Web resources for patients with prostate cancer: a starting point.

The information available on the World Wide Web is vast. Patients are becoming increasingly interested in resources available to them on the Internet for health and medical information. As the percentage of Americans with Internet access grows, health care providers are being asked by their patients to facilitate the search for quality information. This article provides the groundwork for urologists counseling their patients about Web-based information on prostate cancer. Internet sites that provide clear, in-depth information about symptoms and characteristics of prostate cancer, common tests performed, prevention, and treatment options are reviewed. Ten high-quality, patient-friendly Web sites that may be used as a resource for patients and physicians are presented.