Cancer research study open to area residents

Residents of Fort Bend and Harris counties have been given an opportunity to participate in a potentially groundbreaking cancer research study by the American Cancer Society.

Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3) will enroll 300,000 men and women between the ages of 30 and 65 from across the country. Participants need to have never been diagnosed with cancer to enroll.

Initial participation is done in two steps — a complete, comprehensive online survey on lifestyle, behavior and other health factors, and an in-person assessment that includes a blood sample. Once those have been completed, periodic follow-up surveys will be sent out to participants every few years.

Appointments are available between 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Omni Hotel West, 13210 Katy Freeway. To schedule an appointment, call 888-604-5888, or visit www.seeuthere.com/cps3enroll/apahoustontx.

The study aims to help researchers understand the lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer.

"Many individuals diagnosed with cancer struggle to answer the question 'What caused my cancer?' In many cases, we dont know the answer," said Dr. Alpa V. Patel, principal investigator of CPS-3, in a press release. "CPS-3 will help us better understand what factors cause cancer, and once we know that, we can be better equipped to prevent cancer. ... 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."

For more information on the study, visit www.cancer.org/cps3.