There were 81 people in Warren County who registered Thursday to take part in a groundbreaking American Cancer Society study to be conducted over the next 30 years.
The goal is to help determine causes of cancers – and ways to prevent it – through analyzing lifestyle, behavioral, environmental and genetic factors.
The study’s best-case scenario would be to eliminate cancer as a major health problem for this and future generations. This is the American Cancer Society’s third Cancer Prevention Study and is aptly named CPS-3.
Local resident Monika Hopkins is glad to be part of a study that might find a cure for cancer. Hopkins lost her mother to breast cancer at the age of 51.
“My mother passed away at such a young age. I am so thankful I can help to maybe find a cure for this disease,” she said.
Ashley Wright, lead volunteer for Warren County, said, “I’m excited to see this day is finally here. My heart is service and I love volunteering and fundraising for worthy causes. By participating in this study, we are not just supporting research, we are the research.”
Thursday was the only cancer prevention study enrollment day scheduled in Warren County, but visit www.cancer.org/cps3, to view more dates and times of enrollment scheduled in Tennessee and throughout the nation.
Men and women between the ages of 30 and 65 who have never been diagnosed with cancer and who are willing to make a long-term commitment to the study are encouraged to participate. Those who choose to enroll will fill out a comprehensive study packet about health history, provide a blood sample to be collected by a trained phlebotomist, and provide a waist measurement.
Participants will be sent surveys at home every few years for the next 20 to 30 years to keep their information updated. CPS-3 participants will also receive an annual study-related newsletter to update them on research results.
Cancer survivors are asked to tell friends and family members to participate so one day a cure might be found.
Previous cancer study participants helped determine the considerable effect of cigarette smoking and second-hand smoke on lung cancer, the link between larger waist size and increased death rates from cancer, and the significant impact of obesity on the risk of dying from cancer.
For more information, email cps3@cancer.org or call toll-free 1-888-604-5888.