The Cancer Facts fact sheet National Cancer Institute Cancer Centers Program provides contact information for more than 50 NCI-designated cancer centers that are engaged in multi disciplinary research to reduce cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality. Patients can get the names of specialists from their local medical society, a nearby hospital, or a medical school. The Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists lists doctors' names along with their specialty and their background. This resource is in most public libraries. A Guide to Self-Help During Treatment .
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells.
Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment because the drugs enter the bloodstream and travel through the body. Some types of cancer, including most breast and prostate cancers, depend on hormones to grow. For this reason, doctors may recommend therapy that prevents cancer cells from getting or using the hormones they need. Tamoxifen is one drug used in hormone therapy to treat breast cancer, and it has recently shown to be effective in preventing breast cancer in some women. More information about tamoxifen can be found in the Cancer Facts fact sheet Questions and Answers About Tamoxifen .