Editor’s Note: Cancer.Net is providing this list as a resource only. Times of service, contact information, and services provided may change. If you know of a correction to the information provided below, please e-mail contactus@cancer.net.
When you need assistance or advice on cancer-related topics, many organizations will offer their expertise at no charge. The following list includes some of the telephone and e-mail helpline services answered by oncology health professionals, trained counselors, or volunteers. The services offer general medical information; for specific medical questions, you should always talk with your doctor or another member of your health-care team.
American Cancer Society
800-ACS-2345 (800-227-2345)
http://www.cancer.org/asp/contactUs/cus_global.asp
The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide, community-based health organization that supports cancer research, education, advocacy, and service. To send a question by e-mail, use the form provided on the “Contact Us” page on www.cancer.org. Questions are answered within one to two business days. If you need immediate information, call the toll-free number; calls are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Questions are taken in both English and en Español.
American Hospice Foundation
www.americanhospice.org/askhelen1.htm
The American Hospice Foundation supports programs that serve the needs of terminally ill and grieving individuals of all ages. You may submit your question through a form on the Foundation’s website.
American Institute for Cancer Research
800-843-8114
http://www.aicr.org/site/PageServer?pagename=reduce_diet_nutrition_hotline
The American Institute for Cancer Research promotes research and education on diet and cancer prevention. When you call the Nutrition Hotline, your question will be taken, and your call will be returned within three days by a registered dietitian (RD). Calls are answered 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday. You may also submit your question via e-mail through a form on AICR’s website.
American Psychosocial Oncology Society
866-APOS-4-HELP (866-276-7443)
www.apos-society.org/survivors/helpline/helpline.aspx
The mission of American Psychosocial Oncology Society is to advance psychosocial care for people with cancer. Call the APOS helpline to get a referral to a local psychiatrist, psychologist, nurse, social worker, or counselor who is skilled in the management of cancer-related distress. Calls are answered by trained counselors who have access to a national directory of community resources. If the counselor cannot identify a resource, a professionally trained staff member will provide counseling via telephone to callers in crisis. Calls are accepted 24 hours a day through a voicemail system and returned within 24 to 48 hours.
American Social Health Association
800-227-8922
www.ashastd.org/hpv/hpv_overview.cfm
The National HPV and Cervical Cancer Prevention Resource Center provides information, materials, and referrals to doctors. Health communication specialists answer calls through the National STI Hotline 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday.
Blood and Marrow Transplant Information Network
888-597-7674
www.bmtnews.org
The Blood and Marrow Transplant Information Network helps to serve the needs of people facing a bone marrow, blood stem cell, or umbilical cord blood transplant by linking them with a survivor or referring them to health insurance support. Calls are answered 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM CT, Monday through Friday.
Breast Cancer Network of Strength
(formerly known as Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization)
800-221-2141
800-986-9505 (en Español)
www.networkofstrength.org
Breast Cancer Network of Strength provides information and peer support to people facing breast cancer. YourShoes 24/7 Breast Cancer Support Center is staffed by trained peer counselors who are breast cancer survivors. YourShoes offers interpreters in 150 languages on the hotline. Peer counselors can match you with a survivor. Calls are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
CancerCare
800-813-HOPE (800-813-4673)
info@cancercare.org
www.cancercare.org
CancerCare’s mission is to provide free, professional support services to anyone affected by cancer, including people with cancer, caregivers, children, loved ones, and the bereaved. Professional oncology social workers provide information about talking with your doctor, finding financial resources, researching treatment options, coping with side effects, dealing with emotional issues, and talking with children about cancer. Calls are answered 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM ET, Monday through Thursday, and 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET on Friday.
Cancer Hope Network
800-552-4366
www.cancerhopenetwork.org
The Cancer Hope Network provides confidential support via telephone to people with cancer and their families. Call 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM ET, Monday through Friday, to request a match with a trained volunteer who has experienced a similar diagnosis. Calls are generally returned within 24 hours.
Colon Cancer Alliance
877-422-2030
www.ccalliance.org
The Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA) is a patient advocacy organization dedicated to ending the suffering caused by colorectal cancer. Call the helpline for information on colorectal cancer, or to be connected with a colon or rectal cancer survivor or caregiver, through the CCA Buddies Program. When you call the toll-free number, your request will be taken, and your call will be returned within 36 hours by a staff member; calls received over the weekend will be returned the following Monday. Calls are answered 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday.
Colorectal CareLine
866-657-8634
www.colorectalcareline.org
The Colorectal CareLine is a national service of the Patient Advocate Foundation to provide educational resources, case management assistance, and financial guidance to people with colorectal cancer. Services are available in English and Spanish. When you call the toll-free number, your request will be taken, and your call will be returned within 48 hours by a professional case manager. Calls are answered 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday.
