Puget Sound residents are being sought to participate in the third installment of a historic research study that has the potential to change the face of cancer for future generations.
The study, the Prevention Study-3, is seeking 10,000 participants in King, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston counties.
The CPS-3 study needs a diverse population of men and women between the ages of 30-65 across the United States and Puerto Rico to help researchers better understand the lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer.
Researchers will use the data from study to build on evidence from a series of American Cancer Society studies that began in the 1950s and have collectively involved millions of volunteer participants. Data from past studies have helped establish such finding as the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer.
To participate in the study, individuals will spend between 20-30 minutes at a local enrollment site to complete a brief survey, have their waist circumference measured and give a small blood sample. At home, individuals will complete a comprehensive survey packet that asks for information on lifestyle, behavioral, and other factors related to their health.
Participants should expect a follow-up survey to update information every few years.
“CPS-3 will help us better understand what factors cause cancer, and once we know that, we can be better equipped to prevent cancer,” said Alpa V. Patel, Ph.D., principal investigator of CPS-3. “The study holds the best hope of identifying new and emerging cancer risks, but we can only do this if members of the community are willing to become involved.”
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 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 impact of air pollution on heart and lung conditions.
For more information or to learn how to become a CPS-3 Community Champion, visit cps3seattle.org, email cps3seattle @cancer.org, or call 425-322-1115.
