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PDQ®: Questions and Answers

1. What is PDQ?

PDQ is a comprehensive cancer information database that is updated regularly. PDQ 

contains the most current information about cancer treatment, supportive care, screening, 

prevention, genetics, and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The database 

also contains abstracts of clinical trial protocols (action plans for conducting clinical 

trials). PDQ is maintained by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) with the help of cancer 

experts from across the Nation. 

2. What information is included in PDQ?

PDQ contains the following information: 

• Treatment Summaries for Patients and Health Professionals: peer-reviewed, 

detailed staging and treatment information for more than 80 different types of adult 

and pediatric cancer. 

• Supportive Care Summaries for Patients and Health Professionals: 

peer-reviewed information on the assessment and management of problems and 

conditions commonly associated with cancer and its treatment. 

Key Points 

• PDQ contains information on cancer treatment, supportive care, screening, 

prevention, genetics, and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) 

(see Questions 2 and 3). 

• PDQ also contains abstracts of clinical trials (see Question 5). 

• Information from PDQ can be accessed on the National Cancer Institute’s 

(NCI) Web site, or by calling the NCI’s Cancer Information Service (see 

Question 6).
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• Screening Summaries for Patients and Health Professionals: peer-reviewed 

summaries of the latest information about cancer screening for major cancer sites. 

• Prevention Summaries for Patients and Health Professionals: peer-reviewed 

summaries of the latest information about cancer prevention for major cancer sites. 

• Genetics Summaries for Health Professionals: peer-reviewed information on the 

genetics of selected cancers and inherited genetic factors that can influence cancer 

risk. 

• Complementary and Alternative Medicine Summaries for Health Professionals: 

peer-reviewed summaries of the latest information about the use of CAM in the 

treatment of cancer. 

• Clinical Trial Protocols: ongoing and closed clinical trials from around the world. 

Protocol abstracts are available in health professional and patient formats. 

3. What information is in the cancer information summaries? 

• Treatment Summaries: PDQ treatment summaries contain a description of 

prognosis (probable outcome), cellular classification (tissue type), staging (extent of 

disease), and treatments for all major cancers and some cancer-related conditions. 

The treatment summaries describe therapies currently available for a specific type and 

stage of cancer. PDQ does not recommend one treatment over another, but lists 

treatment options that health care providers may consider in developing a treatment 

plan to meet a patient’s needs. Because advances in treatment occur frequently, PDQ 

summaries are reviewed regularly by PDQ Editorial Board oncology experts and are 

updated as needed. 

• Supportive Care Summaries: PDQ supportive care summaries contain information 

about health problems caused by cancer and/or its treatment. The supportive care 

summaries cover such subjects as nutrition, sexuality, pain, nausea, and vomiting. 

• Screening Summaries: PDQ screening summaries contain information that 

describes tests and procedures used to screen for certain types of cancer. 

• Prevention Summaries: PDQ prevention summaries contain information that 

describes risk factors and methods to increase chances of preventing particular types 

of cancer. 

• Genetics Summaries: PDQ genetics summaries contain information about inherited 

genetic factors that may affect cancer risk. These summaries also include information 

about the genetics of selected cancers. 
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• Complementary and Alternative Medicine Summaries: PDQ CAM summaries 

contain information about CAM treatments. Though only available in health 

professional versions, the CAM summaries are written in less technical language and 

include definitions of medical and scientific terms. 

 Most cancer information summaries are available in two versions: a technical version for 

health professionals and a nontechnical version for patients, their families, and the public. 

A growing number of the patient versions of summaries include illustrations and 

definitions of the medical and scientific terms used. Many summaries are also available 

in Spanish. 

4. What are clinical trials? 

Clinical trials are research studies in which human volunteers participate. There are 

many types of clinical trials. They include studies to evaluate methods for prevention, 

detection, and treatment of cancer, as well as studies designed to lessen the distress of the 

disease and improve comfort and quality of life. Each trial is designed to answer 

scientific questions. People who take part in clinical trials have the first opportunity to 

benefit from new research and make very important contributions to medical science. 

5. What information about clinical trials is in PDQ? 

PDQ provides abstracts of ongoing treatment, supportive care, diagnostic, genetics, 

screening, and prevention clinical trials, including all NCI-funded clinical trials and some 

studies conducted by independent investigators at hospitals and medical centers in the 

United States and other countries around the world. Most of the trials in PDQ are 

designed to evaluate new treatments for cancer patients. Each abstract includes 

information such as the trial’s purpose, the requirements for being eligible to participate, 

and names and phone numbers for obtaining further information.

6. What are the ways of obtaining information from PDQ? 

 Listed below are several ways to access information from PDQ.

• Cancer topics section of the NCI’s Web site: The NCI’s Web site contains PDQ 

cancer information summaries about treatment, supportive care, screening, 

prevention, genetics, and CAM; PDQ clinical trials information; and other related 

information. The Web site also contains information from PDQ’s Cancer Genetics 

Services Directory, which is a directory of individuals who provide services related to 

cancer genetics. The cancer information area may be accessed at 

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics on the Internet. 

• Clinical trials section of the NCI’s Web site: The clinical trials area of the NCI’s 

Web site is the Institute’s comprehensive clinical trials information center for 

patients, health professionals, and the public. It includes information on 

understanding trials, deciding whether to participate in trials, and finding specific 
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trials listed in PDQ, plus research news and other resources. The clinical trials area 

may be accessed at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/ on the Internet. 

• Cancer Information Service: Cancer patients, their families, health professionals, 

and the public can obtain PDQ information by calling the NCI’s Cancer Information 

Service (CIS) at 1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237). Deaf and hard of hearing 

callers with TTY equipment may call 1–800–332–8615. Information specialists at 

the CIS use PDQ cancer prevention, screening, treatment, supportive care, CAM, and 

genetics summaries; clinical trials information; and other NCI resources to answer 

callers’ questions about cancer. They can also send PDQ information and NCI 

materials to callers. Hours of operation for the CIS are Monday through Friday, 

 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time. 

The CIS also provides live, online assistance through the LiveHelp link on the NCI’s 

Web site. Through LiveHelp, an instant messaging service, information specialists 

provide Internet users with help in locating PDQ summaries, searching for clinical 

trials, navigating the NCI’s Web site, and finding answers to questions about cancer. 

LiveHelp is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern time.

# # # 

Related Resources

Publications (available at http://www.cancer.gov/publications) 

• National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 2.1, Cancer Information Sources

National Cancer Institute (NCI) Resources

Cancer Information Service (toll-free)

 Telephone: 1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237) 

 TTY: 1–800–332–8615 

Online 

NCI’s Web site: http://www.cancer.gov 

LiveHelp, NCI’s live online assistance: 

https://cissecure.nci.nih.gov/livehelp/welcome.asp

 

This fact sheet was reviewed on 6/20/05