If you could spare even one family from hearing the words, "You have cancer", would you do it?
Greater Nashville GLBT residents have an opportunity to participate in a historic study that has the potential to change the face of cancer for future generations.
LGBT individuals are at increased risk for certain types of cancer. This important study will impact how the Society's scientists understand the disease and address a lack of cancer-related data about LGBT individuals.
The final opportunity to participate in Middle Tennessee ends April 23-26. There is no cost to join.
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.
Who can enroll? People between the ages of 30 and 65 who have never been diagnosed with cancer and are willing to complete periodic questionnaires every few years for 20-30 years.
Participants only need to attend one half-hour personal appointment during the entire study, simply by visiting one of four enrollment sites in Nashville or Dickson the week of April 23-26.
First, visit cps3nashville.org today to schedule an appointment and complete a comprehensive online survey. Those without Internet access may call toll-free, 1-888-604-5888 for more information.
At their personal appointment in April, 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.
Upon completion of this process, the Society will send periodic follow-up surveys every few years to update participants' information and annual newsletters with study updates and results. The voluntary, long-term commitment by participants is what will produce benefits for decades to come.
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."
Enrollment is being brought to Greater Nashville through the Society's hosts: Christ Presbyterian Church, TriStar Centennial Medical Center, TriStar Horizon Medical Center, and Vanderbilt University.
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.
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.
"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.
"Taking an hour or so every few years to fill out a survey – and potentially save someone from being diagnosed with cancer in the future -- is a commitment that thousands of volunteer participants have already made. We're looking for more like-minded individuals in the Nashville area to join this effort," she said.