Cancer study recruiting participants

CEDAR RAPIDS – Besides donating money for cancer research, people who have never experienced cancer may feel helpless to further prevention efforts.

A study that calls for those adults to enroll as research participants offers an added option.

The American Cancer Society's Epidemiology Research Program is inviting men and women between the ages of 30 and 65 years with no personal history of cancer to join the research effort, called the Cancer Prevention Study – 3, or CPS-3.

“It's a rare opportunity to get to help someone out,” said Chuck Reed, spokesman for the Cancer Society's Midwest Division. “We don't want your money this time. We want your time and commitment.”

Reed said the goal is to enroll at least 300,000 adults of various racial and ethnic backgrounds from across the United States.

So far in Iowa, more than 1,400 adults have enrolled, he said.

Enrollment efforts already targeted Relay for Life events – the group's signature fundraiser – and will provide several more opportunities in October.

The goal for Cedar Rapids is to enroll 672 people, but Reed hoped the area would surpass that number.

Participation is simple.

The first survey - about medications, family history of cancer and lifestyle - can be completed online after scheduling an enrollment appointment.

Participants will provide a waist circumference measurement and a small blood sample at the appointment, which lasts 20 to 30 minutes.

Reed said participants commit to the long-term: periodic surveys, once every couple of years or so, are sent to be completed at home for the next 20 to 30 years.

He noted that this is the third wide-scale research effort undertaken by the American Cancer Society.

Studies in the 1950s and 1960s provided scientific proof of the connection between smoking and lung cancer.

Research in the 1970s and 1980s correlated obesity and cancer.

“As far as fighting the disease of cancer, this is the most important thing we've done,” Reed said.

Participant requirements include:

- You must be 30- to 65-years-old and never diagnosed with cancer, except basal or squamous cell skin cancers.

- Complete a short survey, give a waist measurement and small blood sample.

- Surveys will be mailed to your home. The study can last 20 to 30 years.

- For more information, see www.cancer.org/cps3  or call 1-(888)-604-5888.

- To schedule an appointment, see: www.cps3cedarrapids.org

FYI

Enrollment will be at the following locations:

-          Mercy Health Plaza, 5264 Council St. NE, #700; 6:30-10:30 a.m. Oct. 23

-          Helen G. Nassif YMCA, 207 Seventh Ave. SE; 4-8 p.m. Oct. 23 and 24 and 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 27.

-          St. Luke's Cancer Wellness Center, 810 First Ave. NE, 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 24 and 3-7 p.m. Oct. 25

-          Hall-Perrine Cancer Center, 701 10

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St. SE, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 25.