One hundred years ago, the American Cancer Society began the fight of a lifetime — the fight against cancer. Now, over 300,000 people from across the country and 20,800 Florida residents have joined that fight by enrolling in the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3).
The American Cancer Society began a fullscale national enrollment for CPS-3 in 2010 and reached its goal for participants in December. The study would not have been possible without the commitment and passion of over a quarter million volunteers nationwide.
There were 11 enrollment communities in Florida and one in Puerto Rico. In South Florida, 2,500 residents signed up at enrollment events in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas.
“The American Cancer Society has a long history of saving lives through cancer research,” said John Seffrin, PhD, CEO of the American Cancer Society. “Cancer Prevention Study-3 will do so much to build on that legacy, helping us learn more about the causes of cancer so we can better prevent, detect, treat, and help cure it, for generations to come.
“And what’s more, this study gives ordinary Americans the chance to be part of this extraordinary study, as together we save more lives from cancer,” he added.
“The findings from CPS-3 studies are not just scientific — they also provide the evidence we rely on to help shape health advice for the public, develop nutrition and physical activity guidelines and cancer prevention programs, and contribute to our advocacy efforts to change policies,” said Alpa Patel, PhD, American Cancer Society strategic director of the CPS-3 study.
During the past 50 years, more than 2 million volunteer participants have joined American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Studies and have been making a difference simply by giving a little time to fill out surveys and share information about their behaviors, lifestyle, family and personal medical history. Today, a new generation has done the same by joining CPS-3.
Results from previous American Cancer Society long-term follow-up studies have demonstrated the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer, the significant impact of being overweight or obese on risk of cancer occurrence and death and the relationship between of a wide range of other factors such as physical inactivity, alcohol, nutrition, and medications like aspirin on cancer risk.
For more information, to get help, or to join the fight, call anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit online at www.cancer.org/fight.
