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Patient Education Publications

NCI develops booklets for the public on a variety of topics related to cancer. Booklets are available as PDFs to read online or print. Some are also available as e-books. 

Childhood Cancer

Cover of “Children with Cancer: A Guide for Parents”. Additional text on the side reads “National Cancer Institute”. The cover image is a collage of photos of kids of different ages and ethnicities engaged in various activities, sometimes with their parents and in others with a doctor.

Children with Cancer: A Guide for Parents

Information and advice for parents who have a child with cancer, including treatment, coping and support, health issues, integrative medicine, advanced cancer, and survivorship.

 

Clinical Trials

Cover of “Taking Part in Cancer Treatment Research Studies”. A bar at the top contains the logo for the National Cancer Institute. The cover image primarily consists of a female Asian doctor writing on a piece of paper; below her are headshots of four different people.

Taking Part in Cancer Treatment Research Studies

Explains what clinical trials are, why they are essential to improving cancer care, how the safety and rights of participants are protected, who is responsible for which costs, and potential risks and benefits of taking part.

 
 
Cover of “How You Can Help Medical Research” which also includes the text “Donating Your Blood, Tissue and Other Samples” as well as the text “National Cancer Institute”. The cover primarily consists of a photo of a smiling middle-aged woman; the background texture contains floating circles with various transparencies on top of a grid.

How You Can Help Medical Research: Donating Your Blood, Tissue, and Other Samples

Explains the importance of tissue donation, addresses potential concerns, and encourages patients to speak with their healthcare provider about donating samples.

 

Coping and Support

Cover of “Coping With Advanced Cancer: Support for People With Cancer”. A bar at the top contains the logo for the National Cancer Institute. The cover image is a large tree with many green leaves on a hill. The skies are a darker blue.

Coping with Advanced Cancer: Choices for Care Near the End of Life

Covers the choices for care and symptom control for the patient with late-stage cancer, along with the emotional and communication issues it brings.

 
Support for People with cancer: Taking Time. Cover image

Taking Time: Support for People With Cancer

Covers the feelings and concerns of people with cancer and their families.

 

For Family and Caregivers

Older woman with her arm around younger woman with their backs to the camera looking at the ocean.

Caring for the Caregiver: Support for Cancer Caregivers

A condensed version of “When Someone You Love Is Being Treated for Cancer,” it covers practical, coping, and communication tips for friends and family members caring for loved ones with cancer.

 
 
Cover of “When your Brother or Sister Has Cancer: A Guide for Teens”. Additional text on the side reads “National Cancer Institute”. The cover image is an illustration showing one young man and two young women sitting and talking outside. The woman in the middle wears a head scarf.

When Your Brother or Sister Has Cancer: A Guide for Teens

Tips on what to say to your friends, how to deal with stress, and where to find support – as well as information about cancer and cancer treatments, for young people who have a brother or sister with cancer.

 
Cover of “When your Parent Has Cancer: A Guide for Teens”. Additional text on the side reads “National Cancer Institute”. The cover image is an illustration showing an older adult with a head scarf seated between two younger people. The window and picture frame behind them indicates they are all inside.

When Your Parent Has Cancer: A Guide for Teens

Tips on what to say to your friends, how to deal with stress, and where to find support – as well as information about cancer and cancer treatments, for young people who have a parent with cancer.

 
Cover of the “Support for Caregivers: When Someone You Love Is Being Treated For Cancer” by the National Cancer Institute. The background shows three women of different ages - a child, an adult, and an elderly adult with a walker - walking together down a path. The color of the trees in the background indicates the fall season.

When Someone You Love Is Being Treated for Cancer: Support for Caregivers

Covers practical, coping, and communication tips for friends and family members caring for loved ones with cancer.

 

Screening

Cover image for a National Cancer Institute health guide titled "Understanding Breast Changes and Conditions." The background includes a collage of adults interacting with healthcare professionals.

