Clicking into the site's Treatment Facilitator page pulls up a simple form-based tool (see accompanying illustration). The page asks for a medical history that focuses on prostate cancer issues. It then performs an analysis and presents the patient with a range of individualized treatment options.

"Narrowing down potential treatment options is extremely valuable for patients," says Dr. David Bell, an associate professor in the Department of Urology and the project leader.

"Caprostate.com helps explain why some treatments are not an option for a particular patient and why other options may be beneficial. This is one of the first Internet programs that goes beyond passive education and actually facilitates treatment decision-making."

The Treatment Facilitator presents options based on current clinical research and existing literature. It is careful to point out these are only options and that actual clinical decisions must be made with the help of the patient's physician. As Bell says, the idea is to provide patients with an understanding of the disease so they can begin meaningful discussions with their doctors.