Kent residents have the chance to join the movement to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays by participating in Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3), a historic study that has the potential to change the face of cancer for future generations.

Men and women who are willing to commit to the long-term study, are between the ages of 30 and 65 and who have never been diagnosed with cancer are needed to participate in CPS-3, which will enroll a diverse population of half a million people across the United States. Enrollment for CPS-3 will take place in Kent at the Relay For Life of Kent on June 4.

To enroll in the study, individuals complete a brief written survey, provide a waist measurement, and give a small blood sample at the Relay enrollment site, and then complete their enrollment at home where they fill out a more comprehensive baseline survey. Over the course of the study, participants will be asked to fill out follow-up surveys every few years.

“Many individuals diagnosed with cancer struggle to answer the question, ‘What caused my cancer?’ In many cases, we don’t know the answer,” said Alpa V. Patel, Ph.D., principal investigator of CPS-3. “CPS-3 will help us better understand what factors cause cancer, and once we know that, we can be better equipped to prevent cancer.” Dr. Patel added, “Our previous cancer-prevention studies have been instrumental in helping us identify some of the major factors that can affect cancer risk. CPS-3 holds the best hope of identifying new and emerging cancer risks, and we can only do this if members of the community are willing to become involved.”

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 and involved hundreds of thousands of volunteer participants. 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, showed that obesity increases the risk of several cancers, and linked aspirin use to a lower death rate from colon cancer. The current study, CPS-II, began in 1982 and is still ongoing. But changes in lifestyle and in the understanding of cancer in the more than two decades since its launch make it important to begin a new cohort.

The initial enrollment process involves about 30 minutes at the Relay event and an additional 45 to 60 minutes at home to fill out the more comprehensive survey, with periodic follow-up surveys of various lengths expected to be sent every few years to individuals. The voluntary, long-term commitment by participants is what will produce benefits for decades to come. “We are once again looking to the dedication, compassion, and generosity of Americans to come through and help us provide answers that we know will save lives and improve the outlook for future generations,” said Dr. Patel.

For more information or to learn how to become involved with CPS-3, visit www.cancer.org/cps3, email cps3@rflkent.org, or call toll-free 1-888-604-5888.

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