Taking Time: Support for People with Cancer

Information Services and Resources

You may want more information for yourself, your family and your doctor. The services explained below will help you obtain what you need.

Cancer Information Service
The National Cancer Institute sponsors a toll-free Cancer Information Service to help you. By dialing 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237), you will be connected to a Cancer Information Service office, where a trained staff member can answer your questions and listen to your concerns. Spanish-speaking CIS staff are also available.

PDQ Service
The National Cancer Institute has developed PDQ, a computerized database designed to give doctors quick and easy access to:
To get access to PDQ, a doctor can use an office computer with a telephone hookup and a PDQ access code or the services of a medical library with online searching capability. Cancer Information Service offices (1-800-4-CANCER) provide free PDQ searches and can tell doctors how to get regular access to the database. Patients may ask their doctor to use PDQ or may call 1-800-4-CANCER themselves. Information specialists at this toll-free number use a variety of sources, including PDQ, to answer questions about cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
 
For additional written resources about cancer, information about particular forms of the disease, its treatment, and possible side effects, and nutritional information and recipes for the cancer patient, ask the Cancer Information Service to send you information or write:
 
Office of Cancer Communications
National Cancer Institute
Building 31, Room 10A24
Bethesda, Maryland 20892

American Cancer Society (ACS)
1599 Clifton Road, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30329
1-800-ACS-2345
(404) 320-3333
 
The American Cancer Society is a voluntary organization with a national office (at the above address) and local units all over the country. It supports research, conducts educational programs, and offers many services to patients and their families. It also provides free booklets on cancer. To obtain information about services and activities in local areas, call the Society's toll-free number, 1-800-ACS-2345, or the number listed under American Cancer Society in the white pages of the telephone book.