Questions About Cancer? 1-800-4-CANCER

NCI's Cancer Information Service (CIS)

What is the Cancer Information Service?

The National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) Cancer Information Service (CIS) is a federally funded cancer education program that was established in 1975 as an essential part of NCI's mission and information efforts. Contact us to speak with a trained information specialist who can answer your cancer-related questions in English and Spanish.

We provide accurate, up-to-date, and reliable information on cancer that is easy to understand. Our trained information specialists provide personalized responses to a range of cancer questions, including:

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

Our information specialists have access to trustworthy 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.

Who should contact the CIS?

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

Our information specialists can answer your questions about cancer. 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.

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.

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. We are 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 you to NCI's peer reviewed cancer treatment and supportive care summaries, NCI news releases, patient education booklets and brochures, and other sources of cancer information that are of interest.

Tell others about this service

How can I reach the CIS?


Phone iconTelephone
1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237)
Available in English and Spanish
Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET
Online Help iconCancer.gov LiveHelp iconLiveHelp Online Chat
LiveHelp
Available in English only
Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET
E-mail iconE-mail
E-mail Us
Available in English and Spanish
Mail iconMail
BG 9609 MSC 9760
9609 Medical Center Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-9760

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, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Listen to recorded messages on the risks of smoking, the benefits of quitting, and tips for quitting 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

Tell others about CIS

Flyer and Bookmark

flyers Download our English-language flyerDownload our Spanish-language flyerDownload our bookmark

Print and post a flyer on a bulletin board in a library or waiting room, include it in a welcome packet, or distribute it at a health event.

Order copies of the CIS bookmark to distribute in a
patient resource center, waiting room, or at a health fair.
Download (PDF) or order our bookmark

Web Tiles

To use one of the following web tiles, copy and paste the code into your Web site or blog's source code.

Tile Option 1
HTML Code:

<a href="http://www.cancer.gov/global/contact">
<img src="http://www.cancer.gov/PublishedContent/Images/
aboutnci/cis/tile-option-1.jpg" />
</a>

Tile Option 2
HTML Code:

<a href="http://www.cancer.gov/global/contact">
<img src="http://www.cancer.gov/PublishedContent/Images/
aboutnci/cis/tile-option-2.jpg" />
</a>

Drop-in Articles

Include an article in your organization's e-newsletter or feature it on your website.

Note: These materials were developed for public use. Please credit the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. If you need assistance, e-mail cancergovstaff@mail.nih.gov.

Newsletter Article for the General Public
 

article header

National Cancer Institute toll-free hotline can answer your cancer questions

The National Cancer Institute and its trained cancer information specialists are available to answer your cancer questions, providing up-to-date, trustworthy, personalized information and support. For more than 35 years, NCI's free and confidential Cancer Information Service has answered cancer-related questions from patients, family members, friends, health providers, and researchers by phone, live chat, email, and mail.

Compassionate information specialists at 1-800-4-CANCER can provide scientifically accurate and easy-to-understand information in English and Spanish on a range of cancer topics, such as treatments, clinical trials, financial assistance, support groups, screening and prevention, and tobacco cessation. NCI's Cancer Information Service specialists will take the time to assess and understand your particular situation and concerns, help you to ask questions and communicate better with your health care providers, and supply free publications and information about a variety of programs and services.

Ways to contact the National Cancer Institute:

A cancer diagnosis often comes with questions and concerns, and we want to connect you with a reliable source for information about cancer between office visits. NCI's website, www.cancer.gov, also contains lots of information and resources.

Part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, NCI coordinates the National Cancer Program, which conducts and supports research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to the cause, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer, rehabilitation from cancer, and the continuing care of cancer patients and the families of cancer patients.

Newsletter Article for Health Providers

article header

NCI's 1-800-4-CANCER provides reliable cancer information to patients between visits

Most cancer patients and their families want as much information as possible, and do a lot of searching online. You can empower them with the latest science-based information by connecting them to trained cancer information specialists provided by your partner, the National Cancer Institute. For more than 35 years, NCI's free and confidential Cancer Information Service and 1-800-4-CANCER have answered cancer-related questions and provided trustworthy, reliable information to patients, family members, friends, health providers, and researchers by phone, live chat, email, and mail.

Compassionate information specialists at 1-800-4-CANCER can provide scientifically accurate and easy-to-understand information in English and Spanish on a range of cancer topics, such as treatments, clinical trials, financial assistance, support groups, screening and prevention, and tobacco cessation. NCI specialists will take the time to assess and understand a patient's particular situation and concerns, help them to ask questions and communicate better with their health care team, and supply free publications and information about a variety of programs and services.

Ways to contact the National Cancer Institute:

A cancer diagnosis often comes with questions and concerns, and we know you want to connect your patients and their loved ones with a reliable source for information between office visits. Give yourself piece of mind and tell your patients to contact the National Cancer Institute. NCI's website, www.cancer.gov, is also a useful source of information and resources.

Part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, NCI coordinates the National Cancer Program, which conducts and supports research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to the cause, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer, rehabilitation from cancer, and the continuing care of cancer patients and the families of cancer patients.

Social Media

NCI's cancer information specialists can answer your cancer questions. Help us spread the word about this service by sharing on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media channels. To make it easy, we've drafted sample posts for you to use – all you have to do is copy and paste.

Facebook

  • Be sure to like us on Facebook and start sharing this resource with patients, friends, and family!
  • Post the text below on your Facebook page:
    Did you know, the National Cancer Institute offers free, scientifically accurate, easy-to-understand information on a range of cancer topics in English and Spanish? Get live help from compassionate information specialists at 1-800-4-CANCER. http://www.cancer.gov/global/contact

Twitter

Use these tweets to get the word out:

  • Cancer is complicated. Let NCI's trained cancer information specialists help. #cancerinfo
  • NCI's Cancer Information Service can provide info on cancer clinical trials. #cancerhelp
  • Coping with cancer? NCI's trained info specialists can empower you. Call 1-800-4-CANCER #cancerhelp
  • Accurate #cancerinfo from a trained NCI specialist is a phone call away: 1-800-4-CANCER
  • NCI's compassionate #cancerinfo specialists are available to empower you with science-based cancer info and resources. Call 1-800-4-CANCER
  • Trustworthy #cancerinfo and resources available from trained NCI cancer specialists. Call 1-800-4-CANCER

YouTube

View a video and share it! Just copy and paste the code into your Web site or blog's source code.

Introducing the NCI's Cancer Information Service – Shorter version (:41)

You will need Adobe Flash Player 8 or later and JavaScript enabled to view this video.

This short video provides an overview of the NCI's Cancer Information Service and discusses the services provided to people with questions about cancer.

HTML Code: 
       <iframe width="560" height="315" 
        src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/o0dUcZR0tOQ" 
       frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Introducing the NCI's Cancer Information Service – Longer version (4:05)

You will need Adobe Flash Player 8 or later and JavaScript enabled to view this video.

Staff from NCI's Cancer Information Service talk about how they connect cancer patients and their friends and family with reliable, accurate information resources.

HTML Code: 
       <iframe width="560" height="315" 
       src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Zt4sNDjH6Do" 
       frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>