Questions About Cancer? 1-800-4-CANCER

NCI's Cancer Information Service (CIS)

What is the NCI's Cancer Information Service?

The National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) Cancer Information Service (CIS) is a federally funded program that was established in 1975 as an essential part of NCI's cancer education and information efforts. For over 35 years, NCI's CIS has been providing scientifically based, unbiased information to patients, their families and friends, physicians and other health professionals, and the general public about all aspects of cancer including:

  • cancer research and clinical trials
  • cancer prevention
  • risk factors
  • symptoms
  • early detection
  • diagnosis
  • treatment
  • living with cancer
  • quitting smoking

Our information specialists are trained to answer cancer related questions by telephone (1-800-4-CANCER), LiveHelp instant messaging, and e-mail. In addition to answering questions about cancer and clinical trials, the NCI's CIS also operates the NCI's Smoking Quitline (1-877-44U-QUIT) which provides free cessation information and support to smokers who wish to quit. There is no charge or fee for our service. Service is provided in English and Spanish.

NCI's CIS can also answer calls made through a telecommunications relay service (TRS) provider by people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Hours of operation

You can contact us by telephone at 1-800-4-CANCER or 1-877-44U-QUIT Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Both toll free numbers also offer recorded messages on a variety of topics that can be accessed 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

CIS information specialists also offer online assistance Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time through the LiveHelp link on NCI's Cancer.gov Web site.

The importance of cancer research and clinical trials

Improvements in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment today are built upon results of previous cancer research and clinical trials. As new approaches and treatments emerge from cancer researchers’ laboratories, they move to testing in clinical trials (research studies with people). Carefully conducted clinical trials are the way in which these new ideas are scientifically tested and evaluated. Such advancements would have been impossible to realize without the participation of many thousands of people over the years.

NCI's CIS is committed to educating people about clinical trials and facilitating their participation whenever possible. We can help identify clinical trials for all aspects of the cancer continuum—from prevention and early detection, to treatment and supportive care. NCI supported trials are available at institutions across the country and at the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland. NCI encourages clinical trials to be part of the cancer conversation, and considered as a possible option whenever decisions about cancer treatment are being discussed.

NCI's CIS also has a rich history participating in cancer control and health communications research that supports NCI's priorities and programs. We have collaborated on studies that have helped researchers learn better ways to communicate with people about healthy lifestyles, health risks, and how to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer, and contribute to the nation's cancer control efforts.

Publications resulting from CIS research collaborations:

The CIS was the focus of three special journal supplements:

How can the NCI's CIS information specialists help me?

NCI's CIS can help you whether you are a patient or cancer survivor, a concerned family member or friend, a health care provider, or someone who has been touched in some way by cancer.

Patients, family members, friends, and the general public

The NCI's CIS is a trusted source for the latest, most accurate information on cancer in language that is easy to understand. Our information specialists can answer your questions about cancer and explain information in NCI's free publications and on our Web site. If you aren't sure what materials may be right for you, we can help you choose ones that address your situation, and e-mail or send them to you at no charge. We can also help you navigate the NCI Web site, www.cancer.gov, to help you find what you are looking for.

Our information specialists have access to comprehensive, accurate information on a range of cancer topics, including the most recent advances in cancer treatment. They are knowledgeable, caring, and experienced at explaining medical information. The service is confidential, and we spend as much time as needed for thorough and personalized answers.

While we can provide answers to many questions and help you understand more about cancer, please understand that NCI'S CIS information specialists do not take the place of a doctor and cannot provide medical advice. But, we can help you find quality cancer care including how to get a second opinion, find cancer treatment centers, mammography facilities, other cancer organizations, and cancer related services. We can also tell you about clinical trials (research studies) and provide tailored clinical trial searches for those who are interested in participating in one.

