What Does the Cancer Information Service Offer Partners?
The Cancer Information Service (CIS) is a free public service of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the nation's premier cancer research agency. CIS partners include state and regional cancer organizations, health professionals, community groups, and others that share its cancer control goals and priorities. The CIS puts special emphasis on partners that reach minority and underserved audiences. Through its national network of 14 regional offices, the CIS offers partners:
§ Information by phone. Call 1-800-4-CANCER for the latest, most accurate cancer information. Trained and caring information specialists provide one-on-one information about cancer prevention, detection, treatment, supportive care, and research in easy-to-understand language. Information specialists use approved resources from the NCI, such as Physician Data Query (PDQ), NCI’s comprehensive cancer database. Service is available in English and Spanish on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time.
§ Information online. CIS information specialists deliver the same one-on-one cancer information to Internet users through LiveHelp, an instant messaging service, available on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time. This service and other resources are available on NCI’s Web site at http://www.cancer.gov. (Click on the “Need Help?” button. Then click on “Connect to LiveHelp.”)
§ Printed materials. The CIS can help its partners access more than 500 NCI booklets, brochures, and other printed materials for patients and their families, the public, and health professionals. To order, call 1-800-4-CANCER and select the option for ordering publications, or visit NCI’s Publications Locator Web site at http://www.cancer.gov/publications.
§ Regular information updates. The CIS regional offices give their partners regular updates on cancer information. These updates contain the latest press releases, fact sheets, announcements, and other news from the NCI.
§ Technical assistance. The CIS provides partners with technical assistance and support, which includes reviews of educational materials, suggestions on making the most of limited resources, and assistance with planning, implementing, and evaluating community cancer education programs. The CIS also helps partners use demographic data to understand their communities’ health needs and media habits.
§ Networking. The CIS can provide technical expertise to enhance statewide or regional cancer control programs or facilitate coalition building by linking organizations with similar goals, especially those serving minority and underserved populations.
§ Clinical trials training. The CIS assists partners with clinical trial awareness and recruitment through the NCI's Clinical Trial Education Series (CTES). This program is designed to aid in training and presenting clinical trial information to professionals, patients, and community groups.
For more information on how to become a partner with the CIS or to learn more about the programs described, contact the Dora Alicia Gonzalez,CIS Partnership, at 956-882-6706
