The American Cancer Society is looking for dedicated community members to participate in its third cancer prevention study.
“The idea of the study is to figure out what causes cancer so we can ultimately prevent it in the future,” said Jenn Schweighauser, health initiatives representative for the American Cancer Society in Central Pennsylvania.
The American Cancer Society aims to enroll 300,000 people nation-wide in the cancer prevention study (CPS-3) and 500 in Centre County, Schweighauser said.
Two similar studies were done in the 1950s and the 1980s, which studied cigarette usage in relation to lung cancer and what factors genetics have in someone developing cancer, respectively. Results from these studies show the effect cigarette smoking and secondhand smoke have on lung cancer and the link between obesity and cancer.
“Obviously a lot has changed since the 80s,” Schweighauser said. “We’re taking a look at lifestyle again to see if sitting down all day does have a negative impact and we’re also looking at genetics.”
Because of these studies, the American Cancer Society said it has been able to improve the scientific understanding of the causes of cancer and apply it to public health education and guidelines.
Anyone between the ages of 35 and 60 who has never been diagnosed with cancer, excluding basal or squamous cell skin cancer, and is willing to make a long term-commitment to the study is encouraged to enroll.
Participants will be asked to fill out a 15-minute survey, provide physical measurements and give blood samples, Schweighauser said. The study continues in-home and participants are asked to fill out longer surveys every two to three years.
Schweighauser said the $100 million research study is the only nation-wide general population study happening.
Enrollment days and places for CPS-3 are from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on June 1 at the Relay for Life in Bellefonte; from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on June 4 at AccuWeather; from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on June 4 at the Moshannon Valley YMCA and from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 5 at Mount Nittany Medical Center.
For more information about CPS-3, visit www.cancer.org/cps3.
