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The
Cancer Information Service was established in 1975 by the National
Cancer Institute to meet the information needs of cancer patients,
their families, health professionals and the public. CIS’s main
program components include a toll-free telephone service (1-800-4-CANCER)
and an outreach program that focuses on providing technical assistance
to partners reaching minority and underserved audiences. Calls from
residents of Texas are switched to the CIS regional office located
at the University of Texas
M. D. Anderson
Cancer Center in Houston, where they are answered rapidly, responsively
and confidentially. CIS answers calls in English and Spanish and
for the deaf with TTY capability.
Through CIS, the National Cancer Institute provides comprehensive information both to the lay public and to health professionals about colorectal cancer prevention and detection. In 1999 the Houston regional office documented that only 7% of all calls received from individuals over age 50 were about colorectal cancer; of those, 90% were from diagnosed cancer patients or their spouses, relatives or friends.
Contact:
The Cancer Information Service
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