(Seattle, WA) – Puget Sound residents have an unprecedented opportunity to participate in the third installment of a historic research study that has the potential to change the face of cancer for future generations. To participate, the American Cancer Society is looking for passionate individuals interested in enrolling. The Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3) call to action is to educate and recruit 10,000 participants in King, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston County.
CPS-3 will enroll a diverse population of men and women between the ages of 30-65 across the United States and Puerto Rico, to help researchers better understand the lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer. Researchers will use the data from CPS-3 to build on evidence from a series of American Cancer Society studies that began in the 1950s, which have collectively involved millions of volunteer participants. Data from past studies have helped establish monumental findings, including the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer.
“My mom is a two-time cancer survivor and I’m doing all I can to make sure my children don’t have to say that; I really believe CPS-3 is part of the answer,” stated one study participant.
To participate in the study, individuals will spend between 20-30 minutes at a local enrollment site to complete a brief survey, have their waist circumference measured and give a small blood sample. At home, individuals will complete a comprehensive survey packet that asks for information on lifestyle, behavioral, and other factors related to their health. Participants should expect a follow-up survey to update information every few years.
“CPS-3 will help us better understand what factors cause cancer, and once we know that, we can be better equipped to prevent cancer,” said Alpa V. Patel, Ph.D., principal investigator of CPS-3. “The study holds the best hope of identifying new and emerging cancer risks, but we can only do this if members of the community are willing to become involved.”
The Hammond-Horn Study and previous Cancer Prevention Studies (CPS-I, and CPS-II) have played a major role in understanding cancer prevention and risk, and have contributed significantly to the scientific basis and development of public health guidelines and recommendations. Those studies confirmed the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer, demonstrated the link between larger waist size and increased death rates from cancer and other causes, and showed the considerable impact of air pollution on heart and lung conditions.
For more information or to learn how to become a CPS-3 Community Champion, visit cps3seattle.org, email cps3seattle@cancer.org, or call 425-322-1115.
About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing about $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.
