Landmark Cancer Research Study to be Part of Roswell Relay for Life

Roswell residents who are participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life in Roswell, not only have the opportunity to raise funds and awareness to fight cancer through Relay - they also have a chance to become a vital part of a landmark study that will change the face of cancer for generations to come.

The American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention Study 3, or CPS-3, will help researchers better understand the lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer.

Enrollment for CPS-3 will be held during the , April 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the CPS-3 tent. Men and women between the ages of 30 and 65 who have never been diagnosed with cancer are needed to participate in CPS-3. The Society aims to enroll a diverse population of 500,000 people nationwide and in Puerto Rico for the study.

“CPS-3 is so important because it will give us new insight into cancer risks and causes and help us develop new prevention and treatment options to save more lives,” said Sheila Michael, CPS-3 Chair for the Roswell Relay. “CPS-3 will follow the participants in our community for the next 20 to 30 years, looking at their lifestyle, medical and behavioral information. They will play a key role in a groundbreaking study that promises to help the American Cancer Society create a world with less cancer and more birthdays for everyone.”

Relay For Life of Roswell is in its 10th year and has raised more than $1 million to date. In 2011, the Roswell Relay raised over $180,000, with 47 registered teams, 944 participants and over 1,200 supporters at the event.

To enroll in CPS3, individuals will be asked to read and sign an informed consent form; complete a comprehensive survey packet that asks for information on lifestyle, behavorial, and other factors related to your health; have your height, weight, blood pressure, heart rate, and waist circumference measured; and give a 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. 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. The current study, CPS-II, began in 1982 and is still ongoing. But changes in lifestyle and in the understanding of cancer in the more than two decades since its launch make it important to begin a new study.

To enroll in CPS-3, visit the Relay website to complete an interest form located at the “CPS-3 Interest Form” tab. For more information on CPS-3, visit the American Cancer Society website. Roswell Relay for Life will be held from April 27-28 at .