INTERNET Site gives facts and support for kids with brain cancer

Included at www.cbtf.org is a list of localized groups and children's camps.
By SUSAN COBURN
STAMFORD ADVOCATE
Approximately 8,600 children in the United States are diagnosed each year with cancer. About 1,500 children died from the disease in 2001, according to the National Cancer Institute.
As many as 2,000 childhood cancer patients (younger than 16) are diagnosed with brain tumors. The causes of childhood cancers, brain tumors included, remain largely unknown. Researchers have long been looking into environmental and genetic factors for clues with little conclusive data. Nevertheless, over the last decade, researchers and clinicians have made great strides in developing and administering effective treatments for childhood cancers.
The Children's Brain Tumor Foundation was founded in 1988 to help improve the treatment, quality of life and long-term outlook for children with brain and spinal cord tumors. The organization's Web site, www.cbtf.org, offers a wide range of educational tools and support resources for families, survivors and health-care professionals.
Site characteristics
Look and feel: The content on the CBTF site is well-organized, with the titles of each major section listed and linked on the home page. A sidebar on the home page lists upcoming events and other information recently added to the content.
A site map is also available. Contact details for the New York City-based organization are at each visitor's fingertips and include regular and e-mail address information in addition to a toll-free phone number.
A quick tour: Being diagnosed with a childhood brain tumor is scary, and parents (and the child, if appropriate) need to quickly arm themselves with basic information. The CBTF site provides a comprehensive overview of children's brain tumors, focusing on diagnosis and treatment.
Treatment of a childhood brain tumor will likely involve one or more hospital stays, some of which will be for an extended period of time. To help parents and children get through these difficult times, a dedicated section on CBTF.org is loaded with tips and guidelines.
Key topics in this part of the site include how to help your child prepare for surgery and what you can do at the hospital to make the stay as comfortable as possible.
There is also a description of the various medical specialists who will likely be involved in treating your child.
Support from other parents is important to help you get through this difficult time.
The site lists support groups in your area in addition to the locations of survivors' follow-up clinics. For your child, there is also a list of summer camps designed specifically to accommodate children with cancer or other serious diseases.
Links: The CBTF site serves up the addresses of numerous other Web sites with information on childhood brain tumors.
Funding: The CBTF is a nonprofit organization that relies on grants and other donations. There are no advertisements.