Step by Step: plain-language cancer guides, read aloud

Free cancer and blood disorder guides in plain English and Spanish. Rosa reads them aloud. Medications, treatment plans like FOLFOX, side effects, screening and help.

Step by Step explains cancer and blood conditions in plain words for patients, families and caregivers. Every page can be read out loud by Rosa, a friendly nurse voice, in English or Spanish. The content is written for a 6th grade reading level and medically reviewed by a medical oncologist. It is free, has no ads, and does not collect personal or health information.

• Learn with Rosa: Simple guides for 22 cancers and 5 blood conditions. Each has a short version Rosa reads to you and a full guide.
• Medications: Plain sheets for 183 cancer medicines and 46 treatment plans like FOLFOX and R-CHOP.
• Side effects: What each side effect feels like, what helps at home, and when to call.
• Screening: Which cancer checks are right for you, and life after treatment.
• Living with cancer: Money, work, family, food, feelings and caregiving.
• How treatments work: How surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy and other treatments work.
• Find help: Free helplines, rides, places to stay, money help and second opinions.
• About us: Who writes and reviews this site, and how we keep it accurate.

Learn with Rosa

• Lung cancer: Lung cancer care has improved a lot, and many people now live longer and better with it.
• Breast cancer: Breast cancer is many different diseases, and today there are more ways than ever to treat each one.
• Colorectal cancer: Colon and rectal cancer are often found early and treated well, and treatment has improved a lot in recent years, even for advanced cancer.
• Prostate cancer: Prostate cancer is common, and many people live for years with it, often with a wide range of treatment choices at every stage.
• Lymphoma: Lymphoma is a group of blood cancers with many good treatment options, and many people are cured or live well for years.
• Hodgkin lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph system that most people are cured of, even when it is found at a later stage.
• Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL): DLBCL is a fast-growing lymphoma that needs treatment soon, and most people are cured with their first treatment.
• Follicular lymphoma: Follicular lymphoma is a slow-growing blood cancer. Many people do not need treatment right away, and most live well with it for many years.
• Mantle cell lymphoma: Mantle cell lymphoma is an uncommon lymphoma that can behave very differently from person to person, and newer treatments are helping people live longer.
• Waldenström macroglobulinemia: Waldenström macroglobulinemia is a slow-growing blood cancer. Many people do not need treatment right away, and those who do have good options that can control it for years.
• Multiple myeloma: Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that usually cannot be cured yet, but today many people live well with it for years thanks to newer treatments.
• Bladder cancer: Bladder cancer is often found early, and there are more good treatment choices today than ever before.
• Kidney cancer: Many kidney cancers are found early and cured with surgery. Newer medicines help people with advanced kidney cancer live longer.
• Melanoma: Most melanomas are found early and treated with surgery alone, and newer treatments help many people with advanced melanoma.
• Basal and squamous cell skin cancer: Basal and squamous cell skin cancers are the most common cancers, and almost all are cured with simple treatments when found early.
• Pancreatic cancer: Pancreatic cancer is serious, but treatment and symptom care keep getting better, and you do not have to face it alone.
• Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs): Neuroendocrine tumors often grow slowly, and many people live for years with them thanks to treatments that control both the tumor and its symptoms.
• Leukemia: Leukemia is a group of blood cancers, and newer treatments help many people live longer or be cured.
• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): AML is a fast-growing blood cancer that needs care right away, and today there are more treatment choices than ever, including options for older adults.
• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL): ALL in adults is a fast-growing blood cancer, and newer targeted pills and immune treatments have greatly improved the chance of cure.
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): CLL is a slow-growing blood cancer. Many people do not need treatment for years, and today's pills and fixed-length treatments help most people live well for a long time.
• Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML): CML is a blood cancer that daily targeted pills can control very well, so most people today live close to a normal life span, and some can even stop treatment.
• Head and neck cancer: Many head and neck cancers can be cured, and good support helps you eat, speak, and swallow.
• Ovarian cancer: Ovarian cancer is serious, but surgery, chemotherapy, and newer maintenance medicines help many people live longer and better.
• Cervical cancer: Cervical cancer is often found early and treated with the goal of cure, and newer treatments help people at every stage.
• Uterine (endometrial) cancer: Most uterine cancers are found early and treated with surgery, and new tests and treatments help people with more advanced cancer.
• Stomach and esophagus cancer: Treatment for stomach and esophagus cancer has improved, and your care team will build a plan around your tumor and your needs.
• Liver cancer: Liver cancer can be found early with regular checks, and there are now more ways than ever to treat it.
• Bile duct and gallbladder cancer: Bile duct and gallbladder cancers are serious, but surgery can cure some people, and newer immunotherapy and targeted medicines are helping more people live longer.
• Anal cancer: Most anal cancers are treated with chemotherapy and radiation together, without major surgery, and many people are cured.
• Mesothelioma: Mesothelioma is a rare cancer linked to asbestos. It is hard to cure, but newer immune treatments are helping many people live longer.
• Brain tumors: Brain tumors differ a lot from one another. Knowing your exact type helps your care team plan the best care for you.
• Thyroid cancer: Most thyroid cancers are very treatable, and many people go on to live full, normal lives.
• Sarcoma: Sarcomas are rare, and care at a center with sarcoma experts gives you the best chance of good results.
• Testicular cancer: Testicular cancer responds very well to treatment, and most people do very well, even when it has spread.
• MDS and MPN (bone marrow disorders): MDS and MPN are long-term bone marrow conditions that range from slow and mild to more serious, and many people live for years with good care and close follow-up.
• Blood clots (DVT and PE): Blood clots in the veins are common and serious, but they are very treatable, and most people recover well with blood thinners and good follow-up.
• Sickle cell disease: Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood condition that lasts a lifetime, but good daily care, newer medicines, and options like transplant and gene therapy help many people live longer, fuller lives.
• Anemia and iron deficiency: Anemia means having too few healthy red blood cells, and once the cause is found, most kinds, like iron deficiency, can be treated well.
• ITP (low platelets): ITP is an immune condition that lowers your platelets, and while it can last a long time in adults, many good treatments help prevent bleeding and let people live full lives.
• Hemophilia and bleeding disorders: Hemophilia is an inherited condition where blood does not clot well, and today's treatments let most people prevent bleeds and lead active, full lives.
• MGUS and smoldering myeloma: MGUS and smoldering myeloma are quiet, early plasma cell conditions that usually need watching, not treatment, and most people with MGUS never develop myeloma.
• AL amyloidosis: AL amyloidosis is a rare plasma cell condition that can harm the heart, kidneys, and other organs, and today's treatments help many people stop the damage and live for years.