The Online World Part 12

There were several helpful replies. This came from a member in the United States:

"In response to the request for information on treatment for leukemia, I recommend that you access CancerNet, the National Cancer Inst.i.tute's mail server on the Internet which provides current information on treatment for leukemia. To request the Contents List and Instructions, send a mail message to

[email protected] (Internet address) [email protected] ( BITNET)

Leave the subject line blank, and in the body of the mail message, enter "HELP". When you receive the Contents list, request the statement for Adult Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (cn-101024).

There are also News and General Information items, under the Heading PDQ Database Information in the Contents List which provide information on centers which have access to Physician Data Query, NCI's database of cancer treatment information which includes clinical trials information for leukemia. - Cheryl."

CancerNet is the U.S. National Cancer Inst.i.tute's international information center. It is a quick and easy way to obtain, through electronic mail, recommended treatment guidelines from the National Cancer Inst.i.tute's Physician Data Query system.

To access CancerNet, send email to:

[email protected]

Leave the subject line blank. In the body of the mail message, enter HELP to receive instructions and the current contents list.

The National Cancer Center in Tokyo j.a.pan has a gopher service at gopher.ncc.go.jp. The World Health Organization (WHO) has one at gopher.who.ch.

Disabilities ------------ Bulletin boards and online conferences give equal access to all persons. Everybody is treated the same way, regardless if they sit in a wheel chair, have a hearing impairment, stutter, cannot speak clearly, have difficulties in thinking or acting quickly, or just have a different looks.

You need not worry about typing errors. Those who read them will never know whether it's because you never learned how to write on a computer, or if it is because you have difficulties in controlling your movements.

You alone decide if others are to know about your personal disability. If you want it to be a secret, then it will remain a secret.

n.o.body can possibly know that you are mute and lame from the neck and down, that computer communication is your main gate into the outer world, and that you are writing messages with a stick attached to your forehead. Therefore, the online world has changed the lives of many people with disabilities.

Computer communications have opened a new world for those who are forced to stay at home, or thinks that it is too difficult to travel. Those who can easily drive their car to the library, often have difficulties in understanding the significance of this.

Usenet has alt.education.disabled and misc.handicap. It covers all areas of disabilities, technical, medical, educational, legal, etc. UUCP has handicap. It is presented in the following words:

Contact: [email protected] Purpose: The Handicap Digest provides an information/discussion exchange for issues dealing with the physically/mentally handicapped. Topics include, but are not limited to: medical, education, legal, technological aids and the handicapped in society.

CompuServe's Disabilities Forum has the following sections: General Interest, Develop. Disabilities, Emotional Disturbances, Hearing Impairments, Learning Disabilities, Vision Impairments, Mobility Impaired, Rights/Legislation, Education/Employment and Family Life/Leisure.

[email protected] is devoted to the developmentally disabled, their teachers, and those interested in this area. The list BLIND- [email protected] focuses on "Computer Use by and for the Blind."

[email protected] is a mailing list discussing "Speech disorders."

[email protected] is the "Deaf Discussion List," and [email protected] the "Deaf-Blind Discussion List." STUT-HLP ([email protected]) is a support forum for people who stutter and their families.

On [email protected], the focus is on Technology for the handicapped. [email protected] discusses research on low back pain disability.

The Handicap Digest is an electronic mail only digest of articles relating to all types of issues affecting the handicapped.

The articles are taken from the Usenet newsgroup, the Handicap News. (misc.handicap) and various FidoNet conferences such as ABLED, BlinkTalk SilentTalk, Chronic Pain, Spinal Injury, Rare Conditions, and several others. Subscribe by email to

[email protected]

Handicap.shel.isc-br.com (129.189.4.184) is the email address to an anonymous ftp site that has disability-related files and programs.

The disk has some 40 directories with 500 or so files covering all types of disabilities. (This service can be used through FTPMail.

See chapter 12 about how to do this.)

Getting old ----------- BITNET has the "BIOSCI Ageing Bulletin Board" on [email protected] .

Usenet has bionet.molbio.ageing, while CompuServe's Issues Forum has a message section called "Seniors."

Ageline on Dialog is a database produced by the American a.s.sociation of Retired Persons. It does an excellent job covering research about older persons, particularly on consumer issues and health care, by summarizing journal articles and the contents of other published reports.

While our "face-to-face" world sometimes makes it difficult for older people to partic.i.p.ate in discussions between young people, this is not so in the Online World. All people are treated the same way. It is impossible for others to know your age, unless someone tells them.

