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
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
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.
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
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.
Taking Time: Support for People With Cancer
Covers the feelings and concerns of people with cancer and their families.
When Cancer Returns: Support for People with Cancer
Covers the physical and emotional issues related to having a cancer recurrence.
For Family and Caregivers
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.
When Someone You Love Has Completed Cancer Treatment: Support for Caregivers
Covers coping strategies to help cancer caregivers adjust their focus to the recovery phase once treatment is over for their loved one with cancer.
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.
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.
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.
When Someone You Love Has Advanced Cancer: Support for Caregivers
Covers coping strategies and communication tips to address the concerns that cancer caregivers face when their loved one has been told that he or she has advanced cancer.
Screening
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.
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
Facing Forward: Life After Cancer Treatment
Covers both the physical and emotional post-treatment issues for cancer survivors.
Facing Forward: Making a Difference in Cancer
Covers the different ways of volunteering or becoming involved in cancer-related activities.
Tobacco Cessation
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
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.
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.
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.
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.