Self Regional Healthcare Joins American Cancer Society to Present CPS-3
(Greenwood, S.C., Aug. 5, 2013) – Self Regional Healthcare is joining the American Cancer Society of Greenwood to present a ground-breaking study called CPS-3, or Cancer Prevention Study-3, to the residents of the Lakelands.
CPS-3 is a long-term, national cancer research study managed by the American Cancer Society. Its purpose is to better understand the lifestyle, behavioral, environmental and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer with hopes of finding answers that will ultimately help eliminate cancer for current and future generations.
Two dates are being offered for those who want to join the fight against cancer prevention:
Tuesday, August 27 from 3 p.m.-7 p.m. at Self Regional Cancer Center
Thursday, August 29 from 3 p.m.-7 p.m. at Self Medical Center Laurens
To sign up to participate in CPS-3, you should be between the ages of 30-65 with no personal history of cancer, and a willingness to participate. The registration events being held in August will take about 30 minutes, including a small blood draw, waist measurement and completing a personal health history. Over the course of the next 20 years, the ACS will mail =surveys out to participants, which they can complete and return.
To schedule an appointment to participate in the study, please call 888-604-5888 or visit www.cps3greenwoodsc.org by August 13.
In Their Own Words: Why These Individuals Have Chosen To Participate in CPS-3
About 50 people in the Lakelands have already called the American Cancer Society and enrolled in the CPS-3 study (about 150 additional participants are needed).
Several of the local men and women who have enrolled shared their reasons for participating, and encourage others to consider signing up as well. Some participants have family members who have been diagnosed with cancer while others have not been as directly impacted by the disease. Although each participant has different perspectives for enrolling, they all have a common goal: they want to assist in helping find a cure for the disease that responsible for taking away so many friends and loved ones.
Lee Matthews
Local restaurant owner Lee Matthews of Montague’s considers his enrollment in the CPS-3 research study a “no brainer.” Matthews said members of his immediate family have waged battles with lung cancer, prostate and bladder cancer, bone cancer, cervical cancer and breast cancer. As a first hand survivor of the devastating effects of the disease, he said did not hesitate at the opportunity to participate in the study.
Jennifer Pierce-Turman
Unlike Matthews, Jennifer Pierce-Turman, a local human resources executive from Covidien, has not been directly affected by cancer within her family, but believes her participation will be beneficial to the study. She said, “I believe that you don’t have to be impacted directly by cancer to choose to participate. All of us have or will be impacted personally or through friends and family. How do I know whether or not I may have cancer in the future? To eliminate that possibility, I want to eliminate the spread of the disease now. The research from the study could potentially help me later on.”
Ray Lewis
Ray Lewis said he sees the effects of cancer on a daily basis in his role as Community Relations Liaison of Hospice Care of South Carolina. “Cancer has an effect not just on our patients, but also on their families, friends and the community. Routine cancer screenings and early detection can literally save your life. That means more birthdays, more laughs, more football games, more great life experiences! It means attending events in my daughter’s life that are going to be cherished: her first day at school, her first dance, her graduation, her wedding! These are the things in life that no one would give up yet we risk not being able to attend them because we don’t take the initiative to protect ourselves against a disease like cancer.”
Marsha Patterson
Marsha Patterson of Abbeville said she has been involved with Relay for Life for the past ten years and has lost family members to cancer. “I’m excited to participate in CPS-3 because it is something I can do to help fight cancer.”
About the Cancer Prevention Study
One hundred years ago, the American Cancer Society began the fight of a lifetime. Today, they are continuing the fight to find the cure for cancer with a once in a lifetime historic research study called Cancer Prevention Study-3 also known as (CPS-3).
Past long-term American Cancer Society follow-up studies have played a major role in cancer prevention at the American Cancer Society, as well as in other national and international efforts. More than 300 scientific articles by American Cancer Society epidemiologists have been published from these studies and findings have significantly contributed to tobacco-related research, and to the understanding of obesity, diet, physical activity, hormone use, air pollution, and various other exposures in relation to cancer and other diseases.
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
- The impact of hormones, physical activity, diet, various medications and vitamins, and various other factors in relation to cancer risk
- The impact of air pollution on cardiopulmonary conditions motivating the Environmental Protection Agency to propose more stringent limits on particulate air pollution
- The link between aspirin use and reduced risk of colon cancer
- The link between postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy and various gynecologic cancers (such as breast and ovarian cancer)
- The link between diabetes and cancers of the pancreas and colon
- The link between physical activity and lower risk of various cancers (including breast, colon, and aggressive prostate cancer)
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