By Maureen McArthur

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The Mid-South CIS, located at and run by the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center, serves Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.  

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LEXINGTON, KY (Oct. 22, 2001) -- For the past 25 years, the Cancer Information Service, a program of the National Institutes of Health, has provided the latest, most accurate information about cancer to patients, their families, and the public. The CIS is marking this milestone anniversary with the theme, Celebrating Our Spirit of Caring and Commitment.

The Mid-South CIS, located at and run by the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center, serves Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.  The Mid-South CIS is supported by a five-year, $7.15 million NIH grant to the Markey Cancer Center.

The CIS equips people with the reliable, science-based information they need to become active participants in their own health care – from prevention, to early detection, to treatment and survivorship.  It serves cancer patients and their families, the public, and health professionals through 14 regional offices located throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Nationwide, the CIS has helped nearly 9 million callers through its toll-free 1-800-4-CANCER service since its inception in 1976.  Calls are answered in English and Spanish and from the deaf and hard-of-hearing through TTY (1-800-332-8615).

In addition, the CIS began helping people in 2001 by providing one-on-one assistance through LiveHelp on various NCI websites, such as CancerNet (www.cancernet.nci.nih.gov) and CancerTrials (www.cancertrials.gov).  LiveHelp allows NCI Web site users to communicate with information specialists using chat technology.

The CIS Partnership Program, established in 1990, collaborates with other cancer and health-related organizations to develop appropriate education programs that reach out to minority and medically underserved groups in need of cancer information.

Most recently, the CIS has instituted a Research Initiative to study ways to improve the way cancer information is delivered to patients, family members, and the public.  With its direct link to thousands of callers, the CIS is an ideal health communications research laboratory. CIS regional offices participate in studies on how to effectively communicate with people about healthy behaviors, health risks, and ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.

“Over the past 25 years, the CIS has adapted to meet the changing information needs of cancer patients, caregivers, and the public,” said Doug Wagner, CIS of the Mid-South director.  “In coming years, the CIS plans to continue its commitment to educating people about cancer prevention, screening, treatment, and research.”