What if you could prevent even one family from hearing the words, “you have cancer”?
This year, you can fight back against cancer by enrolling in the American Cancer Society’s new research study called the Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3). By joining CPS-3, you can help researchers better understand the genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors that cause or prevent cancer, which will ultimately save lives.
Who can join the study?
The study is open to anyone who:
- Is between 30 and 65 years old
- Has never been diagnosed with cancer (not including basal or squamous cell skin cancer)
- Is willing to make a long-term commitment to the study, which involves completing periodic follow-up surveys at home for the next 20-30 years
How can you participate?
Participation is easy. Your enrollment and participation requires just three steps and will involve the following:
- After scheduling your enrollment appointment, you will receive a confirmation e-mail with instructions to go online and complete your first, most comprehensive survey. This survey will ask you questions regarding medications you are taking, family history of cancer, life-style and other behaviors. This survey must be completed prior to your appointment time.
- At your appointment, you will be asked to sign an informed consent form, complete a brief survey, 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. Your appointment should last approximately 20 – 30 minutes.
- After your initial enrollment, you will be asked to complete mailed questionnaires every 3-5 years to update your lifestyle, environmental, and medical information.
To schedule your appointment visit: www.cps3gvw.org
Butner Town Hall
Tuesday October 22,2013 3:00pm to 7:00pm
Warrenton Rural Fire Department
Tuesday October 22,2013 4:00pm to 8:00pm
Masonic Home for Children
Thursday October 24, 2013 3:00pm to 7:00pm
South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church
Saturday October 26, 2013 9:00am to 1:00pm
Download the flyer here: Cancer Prevention Study One Pager (G-V-W)
Frequently Asked Questions…
Who is running the study? CPS-3 is funded and managed by the American Cancer Society
Department of Epidemiology & Surveillance Research (Analytic Epidemiology Program). This program conducts, analyzes, and publishes original research on the causes and prevention of cancer utilizing these large follow-up studies.
Who makes sure this study is safe and scientifically sound?
There will be ongoing peer review of CPS-3 by cancer researches from many prominent university and research institutions. Review and oversight by the Emory University IRB (Institutional Review Board) continues throughout the study. When a study has completed active enrollment, the IRB continues to provide oversight while investigators analyze questionnaire and biological data.
Why do you need people to be willing to make a long-term commitment to CPS-3?
There are two equally important pieces to building a study like CPS-3. The goal is getting at least 300,000 individuals to enroll into the study and for those individuals to stay connected with the study. Large-scale studies like CPS-3 are scientifically valid only if you can successfully track and follow your participants over time. We need individuals who not only meet the eligibility criteria, but also are willing and able to make the long-term commitment to the study.
Will my information be kept confidential and how will this be done?
YES, every effort will be made to protect the identity of the participants in this study. All of the study staff sign confidentiality forms and undergo training in research ethics. When your data is collected, they are labeled with a unique identification number. Your collected data, blood samples, surveys, and other study materials are stored separately form ALL personal identifiers, such as your name, address, phone number, and social security number. All study materials will be stored in a locked facility and secured computer files, and your personal contact information will be kept in separate files accessible only to a limited number of CPS staff. This information will not be shared with anyone, including other staff at the American Cancer Society, unless they are directly involved in managing CPS-3.
How will you use all of my information?
We begin the study by collecting information on various exposures from individuals who do not have cancer and we continue to update this information over time. As cases of cancer or other diseases develop, we will compare those participants who develop cancer with those participants who do not. By doing so, we are able to understand the differences (in lifestyle, environment, and genetic factors) between people who get cancer and those who do not, what the likely risk factors are for cancer, and how to best prevent disease in the future.
Why is a blood sample required?
We need a blood sample to measure things such as hormones, nutrients, vitamins, chemicals, metals, and genetic factors that may be related to your risk of developing cancer.
What happens to my blood sample?
All blood samples will be frozen and stored in a secured bio repository facility. Samples will be analyzed as cancer cases occur.
Will I be notified of any results form test done on my blood?
NO-By enrolling PS-3, you are donating your blood sample for research purposes only. You will not be informed of any of the result of any tests that may be performed using your blood sample. Although, we will not be able to provide you with your individual test results, we will share results from our overall analyses with all study participants through newsletters,, e-mail, articles on our website.
Why would I want to participate in this research study?
Most people who participate in research studies hope they will contribute to a better understanding of how to prevent disease. For CPS-3, this knowledge will help reduce the burden of cancer for this and future generations.