Sen Valesky: Join Cancer Fight With Relay For Life

There are very few among us that have not felt the terrible effects of cancer. That is why I and others make sure each year we participate in the local Relay for Life event, which is being held again this year at Oneida High School on June 9th and 10th.

Now there is something more we can do to help fight back against this terrible disease. The American Cancer Society’s Department of Epidemiology & Surveillance Research is looking to recruit 500,000 adults across the US and Puerto Rico for a Cancer Prevention Study 3 (CPS-3). The study will help create a greater understanding of the genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that cause or prevent cancer, which will ultimately help to eliminate cancer as a major health concern.

Enrollment in this study is occurring at the Relay for Life event on Saturday, from 3pm-7pm.

To participate in the study you must be 30-65 years old, never been diagnosed with cancer (which does not include basal or squamous cell skin cancer) and you must be willing to make a long-term commitment to the study, which simply involves completing a follow-up questionnaire every few years.

The enrollment process will take approximately 20-30 minutes. During this time you will be asked to read and sign an informed consent form, complete a brief written survey, provide a waist measurement, and give a small sample of blood that will be drawn by a trained and certified phlebotomist.

Every few years participants will have to complete a survey in order to update personal

information. Confidentiality is of the utmost importance to the American Cancer Society and every effort will be made to protect the privacy of study participants. The American Caner Society has multiple procedures in place to safeguard personal information that is collected.

For more information regarding this study you can visit the American Cancer Society website at www.cancer.org/cps3 e-mail them at cps3@cancer.org or call toll-free at 1-888-604-5888. I look forward to seeing you on June 9th!