Holistic Healing and Health --------------------------- HOLISTIC on [email protected] is dedicated to "providing information and discussion on holistic concepts and methods of living which provide a natural way of dealing with the challenges of life." Here are some topics dealt with in this forum:

Various Dimensions of Holistic Healing and Health States of Consciousness Meditation and the role it plays in spiritual/physical health The impact of a healthy diet - including Herbs and Vitamins Bodywork - such as Rolfing, Trager bodywork, Reichian, etc.

Acupuncture/pressure Hypnosis and Biofeedback Visualizations and Affirmations Spiritual Healing - Psychic healing methods Bioenergetics The holistic connection between mind and body Honest discussion of topics relevant to personal/spiritual growth - And anything else within context for the betterment of the world.

The following message is typical:

From: Helen Subject: Re: Asthma and Sinus Problems To: Multiple recipients of list HOLISTIC

My condolences to fellow people allergic to cats. Cats and strawberries are two of the most allergenic substances.

Behavorial changes have proven to be EVERYTHING to me. The techniques I've employed have helped many others. First, try sleeping at a 45 degree angle. This usually requires piling up pillows. The elevation of the head facilitates drainage from the sinuses. When the situation gets really bad, I've slept sitting up on a couch or arm chair propped up by numerous pillows and cushions. This technique can take some getting used to, but, it works like a charm and is kinder to your system than drug therapy.

Second, try "ephedra" tea. This is an herb found in Chinese herb shops. Ask the herbalist how to prepare it.

I highly recommend the book "Natural Health, Natural Medicine"

by Andrew Weil, M.D. of U of A Med School in Tucson. See pages 253-256 for more information on asthma.

Fourth, stay hydrated. This means not only drinking PLENTY of fluids, but humidifying the house (that is if you're not also allergic to molds).

Basic behavorial techniques are important....diet, exercise, etc. etc, ...but this is the holistic network...I'm preaching to the choir...

Finally, take heart! Being allergic to cats is not well received by cat lovers...often we're cat lovers ourselves.

Depending on the breed of cat, there is a good chance you will eventually habituate to those you are around over the long term.

Good luck, the advice about sleeping with your head significantly elevated is the best I have ever given out to fellow sinus problem sufferers. It really works!!

Helen.

HomeoNet, a service of the Inst.i.tute of Global Communications (IGC), is for those interested in homeopathic medicine.

List of health science resources -------------------------------- The Bitnet/Internet online list of health science resources is available by email from: [email protected] . Send the following command:

GET MEDICAL RSCRS

This will give a long list of BITNET, Internet, and Usenet forums, data archives, electronic newsletters and journals devoted to health science.

Here are some examples from the list that may be of interest to people not working in the health profession:

* [email protected] - a discussion list for Alcohol and Drug Studies, * [email protected] - Behavioral and Emotional Disorders in Children, * [email protected] is the "Open Discussion forum for DIABETIC patient counseling,"

* [email protected] (or [email protected] through the Internet) is a forum for information exchange and discussions on all aspects related to diseases, disorders, and chemicals that cause diarrhoea in humans and animals, * [email protected] - Support and Discussion of Weight Loss * [email protected] - Drug Abuse Education Information and Research, * [email protected] - Marital/family & relational communication.

* [email protected] - Wellness, Exercise, Diet, for exchanging ideas, tips and any type of information about wellness, exercise, and diet.

* [email protected] - Vegetarian Discussion.

* [email protected] - Medicinal and Aromatic Plants discussion.

* [email protected] - Multiple Sclerosis Discussion and Support.

* [email protected] - Dental Amalgam Fillings and chronic mercury poisoning.

* [email protected] - Exercise and Sports Psychology.

* talk.abortion on Usenet.

These mailing lists usually let you search old messages for topics of interest. They are both living discussion forums and interesting searchable databases!

Mednews is a weekly electronic newsletter. Its columns bring regular medical news summaries from USA Today, Center for Disease Control MMWR, weekly AIDS Statistics from CDC, and more. Send the following command to [email protected] to subscribe:

SUB MEDNEWS Your-first-name Your-last-name

Chapter 7: Electronic mail, telex, and fax ==========================================

Electronic mail is one of the most popular online services. People living thousands of miles apart can exchange messages and doc.u.ments very quickly.

International Resource Development, Inc., an American research organization, claimed (1992) that we can send electronic mail to more than 10 million personal mailboxes. We believe the figure to be much higher. The Matrix News (Texas, U.S.A.) claims the number is over 18 million (March 1993).

The Boardwatch Magazine (U.S.A.) believes that new callers are coming online for their first time at a rate of close to 10,000 per day (January 1993).

Electronic Mail & Micro Systems (New Canaan, Conn., U.S.A.) estimated an average of 27.8 million messages sent per month in 1990. Mail through the Internet and gra.s.sroots services on free bulletin boards (like FidoNet) is not included in their figure.