# NCI Cancer Information Service

The National Cancer Institute's free, confidential information service. Specialists answer questions by phone, live chat and email, including help understanding treatment, finding NCI-supported clinical trials and locating cancer centers.

Author: Kevin Wimer
Canonical URL: https://kevinwimer.com/companies/nci-cancer-information-service/
Stable ID: e9ec41ed-a04f-4e7d-be20-a0a69d10f22c
Revision: 0925aed7-789d-4809-8e3e-cc378c0d8bba
Published: 2026-10-25T03:12:58.825Z
Updated: 2026-10-25T03:12:58.825Z
Reviewed: 2026-10-23

## Who this is for
For patients and caregivers who want expert help understanding options, research or next steps. Inclusion is not a recommendation or a finding that this service is right for your situation.

The Cancer Information Service is the National Cancer Institute's contact center. It has helped patients, families and the public since 1975, and NCI describes it as free and confidential. Information specialists can explain a diagnosis or treatment in plain language and help you search for clinical trials.

## What they offer

- Answers about cancer types, treatment and research from trained information specialists.
- Help searching for clinical trials, including NCI-supported trials.
- Help finding NCI-designated cancer centers and other care.
- Service in English and Spanish, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.

## How it works and what it costs

Call, use live chat or email; details are below. It's free (checked October 23, 2026). Specialists don't give medical advice about your case, but they can help you prepare questions for your doctor.

## How it fits with other services here

It's a good neutral first call if you don't know where to start. For lung cancer-specific help, see [LUNGevity](/companies/lungevity/) and [GO2 for Lung Cancer](/companies/go2-for-lung-cancer/). My [start here guide](/resources/a-place-to-begin/) and [clinical trials guide](/resources/clinical-trials/) cover next steps.

## Questions I would ask

- Can you help me search for trials that fit my biomarker and treatment history?
- Which NCI-designated cancer centers near me treat my cancer?
- Where can I read about the newest research on my cancer type?

## Contacts

- Website: [cancer.gov/contact](https://www.cancer.gov/contact)
- Phone: 1-800-422-6237 (1-800-4-CANCER)
- Email: NCIinfo@nih.gov

## Limits and context
Service details are reported by the provider unless noted, as of October 2026. This service does not replace your oncologist. Confirm current services, eligibility and any costs directly.

## Relationships and disclosures
I have no financial or business relationship with NCI Cancer Information Service.

## Sources
- [Contact the Cancer Information Service](https://www.cancer.gov/contact) — National Cancer Institute; official; checked 2026-10-23; 'CIS is a free and confidential service'; since 1975; phone 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237), live chat, email NCIinfo@nih.gov; English and Spanish, Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-9 p.m. ET; help with cancer research and clinical trials and finding cancer treatment.

Organization website: https://www.cancer.gov/

Organization type: Academic / research center

Services: Research & navigation, Clinical trial navigation, Patient education

Community focus: People with cancer, Caregivers, Family and friends

Information/access: [Contact the Cancer Information Service](https://www.cancer.gov/contact)

Supported regions: United States

Service status: available

## Company facts
- **Cost:** Free and confidential, per NCI (checked October 23, 2026). (Sources: contact)
- **Since:** 1975. (Sources: contact)
- **Phone:** 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237). (Sources: contact)

Topics: clinical-trials, getting-started, expert-support
Capabilities: research-support, clinical-trials

Related record IDs: bcbf518f-872e-434c-b031-3d6c266ceaa4, d6751647-28f6-42b0-a0de-56b30c69790b, 37f8559b-848c-41bc-9591-06013c785a00

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Educational information, not an individualized treatment recommendation.