Community Involvement Can Answer Critical Questions about Cancer Causes, Prevention

(Lancaster, PA) – Lancaster Countians have an unprecedented opportunity to participate in a historic study that has the potential to change the face of cancer for future generations. Men and women between the ages of 30 and 65 who have never been diagnosed with cancer are needed to participate in the Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3). CPS-3 will enroll a diverse population of up to 300,000 people across the United States.

The opportunity for local residents to enroll in CPS-3 is being made possible August 22-25 at the American Cancer Society office, 314 Good Drive, Lancaster.

“My wife, Kathy, is a 13-year breast cancer survivor. I am fighting in any way that I can to provide a cancer-free world for future generations,” said Dick Morgan, local volunteer for the American Cancer Society and CPS-3 enrollee. “CPS-3 gives me a very personal way to fight the battle.  I feel very fortunate not to have been diagnosed with cancer. By participating in CPS-3, we may find answers as to why I was lucky – maybe even the information they need to find more cures.”

Enrollment is as easy as making an appointment on www.lancastercps3.org.  At the appointment, individuals will complete the survey, have their waists measured, and give a very small blood sample. Upon completion of this process, the Society will send periodic follow-up surveys to update your information and annual newsletters with study updates and results. The in-person enrollment process takes approximately an hour to complete. Periodic follow-up surveys of various lengths are expected to be sent every few years to individuals.

“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 that collectively have involved millions 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, 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 involved with CPS-3, visit cancer.org/cps3, email cps3@cancer org, or call toll-free 1-888-604-5888.

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 $3.8 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, nearly 12 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.