Nationwide cancer research project to include North Country participants

Jeff Meyers

May 26, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- PLATTSBURGH -- North Country residents will have an opportunity to participate in a nationwide study that may lead to major breakthroughs in the fight against cancer.

The American Cancer Society project will follow an expected 500,000 Americans to help better understand several factors that cause cancer and to ultimately eliminate cancer as a major health problem for this and future generations.

Calling it Cancer Prevention Study-3, researchers hope to enroll a diverse group of adults between the ages of 30 and 65 who have never had cancer (though those who have had skin cancer are eligible) who will be surveyed every two years for data collection.

"For Plattsburgh to be picked for this survey is quite an honor," said Joan Brown, local representative for the American Cancer Society, noting that only 12 districts across the nation will be participating.

"One of the questions people ask me is why am I doing this," she added. "I'm doing it because I lost my mom and dad to cancer. We're all touched by cancer; I want to make a difference."

The research can make a significant difference in the effort to find a cure. The first major survey conducted by the American Cancer Society in the 1950s scientifically connected lung cancer and smoking and eventually led to the cancer warnings now placed on cigarette packages.

In order to participate, people have to sign up during the upcoming Relay for Life from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. June 19. Applicants will go through a half-hour process that includes a short survey and a small blood draw to be frozen for future reference and not for any medical testing.

Longer surveys will then be sent to participants' homes shortly after signing up. Then, participants will receive update surveys once every two years as the study continues.

"The part I really want to stress is that this is a long-term commitment," Brown said. "The survey will only be as good as what people put into it."

More information on the program is available on the Relay for Life Web site. Although preregistration is not required, anyone interested in signing up June 19 can e-mail joan.brown@cancer.org so officials can estimate how many participants may be involved locally.

E-mail Jeff Meyers at: jmeyers@pressrepublican.com

Newstex ID: 35251514