Participants sought for new cancer prevention study

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Chances are, you know someone with cancer or are affected by it in some way.  Right now, there is no cure.  But what if there's a way you can help find a cause and prevent cancer in the future?

There’s a new study the American Cancer Society is launching and participants are needed.

“He told me I had Neuroendocrine and it was carcinoid,” Janice Smith said.

It's the news you never want to hear from a doctor.

“Is this cancer you're telling me I have?  And he said, ‘Yes, it is malignant.’” Smith said.

Luckily for Smith, she was able to fight it and is now cancer free.  But countless others who don't have the same fate.

“It will be great if everyone was cancer free in the future,” Robin Thompson, a volunteer with the American Cancer Society said.

On Tuesday, March 19th, the American Cancer Society kicked off a breakfast asking people to join a new study that'll help identify causes and emerging cancer risks.

It's called the Cancer Prevention Study-3 or CPS-3.  The goal is to find 300,000 participants from ages 30 to 65 who have never been diagnosed with cancer, from different backgrounds in different states.  Here in Wisconsin, researchers want at least 2,000.

“Just tell us how you live and what you do, so that we can better understand how those factors may affect individuals risk of developing or dying from cancer,” Alpa Patel, principal investigator of CPS-3 said.

All it takes is a small blood sample, a waist measurement and a simple survey taken every few years.

“It takes less time than eating dinner with your family and it's something that will help many Americans,” Thompson, who became a study participant said.

The study has been done in the past and has delivered effective results.

“When we started our first study, we didn't know at the time that smoking caused lung cancer,” Patel said.

Researchers say this time around, they might find more ways to prevent cancer.  And with your help, a small effort today can produce a cancer-free tomorrow.

If you are interested in participating the CPS-3 study, you can enroll at one of 21 locations throughout southeast Wisconsin from April 25 through May 10.  Organizers suggest you sign up by April 8th by clicking here.