Understanding Breast Changes and Conditions: A Health Guide

Explains types of breast changes. Screening guidelines, mammogram findings, and follow-up tests are also covered. Benign conditions, precancerous conditions, and DCIS are explained.

 
Cover of “Understanding Cervical Changes: A Health Guide 2021”. A bar at the top contains the logo for the National Cancer Institute. The cover image is a collage of women of various races and ages; in a majority of images, they are interacting with female doctors.

Understanding Cervical Changes

Explains next steps after an abnormal Pap or HPV test result, including how cervical conditions are diagnosed and treated – as well as information about screening guidelines and HPV vaccines.

 

Survivorship

Cover of “Facing Forward: Life After Cancer Treatment”. Additional text on the side reads “National Cancer Institute”. The cover image is a collage of photos of people of different ages and ethnicities, some looking at the camera, some looking off camera, with varying expressions of happiness or pensiveness.

Facing Forward: Life After Cancer Treatment

Covers both the physical and emotional post-treatment issues for cancer survivors.

 
Cover of “Facing Forward: Making a Difference in Cancer”. Additional text on the side reads “National Cancer Institute”. The cover image is a collage of photos of people of different ages and ethnicities engaged in various activities, including talking on the phone, crossing the finish line of a race, and engaging in conversation.

Facing Forward: Making a Difference in Cancer

Covers the different ways of volunteering or becoming involved in cancer-related activities.

 

Tobacco Cessation

Cover of “Clearing the Air: Quit Smoking Today”. Additional text on the side reads “National Cancer Institute”. The cover image is a photo of an open window showing a sunny blue sky with fluffy white clouds.

Clearing the Air: Quit Smoking Today

This booklet is designed to support cessation at any stage of a quitter’s journey.

 

Treatments and Side Effects

Cover of “Chemotherapy and You: Support for People With Cancer”. A bar at the top contains the logo for the National Cancer Institute. The cover image is a photo of a trees reflected in a lake or river with mountains and clear skies in the background.

Chemotherapy and You: Support for People With Cancer

Explains what chemotherapy is and discusses questions people may have, such as how often they will have treatment and how it will be given. Explains common side effects, why they happen, ways your health care providers can help you manage them, and tips for to managing them at home.

 
Cover of the booklet, Eating Hints, shows a big pot of vegetable stew with sweet potatoes.

Eating Hints: Before, during, and after Cancer Treatment

Covers how diet needs differ for people with cancer, common eating problems that may occur, tips for handling food safely during treatment, how healthcare providers can help manage eating problems, and tips for managing problems at home. 

 
Cover image for a publication by the National Cancer Institute titled "Cancer Pain Control: Support for People with Cancer." The background features a scenic field of wildflowers with rolling hills and a clear sky.

Cancer Pain Control: Support for People With Cancer

Covers pain control methods and tips for cancer patients, pain control plans, talking with your health care team about pain, and coping with the physical and emotional effects of pain.

 
Cover of “Radiation Therapy and You: Support for People With Cancer”. A bar at the top contains the logo for the National Cancer Institute. The cover image is a photo of cliffs against an ocean taken during sunset.

Radiation Therapy and You: Support for People with Cancer

Explains the different types of external beam and internal radiation therapy that are used as treatments for cancer. Covers ways that doctors attempt to protect healthy cells from harm. Lists which side effects might result from treatment to specific parts of the body and offers tips for managing them.

Viewing and Downloading Help

How to download and view e-books:

  • Kindle:
    • Open via the browser on your Kindle.
    • Or, select "Kindle." Then, use a USB cable to transfer the file to your Kindle.
  • Smartphone or tablet:
    • Via an ePubs app, select "Other eReaders" to download and view.
    • Via a Kindle app, select "Kindle" to download and view.
    • If you don't have an app, select "PDF."
  • Desktop or laptop computer: Free software is available to read eBooks on your computer. Adobe Digital Editions is one option for ePub and Calibre is one for Kindle.
  • Updated:
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