How To
By
eHow Health Editor
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step1
Log on to the user-friendly CIS website (see Resources below). With the vast amount of cancer information available, you have a number of links to choose from. The two main links on the home page are for "Cancer News" and "Cancer Resources."
Step2
Click on the left menu for "Publications to Order." You can enter a search term, look through the catalog or use the list of publications. The list of publications takes you to publications based on the type of cancer, treatment options, clinical trials, coping with cancer and more.
Step3
Contact an information specialist for answers to specific questions. An information specialist cannot take the place of a physician, but he or she can offer personalized, confidential responses. Call an information specialist at (800) 4-CANCER Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. Use TTY equipment by calling (800) 332–8615 with questions about cancer.
Step4
Communicate with a CIS specialist through instant messaging. Just click the LifeHelp link on the CIS home page to get started. LifeHelp is available from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday.
Step5
Email a Cancer Information Specialist through the contact form on the website (see Resources below) or directly at cancergovstaff@mail.nih.gov.
Step6
Quit smoking with help from CIS. Call the "quit smoking" hotline at (877) 44U–QUIT to talk to a counselor (Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Call anytime to listen to recorded messages on many topics. Smokers can also instant message through LiveHelp.
Step7
Find out if a Cancer Information Service Partnership Program exists in your area. The Partnership Program uses organizations to reach people with limited access to health information.
