What if you could prevent a family from hearing the words, “You have cancer”? What if you could help save lives from cancer and give people more precious time with family and friends? Well, you can! Holly Springs residents have an unprecedented opportunity to participate in an 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 Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3). CPS-3 will enroll a diverse population of up to 300,000 people across the United States and Puerto Rico.

The opportunity for Wake County and nearby residents to enroll in the study will take place at 10 locations across county from March 12-22, 2013. Individuals can visit cps3wakecounty.org or call 1-888-604-5888 to enroll for any of the following locations.

•Holly Springs Fire Station, Holly Springs

Thursday, March 21, 7:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

•St. Michaels the Archangel, Cary

Thursday, March 14, 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. and Friday, March 15, 7:30 a.m.–11 a.m.

•North Carolina State Employees Personnel Development Center, Raleigh

Tuesday, March 12, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and Wednesday, March 13, 2–5:30 p.m.

•St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church, Raleigh

Wednesday, March 13, 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. and Thursday, March 14, 2–5:30 p.m.

•Wendell Baptist Church, Wendell

Thursday, March 14, 2–5:30 p.m.

•Hospice of Wake County, Raleigh

Friday, March 15, 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

•Garner United Methodist Church, Garner

Tuesday, March 19, 7–10:30 a.m. and Wednesday, March 20, 3–6:30 p.m.

•American Institute of Healthcare and Fitness Healthtrax Fitness Center, Raleigh

Tuesday, March 19, 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

•Factory in Wake Forest, Wake Forest

Tuesday, March 19, 3–7:30 p.m.

•Rex Hospital, Raleigh

Friday, March 22, 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

CPS-3 will help researchers better understand the lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer. As part of the in-person enrollment, individuals complete a brief written survey, provide a waist measurement, and give a small blood sample. The enrollment process is complete when individuals complete the more comprehensive baseline survey. Over the course of the study – which is anticipated to last 20 to 30 years – participants will be asked to fill out follow-up surveys every few years that will be sent to their home.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Americans and especially for residents of the Research Triangle Area to participate in lifesaving cancer research,” said Natalie Edwards, mission delivery director for the American Cancer Society. “We hope to enroll at least 1,000 individuals from Wake County and we need the community’s support to meet that goal. We encourage all who have had a loved one affected by cancer to participate.”

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.

About the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end cancer for good. As a global grassroots force of three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping you stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early, helping you get well by being there for you during and after a diagnosis, by finding cures through groundbreaking discovery and fighting back through public policy. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.8 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, an estimated 13.7 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 anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org. For cancer news in your community, visit sacancernews.org.