Marion County residents urged to participate in historic cancer research effort

If you could spare even one family from hearing the words, "You have cancer," would you do it?

Marion County residents have an opportunity to participate in a historic study that has the potential to change the face of cancer for future generations.

This year's opportunity to participate in Central Kentucky is Aug. 15-16. There is no cost to sign up.

The American Cancer Society's Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3) will help researchers to understand how to prevent cancer, which will save lives and give people more of their most precious resource: time.

Anyone can enroll who is between the ages of 30 and 65; has never been diagnosed with cancer, and is willing to complete periodic questionnaires every few years for 20-30 years.

First, visit cps3taylorregional.org today to schedule an appointment and complete an online survey. Those without Internet access may call toll-free, 1-888-604-5888 for more information.

Participants only need to attend one 30-minute, in-person appointment during the entire study, simply by visiting the nearest enrollment location at Taylor Regional Hospital from 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 15 or 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 16. Participants can also go to Flaget Hospital in Bardstown on Friday, August 10 from 7 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

At this personal appointment, participants will be asked to sign an informed consent form, complete a brief survey, as well as provide a waist circumference measurement and a small blood sample similar to a doctor's visit. The blood sample will be taken by a certified, trained phlebotomist.

CPS-3 needs a diverse population of at least 300,000 adults across the United States and Puerto Rico.

"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."

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.

"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," said Dr. Patel.

The voluntary, long-term commitment by participants is what will produce benefits for decades to come. For more information or to learn how to become involved with CPS-3, visit cps3kentucky.org, email cps3@cancer org, or call toll-free 1-888-604-5888.