[American Cancer Society] Residents of Austin have an unprecedented opportunity to participate in a historic study that has the potential to change the face of cancer for future generations. Men and women between the ages of 30 and 65 who have never been diagnosed with cancer are needed to participate in the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3). CPS-3 will enroll a diverse population of 300,000 people across the United States and Puerto Rico. The opportunity for local residents to enroll in CPS-3 is being made possible in partnership with St. David’s Episcopal Church and the Texas Medical Association during February 29, March 1, 4 and 6. Eligibility and enrollment details for Austin can be found at cps3AustinDT.com. To access other Texas enrollment sites visit http://cps3hp.org.

CPS-3 will help researchers better understand the lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer. “Currently, there are no other studies of this magnitude in the US that enable researchers to look at various racial and ethnic populations and cancer risk,” stated Mark Clanton, MD, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, High Plains Division. “We commend our partners, St. David’s Episcopal Church and the Texas Medical Association, for taking the lead to offer their sites for participants to enroll in this critically important study.”

“TMA has supported the cancer community for more than 20 years,” said Texas Medical Association President C. Bruce Malone, MD, an orthopedic surgeon from Austin. “We are asking our member physicians to talk with their patients about this landmark study. It will allow us to explore new and emerging hypotheses related to cancer. With physicians’ help, we can work toward eliminating cancer as a major health concern for future Texans.”

Enrollment in the study involves two steps. After scheduling an appointment, individuals will be asked to complete a comprehensive survey online that asks for information on lifestyle, behavioral, and other factors related to their health. Step two involves an in-person enrollment process which takes approximately 20-30 minutes and includes measuring waist circumference and collecting a small blood sample from participants. Upon completion of this process, the Society will send periodic follow-up surveys every few years to individuals to update their information and annual newsletters with study updates and results.

From left to right: Dr. Mark Clanton, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, High Plains Division; Dr. Bruce Malone, Texas Medical Association president; the Rev. David Boyd, St. David’s Episcopal Church, Austin.

“We couldn’t let this opportunity pass us by,” said the Rev. David Boyd, Rector of St. David’s Episcopal Church in downtown Austin. “All of our lives have been affected by this disease. Too many of us have lost a beloved friend or family member. As a church community, this is something proactive we can do. We can help make a difference in our lives, the lives of our children, and all the lives of those who come after us.”

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 this new study. The voluntary, long-term commitment by CPS-3 participants is what will produce benefits for decades to come.

Go to cps3AustinDT.com to enroll or call 888-604-5888. To find additional enrollment sites in Texas visit cps3HP.org. 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.

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 about $3.4 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.

About the Texas Medical Association

The Texas Medical Association, the nation’s largest and one the oldest and most powerful medical societies, speaks out for nearly 45,000 physician and medical student members across the state in our commitment to improve the health of all Texans. In partnership with our 120 county medical societies, we have been helping Texas physicians set high professional and ethical standards since 1853. www.texmed.org

About St. David’s Episcopal Church

St. David’s Episcopal Church was established in 1848. The church occupies an entire city block in downtown Austin housing two worship spaces, a large parish hall and professional kitchen, a resource center for our homeless neighbors, a day school for children ages 15 months through Kindergarten, and a number of rooms for meetings, conferences, presentations, and concerts.

For more than 150 years, St. David’s has been a leader in the community by helping establish St. David’s Hospital, St. Stephen’s and St. Andrew’s Episcopal schools and the Seminary of the Southwest. St. David’s continues to reach out and support the Austin community by serving homeless neighbors in downtown, providing grants to local non-profits, and organizing volunteers to support local projects like Habitat for Humanity and Wildfire Relief efforts. St. David’s has approximately 2,400 members and offers seven services each Sunday and prayer services during the week. www.stdave.org