Press Releases
Atlanta, GA – December 9, 2013 – One hundred years ago, the American Cancer Society began the fight of a lifetime – the fight against cancer. Now, over 300,000 people from across the country have joined that fight by enrolling in the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3). The American Cancer Society began a full scale national enrollment for CPS-3 in 2010 and reached its goal for participants in December. The study would not have been possible without the commitment and passion of over a quarter million volunteers nationwide.
“The American Cancer Society has a long history of saving lives through cancer research. Cancer Prevention Study-3 will do so much to build on that legacy, helping us learn more about the causes of cancer so we can better prevent, detect, treat, and help cure it, for generations to come. And what’s more, this study gives ordinary Americans the chance to be part of this extraordinary study, as together we save more lives from cancer,” said John Seffrin, PhD., CEO of the American Cancer Society.
“The findings from CPS-3 studies are not just scientific- they also provide the evidence we rely on to help shape health advice for the public, develop nutrition and physical activity guidelines and cancer prevention programs, and contribute to our advocacy efforts to change policies,” said Alpa Patel, Ph.D., American Cancer Society strategic director of the CPS-3 study.
During the past 50 years, more than 2 million volunteer participants have joined American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Studies and have been making a difference simply by giving a little time to fill out surveys and share information about their behaviors, lifestyle, family and personal medical history. Today, a new generation has done the same by joining CPS-3.
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 and the relationship between of a wide range of other factors such as physical inactivity, alcohol, nutrition, and medications like aspirin on cancer risk. More information on CPS-3 and previous study outcomes can be found here.
About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers saving lives and fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society's efforts have contributed to a 20 percent decline in cancer death rates in the U.S. since 1991, and a 50 percent drop in smoking rates. Thanks in part to our progress nearly 14 million Americans who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will celebrate more birthdays this year. As we mark our 100th birthday in 2013, we're determined to finish the fight against cancer. We're finding cures as the nation’s largest private, not-for-profit investor in cancer research, ensuring people facing cancer have the help they need and continuing the fight for access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings, clean air, and more. For more information, to get help, or to join the fight, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org/fight