This course requires you to complete a research project on a subject related to cancer. For those who are interested in particular type of cancer, you must be sure to cover all aspects: physiology, diagnosis, existing and new treatments, etc.

	Basic Reference
	Books
	Journal Articles
	Cancer Info on the Web
	Citing your Info

Basic Reference
Begin by defining your topic: What is the basic physiology of the cancer you are researching? Are there population groups that are more prone to it? How is it diagnosed? Consult the resources listed below first.

• The cancer dictionary RC262 .A39 1992  (REF)
   

• Cancer medicine
   

• Elements of human cancer  RC261 .C66 1992 
   
• National Cancer Institute Fact Book
  Click on link from library catalog and scroll down screen until you see "Fact Book."
  
   

• The Merck manual of medical information  RC81 .M535 1997 (Ref)
  The online version is the "Home Edition" which means it is not as comprehensive as the print version in our Reference Collection.
   

• Encyclopedia of Life Sciences
  A collection of commissioned and peer reviewed articles in the life sciences.

Books
Book materials provide overviews of issues and virtually always have bibliographies, endnotes, or footnotes that direct you to other information; including scholarly articles.

• If we don't have an item you can request through .
• Search by 'Subject Heading" from our library catalog.
• Enter the word 'cancer,' followed by the part of the body it effects.
• For example: Cancer--Anus, Cancer--Breast, Cancer--Adrenal Glands
• If CSUSM doesn't have any materials, click on

• Click on the Subject Headings below for more Subject Heading searches.

Journal Articles
There is an enormous amount of scholarly research done on all aspects of cancer. Therefore, your main goal is to be specific when you search for journal articles; even if it is from a "popular" or "scholarly" publication. Below are suggested journal article databases.

• Select a particular aspect of the cancer you are searching in these databases; e.g. bladder cancer and treatment*".
• If we don't have the article you need, get it through ILL.
• Click on to find the entire article.

Research Tip: Strategies for searching article databases

• It's also recommend that you search the websites of the science magazines Scientific American and Discover.
• The articles you find here are less technical, yet still report on research and will be useful for your project.

Cancer Info on the Web
There is an enormous amount of cancer information on the web. Much of it is questionable. The following web sites have been thoroughly evaluated for accuracy, legitimacy, and currency. It is highly recommended that you formally evaluate any web site before choosing to include the information you find in your research project.

• Click here for more information on how to thoroughly evaluate web sites.

Selected Cancer Information Sites

• MedlinePLUS
  Produced by the National Library Medicine, this site complements the medical professional's database of choice PubMed/Medline. The site was produced to help patients and non-professionals find high-quality, research-based medical information.
   
• American Cancer Society: Health Information Seekers
  The American Cancer Society is a major source of high-quality information on cancer.  This site is predominantly for patients and non-professionals seeking information on cancer.
   
• National Cancer Institute Clinical Trials Page
  A highly recommended place to begin searching for information on experimental and/or new treatments for cancer.
   
• Cancer Information Service 
  A service of the National Cancer Institute, this site allows individuals to phone, email, or chat with an information specialist about their particular question. Browse through CIS' publication list and links for more sources of information.

Citing Your Information

• Your instructor will be distributing some guidelines on citing information.

• Below are some links to web sites for further guidelines on citing information in APA format.

Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. 5th ed. Washington, DC : American Psychological Association, 2001. Library Copies (BF76.7 .P83 2001)

Below are some web sites that provide examples.

• Using APA Style 5th edition: An enormous amount of examples. Other citation styles are discussed as well.

• apastyle.org: Produced by the APA, this site contains a wealth of information about APA citation style. It is not a replacement for owning the Publication Manual, though.

• A Guide for Writing Research Papers, APA Style: A question-and-answer style web site about using APA style created by a faculty member from Capital Community College; an easy to navigate, informative, and accurate web site.

• The APA Style Crib Sheet:  Based on the 4th edition, not the most current 5th edition. Produced by Russ Dewey, who also created PsychWWW.

• CSUSM Library's APA Citation Style Guide: This can be downloaded in PDF format.