Gilda Radner Familial Ovarian Cancer Registry
800-OVARIAN (800-682-7426)
www.ovariancancer.com
The Gilda Radner Familial Ovarian Cancer Registry, located at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, is an international registry of families with two or more relatives with ovarian cancer. Cancer information specialists are available to answer questions about familial ovarian cancer. Calls are answered 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM ET, Monday through Friday.
International Myeloma Foundation
800-452-CURE (800-452-2873)
www.myeloma.org
TheIMF@myeloma.org
The International Myeloma Foundation is working toward prevention of and a cure for multiple myeloma. The IMF hotline, which is answered by National Cancer Institute-trained specialists, provides information and support. Call 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM PT, Monday through Friday, r send an e-mail to the above address.
Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF)
866-673-7205
www.livestrong.org
The LAF’s mission is to inspire and empower people with cancer. The LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare program offers counseling services, help with financial, employment or insurance issues, and information about cancer treatment options and new treatments in development. Call the helpline 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM CT, Monday through Friday, or fill out a form on the website for a response via e-mail.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
800-955-4LSA (800-955-4572)
www.leukemia-lymphoma.org
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education, and patient services. Call the Society’s Information Resource Center to speak with an information specialist about blood cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma, or other related questions. Calls are answered 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday. You can also chat online with an information specialist 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday.
Lung Cancer Alliance
800-298-2436
www.lungcanceralliance.org
The Lung Cancer Alliance is dedicated to patient support and advocacy for people living with lung cancer and those at risk for the disease. The Lung Cancer Hotline, an information and referral service for people with lung cancer and their caregivers, provides information on screening, diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment options. The staff also refers callers to support groups, medical facilities, and other organizations. Calls are answered 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday.
The Mautner Project
202-332-5536
www.mautnerproject.org
The Mautner Project, part of the National Lesbian Health Organization, is focused on the health of lesbians, bisexual, and transgender women, and their families. Call the helpline for guidance on support services, referrals, or health resources. Calls are answered 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday.
National Bone Marrow Transplant Link
800-LINK-BMT (800-546-5268)
www.nbmtlink.org
The National Bone Marrow Transplant Link connects current or prospective recipients of bone marrow/stem cell transplants and their families with trained volunteers who have had a transplant or are donors or caregivers. Calls are answered 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM ET, Monday through Friday. If you request peer support, a volunteer will return your call within 48 hours.
National Cancer Institute
800-4-CANCER (800-422-6237)
www.cancer.gov/help
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is a component of the National Institutes of Health and is the federal government’s principal agency for cancer research and training. Call or have a confidential online text chat to get answers about cancer questions from an NCI information specialist. Questions are taken in both English and en Español. Calls are answered 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM ET, Monday through Friday. Online chats are available 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
888-644-6226
www.nccam.nih.gov/tools/contact.htm
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health, offers help online or by phone from health information specialists 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday.
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
888-OVARIAN (888-682-7426)
www.ovarian.org
The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition raises awareness of ovarian cancer and provides education and support for women with ovarian cancer and their families. Calls are answered 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday.
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
877-2-PANCAN (877-272-6226)
pals@pancan.org
www.pancan.org
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is a patient advocacy organization for the pancreatic cancer community. Call Patient and Liaison Services (PALS) for disease information, clinical trials searches, or support resources. Calls are answered 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM PT, Monday through Friday.
Patient Advocate Foundation
800-532-5274
www.patientadvocate.org
The Patient Advocate Foundation serves as a liaison between the patient and their insurer, employer, and/or creditor to resolve issues related to their diagnosis. Call the helpline or use live online chat to speak with a professional case manager 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM ET, Monday through Friday.
SHARE: Self-help for Women with Breast or Ovarian Cancer
866-891-2392
Breast Hotline: 212-382-2211 and 866-891-2392
Hotline en Español: 212-719-4454 (New York City)
Ovarian Hotline: 212-719-1204 and 866-537-4273
sharehotlines@sharecancersupport.org
www.sharecancersupport.org
SHARE offers survivor-led support to those affected by breast or ovarian cancers. Send an e-mail to the address above, or call the hotline for emotional support, information, and resources. Calls are answered by breast or ovarian cancer survivors 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
877-GO-KOMEN (1-877-465-6636)
http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/1877GOKOMEN.html
Susan G. Komen for the Cure supports breast cancer research and community-based outreach programs. The Breast Care Helpline provides general information about breast health, facts about disease and treatment options, and information about community resources and support groups. Calls are answered 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM EST, Monday through Thursday, and 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET on Friday.
Us TOO International
800-80-Us-TOO (800-808-7866)
ustoo@ustoo.org
www.ustoo.org
Us TOO communicates information to enable people to make informed choices regarding detection and treatment of prostate cancer. Upon request to its Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network, Us TOO will connect a new caller with prostate cancer with a prostate cancer survivor for information and support. Calls are answered 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM CT, Monday through Friday.
Additional resources
View all of Cancer.Net’s Patient Information Resources
Last Updated: March 08, 2010
