Centegra and American Cancer Society Looks for Participants in Cancer Prevention Study

Centegra Health System and the American Cancer Society are partnering to recruit men and women between the ages of 30 and 65 who have never been diagnosed with cancer to participate in an American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3). Residents have an unprecedented opportunity to participate in this historic study that has the potential to change the face of cancer for future generations.

“I’m registered to participate in this important study myself,” said Michael S. Eesley, chief executive officer at Centegra Health System. “We’re proud that Centegra is the first health system in Illinois to be invited to partner with the American Cancer Society for this study that should help researchers better understand the lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer.”

Centegra officials hope to recruit more than 600 participants in the McHenry County study. To date, more than 300 have already registered.

“This is a perfect opportunity for those who really want to do something to help make a difference in the fight against cancer,” Eesley said.

To participate in the study, individuals must first go to www.seeuthere.com/cps3enroll/mchenryil to schedule an enrollment appointment. Limited appointment dates are available. They are: 

         7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 3 at Centegra Hospital-Woodstock
         7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 4 at Centegra Hospital-McHenry

 Participants will receive a confirmation email after scheduling the enrollment appointment. The email will instruct them to complete the first, most comprehensive survey. They will answer questions about medications, family history, lifestyle and other behaviors.

“We encourage participants to complete the survey at home prior to their enrollment appointment,” Eesley said. “All information is completely confidential to the study and will not be shared.” 

At the appointment, participants will be asked to read and sign an informed consent form; have their waist circumference measured; and give a small blood sample. The appointment should last about 20 to 30 minutes. Upon completion of this process, the American Cancer Society will send periodic follow-up surveys to update their information and annual newsletters with study updates and results. Periodic follow-up surveys of various lengths will be sent to participants every few years. 

“Many individuals diagnosed with cancer struggle with what caused it. In many cases, we don’t know,” said Alpa V. Patel, Ph.D., principal investigator of CPS-3. “The study will help us better understand what factors cause cancer, and once we know that, we can be better equipped to prevent cancer.”

“Our previous cancer prevention studies have been instrumental in helping us identify some of the major factors that can affect cancer risk,” Patel said.  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.”

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 and have collectively involved millions of volunteer participants. According to the American Cancer Society, the Hammond-Horn Study and previous cancer prevention studies (CPS-I and CPS-II) have played a major role in understanding cancer prevention and risk and have contributed significantly to the scientific basis and development of public health guidelines and recommendations. Those studies confirmed the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer, demonstrated the link between larger waist size and other causes for increased death rates from cancer, and showed the considerable impact of air pollution on heart and lung conditions.

The current study, CPS-II, began in 1982 and is ongoing. Changes in lifestyle and in the understanding of cancer in the more than two decades since it launched make it important to begin a new study. The voluntary, long-term commitment by participants is what will produce benefits for decades to come.

For more information or to learn how to become involved with CPS-3, visit cancer.org/cps3, email cps3@cancer.org, or call toll-free 1-888-604-5888.