Health care providers

NCI's CIS can be a valuable resource for doctors and other health care providers by supplementing information that patients receive during their office visits. The NCI's CIS is also a great place to direct your patients who are interested in quitting smoking. Our information specialists are knowledgeable and caring, and our service is free of charge.

With the Internet so accessible, many patients are searching for cancer information on their own and have many questions about cancer. Because NCI is a reliable source for scientifically based cancer information, we can help. In addition to providing general cancer information, and treatment and side effect information, we can talk to patients about other needs, too, including coping and life after cancer treatment. Our information specialists can also conduct tailored clinical trials searches for patients interested in participating in clinical studies.

We can also help direct health care providers to NCI's peer reviewed cancer treatment and supportive care summaries for health professionals, NCI news releases, patient education booklets and brochures, and other sources of cancer information that are of interest.

How can I use the CIS's services?

I'm ready to talk with someone about cancer. What's the next step?

The NCI's CIS provides information about cancer and clinical trials to patients and their families, physicians and other health professionals, and the general public in a variety of ways.

You can contact us by telephone or online through LiveHelp instant messaging and e-mail.

  • Telephone: Call the NCI'S CIS toll-free at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237). NCI's CIS information specialists answer calls in English or Spanish Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
  • LiveHelp instant messaging: If you have Internet access, you can get live, online assistance through NCI's LiveHelp instant messaging service. We can answer your questions about cancer and/or help you use the NCI's Web site. Service is available in English Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time. From the Cancer.gov homepage, you can access LiveHelp (on the left sidebar click on "Questions about cancer?" and then click on the "LiveHelp?" icon).
  • E-mail: You can reach us by e-mail using the online contact form at http://www.cancer.gov/contact or by sending an e-mail directly to cancergovstaff@mail.nih.gov. For Spanish e-mail service, use http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/instituto/correo-electronico or nciespanol@mail.nih.gov.

I'm ready to talk to someone about quitting smoking. What do I do?

You can reach smoking cessation counselors by telephone or online:

  • Telephone: The NCI's CIS operates the NCI's Smoking Quitline at 1-877-44U-QUIT (1-877-448-7848). Smoking cessation counselors are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. We offer help over the phone in English or Spanish.
  • LiveHelp instant messaging: For those with Internet access, the LiveHelp instant messaging service also offers help with quitting smoking. Smoking cessation counselors are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time through http://www.cancer.gov on the Internet. This service is only available in English.

How can I get free NCI publications?

  • You can browse and order our publications directly at http://www.cancer.gov/publications. You also can read many NCI publications online and can print them out instantly.
  • If you already know what you want to order, simply call us at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) or visit our Publications Ordering page online at http://www.cancer.gov/publications to view, download, or order your publications.
  • If you aren't sure which publications are available from NCI, we can discuss this with you then make recommendations and place your order for you. Just call us at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) or chat with us online at https://cancer.gov/livehelp.

What services are available after regular business hours?

You may listen to recorded messages in English or Spanish by calling the NCI's Cancer Information Service or the Smoking Quitline at any time of day, 7 days a week:

  • The toll-free telephone service at 1-800-4-CANCER offers recorded information about cancer prevention, treatment, and other topics.
  • The NCI's Smoking Quitline at 1-877-44U-QUIT has messages about the risks of smoking, the benefits of quitting, and tips for quitting.
  • You can send an e-mail to cancergovstaff@mail.nih.gov at anytime.
  • Visit NCI's Web site www.cancer.gov where you can search for cancer information and NCI publications on many cancer-related topics.

What other ways can I get information from NCI?

  • The NCI Cancer Bulletin is a free, biweekly online newsletter that provides useful, timely information about cancer research. Visit http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin to register and start receiving the NCI Cancer Bulletin.
  • NCI also offers RSS feeds for the NCI Cancer Bulletin as well as other news, cancer topics, and clinical trials information on Cancer.gov. Visit http://www.cancer.gov/rss for more information and to subscribe to RSS feeds from NCI.