CIS Partnership Program

CALIFORNIA REGION

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, and a critical strategy in cancer control efforts is the education of Americans about steps they can take to prevent cancer, detect it early when treatment is most likely to be effective, and choose the best treatment plan. For over 30 years, the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service (CIS) has provided the latest and most accurate cancer information to patients, their families, health professionals, and the public. Through its network of regional offices and partnerships with nonprofit, private and other government agencies, the CIS reached people who may have limited access to health information.

To effectively reach as many people as possible, the CIS partnered with state and regional organizations that directly serve these populations. By pooling resources toward common goals, the CIS and its partners leveraged resources and designed programs with wider reach. The CIS assisted organizations seeking cancer-related expertise by providing:

Education about the latest, most accurate cancer information, resources available from NCI, and referrals
Training on methods to educate their populations on cancer-related topics
Assistance in planning cancer education programs and evaluating their success
Assistance in developing new coalitions or strengthening existing coalitions
Advice about strategies to reach minority and medically underserved people

From 1993 to 2009, the Northern California Cancer Center (NCCC) was under contract with the National Cancer Institute to operate the California Region Cancer Information Service. The University of California, San Francisco Comprehensive Cancer Center, Stanford University Cancer Center, the University of Southern California/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, the University of California, San Diego/Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the California Department of Public Health-Comprehensive Cancer Control Unit/Public Health Institute were under contract with the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service-California Region at NCCC.

The following is a list of California Region CIS staff and their affiliated institutions:

Dee W. West, Ph.D., Principal Investigator, Northern California Cancer Center (Fremont, CA) and Stanford University Cancer Center (Palo Alto, CA)
Sharon Davis, Program Director, Northern California Cancer Center, Fremont, CA
Michelle Moseley, Program Manager, Northern California Cancer Center, Fremont, CA
Aida Negrón, Partnership Program Coordinator, UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA
Rachel Mesia, Partnership Program Coordinator, Stanford University Cancer Center, Palo Alto, CA
Zul Surani, Partnership Program Coordinator, USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA
Paula Amezola De Herrera, Partnership Program Coordinator, USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA
Sheila LaHousse, Partnership Program Coordinator, UC San Diego/Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center, La Jolla, CA
Dawn Nozicka-Ferris, Partnership Program Coordinator, California Department of Public Health, Comprehensive Cancer Control, Sacramento, CA

For those who seek cancer information or booklets, the NCI's CIS offers a toll-free telephone number (1-800-4-CANCER) and an instant messaging service (LiveHelp) on the NCI's Web site (http://www.cancer.gov). The CIS also provides assistance to smokers through NCI's Smoking Quitline at 1-877-44U-QUIT.

Cancer Risk: Understanding the Puzzle

The news is filled with stories about cancer risk. Some of the information can be confusing and contradictory. How do you know what to believe? A new website from the National Cancer Institute cuts through the hype to help you understand the plain and simple truth about cancer risk. Interactive exercises, personal risk profiles, and information about risk for common cancers help put cancer risk into perspective. Get the plain and simple truth about cancer risk at http://understandingrisk.cancer.gov.