Local Study Fights Back Against Cancer

The American Cancer Society and West Penn Allegheny Health System invite Pittsburgh-area residents to participate in a historic, nationwide study that will provide valuable information needed to fight the war against cancer and save lives.

Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3) is designed to help researchers better understand the genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors that cause cancer.

Local enrollment sites will open June 19-23 at five WPAHS locations across the area.

Enrollment dates and sites are:

• Tuesday, June 19 from 3-6:30 p.m. at the WPAHS in
• Wednesday, June 20 from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at Allegheny General Hospital on Pittsburgh’s Northside
• Thursday, June 21 from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood
• Friday, June 22 from 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Forbes Regional Hospital in Monroeville
• Saturday, June 23 from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at Destination Wellness at Pittsburgh Mills Mall

Although walk-ins are welcome, participants are encouraged to sign up in advance at www.seeuthere.com/cps3enroll/WPAHS.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Americans to participate in lifesaving cancer research,” said Glenn Callihan, regional vice president, American Cancer Society. “We are excited to offer this opportunity for area residents to make an appointment and enroll in the study at their convenience between June 19-23. Our goal is to recruit at least 700 participants locally during this time, and eventually 300,000 nationwide by the end of 2013.”

“Many individuals diagnosed with cancer struggle to answer the question, ‘What caused my cancer?’ In many cases, we don’t know the answer,” said Jane Raymond, MD, director of Medical Oncology, West Penn Allegheny Health System. “CPS-3 will help us better understand what factors cause cancer, and once we know that, we can be better equipped to prevent cancer.”

Men and women who are willing to commit to the study must be between the ages of 30 and 65 and never have been diagnosed with cancer. The study will enroll a diverse population of 300,000 people across the U.S. To enroll, individuals provide a waist measurement, give a small blood sample and complete a comprehensive survey online or at the enrollment site. Over the course of the study, participants will be asked to fill out follow-up surveys every few years. 

For more information about CPS-3, visit www.cancer.org/cps3 or call toll-free 1-888-604-5888.

Will you participate in this study? Why or why not? Tell us in the comments.

This article first appeared on Peters Patch.