Cancer Research in Connecticut: American Cancer Society Calls for Public Participation in Landmark CPS-3 Study

The American Cancer Society, the largest non-government, not-for-profit funding source of cancer research in the United States is calling on public support for a cancer research study by recruiting Connecticut residents to pre-enroll and participate at enrollment sites this spring and summer in Hartford, Middlesex, Waterbury and select Relay For Life events in 2013. “In addition to the Society’s grant funded research, we have embarked on a landmark cancer research study in Connecticut cities and across the country,” said Patrice Bedrosian, State Director of Communications. Entitled Cancer Prevention Study-3, or “CPS3” the goal is to help researchers better understand the genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors that may cause or prevent cancer. The American Cancer Society is recruiting 300,000 adults across the country to complete a brief questionnaire, give a waist measurement and a small blood sample, as well as agreement to complete follow up surveys every few years. “Many individuals diagnosed with cancer struggle to answer the question, ‘What caused my cancer?’ In many cases, we don’t know the answer,” said Alpa V. Patel, Ph.D., principal investigator of CPS-3. “CPS-3 will help us better understand what factors cause cancer, and once we know that, we can be better equipped to prevent cancer.” Dr. Patel added, “Our previous cancer prevention studies have been instrumental in helping us identify some of the major factors that can affect cancer risk. 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.” Individuals between the ages of 30 and 65 who have never been diagnosed with cancer and are willing to make a long-term commitment to the study can pre-enroll by calling 1.888.604.5888 or online at cancer.org/cps3NE and participate at the following locations: Greater Hartford County Dates and Locations: • Tuesday, April 23, 2013 o Hartford Marriot Farmington, 15 Farm Springs Road, and Farmington7:00am -10:30am • Wednesday, April 24, 2013 o State Capitol, Old Judiciary Room, 210 Capitol Ave, and Hartford10:00am – 1:30pm o Hartford Hospital, 560 Hudson Street, Hartford, 2:00pm – 5:30pm • Thursday, April 25, 2013 o City of Hartford, City Hall Atrium, 550 Main Street, Hartford, 10:00am – 1:30pm o Farmington Valley Branch YMCA, 97 Salmon Brook Street, Granby 8:00am – 11:30am • Friday, April 26, 2013 o Hartford Hospital, 80 Seymour Street, Hartford, 9:00am – 12:30pm Middlesex County Dates and Locations: • Thursday, May 16, 2013 o Middlesex Hospital, 28 Crescent Street, Middletown, 11:00am – 2:30pm • Friday, May 17, 2013 o Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center, Atrium, 536 Saybrook Rd., Middletown, 9:00am – 12:30pm Waterbury Dates and Locations: • Tuesday, June 4, 2013 o Naugatuck YMCA, 284 Church Street, Naugatuck, 7:30am – 11:00am • Wednesday, June 5, 2013 o Harold Leever Cancer Center, 1075 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, 8:00am – 12:00pm • Thursday, June 6, 2013 o Saint Mary’s Hospital, Corner of Union and South Elm Streets, Waterbury, 3:00pm – 6:30pm • Friday, June 7, 2013 o Waterbury Hospital, 64 Robbins Street, Waterbury, 11:00am – 2:30pm • Saturday, June 8, 2013 o Waterbury YMCA, 136 West Main Street, Waterbury, 8:00am -11:00am Stamford/Norwalk Dates and Locations: • Thursday, June 13, 2013 o Norwalk Health Department, 137 East Ave., Norwalk, 2:00pm – 5:30pm • Tuesday, June 18, 2013 o Stamford Government Center, 888 Washington Blvd., Stamford, 12:00pm – 3:30pm o New Canaan YMCA, 564 South Ave., New Canaan, 8:00am – 11:30am • Wednesday, June 19, 2013 o American Cancer Society Regional Center, 38 Richards Ave, Norwalk 3:00pm – 6:30pm • Thursday, June 20, 2013 o Stamford Hospital, 30 Shelburne Rd., Stamford, 4:00pm – 7:30pm • Friday, June 21, 2013 o Tully Health Center, 37 Strawberry Hill Court, 2:00pm – 5:30pm In addition, enrollment for CPS3 events will be available onsite at American Cancer Society Relay For Life events in Connecticut this Spring including: • Relay For Life of North Central CT, Suffield Middle School, Saturday, June 8, 2013 12:00pm – 4:00pm • Relay For Life of Waterbury, Crosby High School, Saturday, June 1, 2013 12:00pm – 4:00pm • Relay For Life of Ridgefield, Ridgefield High School, Friday, June 14, 2013 6:00pm – 10:00pm • Relay For Life of New London County Seashore, Connecticut College, Saturday, June 8, 2013 4:00pm – 8:00pm Relay For Life of Southington, Southington High School, Friday, May 31, 2013 5:00pm – 9:00pm • Relay For Life of Torrington, Torrington High School, Saturday, June 22, 2013 3:00pm – 7:00pm • Relay For Life of Weston/Westport, Weston High School, Saturday, May 18, 2013 5:00pm – 9:00pm • Relay For Life of Milford, Jonathan Law High School, Milford, Saturday, September 7, 2013 4:00pm – 8:00pm Locations are being added and more information is available at cancer.org/cps3. About CPS-3 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 that collectively have involved millions of volunteer participants. 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 increased death rates from cancer and other causes, and showed the considerable impact of air pollution on heart and lung conditions. The current study, CPS-II, began in 1982 and is still ongoing. But changes in lifestyle and in the understanding of cancer in the more than two decades since its launch make it important to begin a new study. Learn more at cancer.org/cps3. About the American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.8 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.