The American Cancer Society in Augusta is hoping a small group of people will help it enroll hundreds in the area for a long-term study of cancer prevention.
The cancer society is seeking “champions” who will help enroll 10 people or more apiece in April on the way to getting 500 residents from the area enrolled in a 20- to 30-year community study called Cancer Prevention Study-3.
“We would love to far exceed that, if possible,” said Danielle Truan, the mission delivery manager for the cancer society’s Augusta office.
The group will hold a kick-off beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday in Chafee Hall at the Salvation Army of Augusta Kroc Center, 1833 Broad St.
Nationwide, the study is seeking about 300,000 people between ages 30 and 65 who have never had a diagnosis of cancer. Participants would register online to get an appointment to provide a small amount of blood, waist circumference and other baseline measures. Participants would answer surveys every few years to help researchers narrow down who is developing cancer and perhaps why, Truan said.
“The goal of the study is prevention of cancer so they are going to be asking specific questions in these surveys and be looking for specific factors: lifestyle, genetic, environmental, medical history, these types of things,” she said. Some, unfortunately will develop cancer, but researchers “are hoping that their findings will make sense in terms of the things that are pointing to a cancer diagnosis in a specific person’s life.”