Over 50 citizens in the Town of Farmville enrolled in a 20 to 30 year study conducted by the American Cancer Society on Sept. 19 and 21. Applications were accepted to participate in the Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3) at the Historic Farmville Train Station.
To enroll in the study, one had to complete a survey, get a waist measurement and give a small blood sample. Applicants were required to be between the ages of 30 and 65. Applicants who were ever previously or currently diagnosed with cancer were not able to enroll.
Dawn Ward, communications director for the American Cancer Society, said, “We brought the Cancer Prevention Study-3 to Farmville because we believed that we have a significant number of dedicated and passionate volunteers in the community.”
She added, ”We know that Farmville is very committed to the American Cancer Society and helping us fulfill our mission in saving more lives from cancer.”
CPS-3 began in 2006 with the goal to explore the effects of changing societal influences on smokers as well as to study the genetic and environmental risk factors that cause smoking.
CPS-3 is conducted by the American Cancer Society’s Epidemiology Research Program, one of the six intramural research programs supported by the Society. The American Cancer Society has conducted two previous studies, one of which is still in progress.
Cancer Prevention Study-1 (CPS- 1) began in 1959. Ward said the first study 'ultimately helped us better understand the guidelines and recommendations for cancer screenings.”
Ward said that the first Cancer Prevention Study helped the American Cancer Society better understand the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer as well as the increase in death rates from cancer and other diseases.
“[CPS-1] was the first study to show a relationship between obesity and shortened overall survival [for smokers],” reported the American Cancer Society website.
Cancer Prevention Study-2 (CPS- 2) began in the year 1982 and is still ongoing. Ward stated that this study is focused on how to best prevent cancer.
The American Cancer Society website states that CPS-2 data is used extensively by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to estimate deaths attributed to smoking. Commenting on CPS-3, Ward said, “We’re hoping to ultimately learn lifestyle and behavioral changes that affect someone’s risk for cancer and how we can hopefully ultimately prevent it.”
The American Cancer Society has the goal to enroll over 300,000 persons in the nation in CPS-3. Currently, the CPS-3 has around 275,000 enrollees.
Ward said, “Over the course of the next three months, we are truly putting a lot of energy into recruiting that last 25,000.”
While there is no monetary benefit for being an enrollee in CPS-3, Ward said, “I think that the greatest benefit truly is personal, that you have the ability to change the course of cancer in this lifetime and in your children’s lifetime.”
