Florida Radiation Oncology Group launches patient-focused Web site
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (7/9/08) – Those faced with a diagnosis of cancer need information and hope. A newly launched Web site offers ample doses of both. The site, www.frogdocs.com, is a project of the Florida Radiation Oncology Group, or FROG.
Based in Jacksonville, the Florida Radiation Oncology Group is a network of 13 northern Florida clinics that specialize in the treatment of cancer. Its staff includes 24 radiation oncologists and diagnostic radiologists. FROG is also a member of Oncure, a nationwide network of radiation oncology centers committed to extraordinary patient care.
The new Web site is geared toward the centers' patients and others who want to learn more about cancer and its treatment. The goal of the site is to help ease some of the uncertainty and fear of the unknown related to radiation therapy treatments.
"Seven of my own family members have had cancer, including my wife, so I've sat both with the white coat on and as the husband of a patient," said Dr. Doug Johnson, a partner in Florida Radiation Oncology Group. Johnson worked closely with the Web site developers to design a site that would be helpful to cancer patients.
The Patient Care section of www.frogdocs.com walks patients through the entire process, from the initial evaluation to the localization and treatment-planning process. The site also contains a FAQ section, answering questions on a dozen different topics such as brain cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, pediatric oncology, radiosurgery, Gamma Knife, and CyberKnife treatment.
When being counseled about cancer management, patients are given an intimidating amount of information in a very short time. "They're getting hit with so much information from so many sides," Johnson said. "If they can later read through the information again in the quiet of their home, it kind of cements what the doctors have told them."
The physician biography section has also proven popular, Johnson said. "Patients always feel we know so much about them. We thought it only fair that they know a little about us," he said. "They love it. It's an area that imparts to them from the outset that we are real folks too, and that they are an equal partner with us in the fight against their cancer."
In addition, the site includes links to other sources of information about cancer and its treatment. The FROG site is a click away from the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute and other resources. It also keeps patients up to date on the latest clinical trials and cancer research.
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For more information: Dr. Douglas W. Johnson, MD 904-202-7020
