CHESS is an innovative, Internet-based program that provides breast cancer patients with 24 hour-a-day support, information and decision-making tools. CHESS allows patients to anonymously share concerns through its on-line discussion group. All women using CHESS find that it is easy to use, has a variety of quality information and provides support from the comfort of their own homes. By using CHESS, patients can:

• Get answers to their questions
• Get help in making decisions about their health care
• Have access to articles, pamphlets and brochures on breast cancer
• Link to other reliable cancer information web sites
• Be able to "talk" to others with cancer to share support and concerns
• Be able to ask a cancer information specialist questions about breast cancer and receive a response within 48 hours.

Patients without computers are loaned laptops and provided with free Internet access. Hartford Hospital is the only hospital in Connecticut offering CHESS to its patients. As one patient said, "CHESS is a constant source of learning and opportunity to talk out feelings with others. CHESS has helped me through a very difficult time." Click here to see a demonstration of a CHESS module. If you are a Hartford Hospital patient and wish to register for CHESS, call the Cancer Connect Nurse at (860) 545-6000 or email CancerConnect@harthosp.org.