone in need of oncology information. OncoLink is able to reach multiple audiences – patients, families, researchers, health care professionals, and the general public – by offering a wide spectrum of resources from multiple authoritative providers. When visiting the site, do not miss the OncoLink Art Gallery – a personal and poignant project of the website “exhibiting art produced by people whose lives have been touched by cancer”.
