Enrollment events next week and next month seek to boost nationwide participation falling well below the goal.
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Enrollment efforts last year for the American Cancer Society's Cancer Prevention Study-3 included information shared at Relay for Life events. Here, participants walk around the field June 15 at Lafayette College's Metzgar Fields Athletic Complex in Forks Township.
The Lehigh Valley chapter of the American Cancer Society is falling short in its effort to recruit 300 people for a long-term study on whether they develop cancer and seek to find out why.
It’s a commitment, but it’s not as daunting as it sounds, said Karen Schiavone.
“We have been told that in the 20 to 30 years the amount of time that’s required for this is about eight hours,” said Schiavone, who is regional health initiatives representative for the American Cancer Society East Central Division based at 3893 Adler Place, Suite 170, in Hanover Township, Northampton County.
A recruitment event Wednesday at the Adler Place office off Route 512 just north of Bethlehem is geared toward what the society calls champions for the nationwide Cancer Prevention Study-3.
“What a champion does is recruit five to 10 people to be in the study,” Schiavone said. “What we’ve found is the best way to recruit people is by personally asking them.
“That champion has to really stay on the people until they actually do enroll.”
The study, called CPS-3 because it is the third of its kind since the 1950s, is due to begin in 2014. It is open to men and women between ages 30 and 65 who have no personal history of cancer.
Enrollment began in 2006, and nationwide the goal of 300,000 participants is more than 100,000 short, Schiavone said.
“Our goal for this year is 300,” she said, locally. “We have 37, so we’re not close.”
Enrollment events are scheduled May 11 at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Wind Gap, May 15 at Rothrock Motors in South Whitehall Township and May 18 at Capital Blue in the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley in Upper Saucon Township.
Last year’s Lehigh Valley enrollment effort included a stop at First Presbyterian Church on Center Street in Bethlehem. Linda Strayer, the volunteer lead parish nurse there, said close to 100 people enrolled but that she hoped for more.
“We advertised on our website and in our weekly letter to the congregation,” Strayer said. “But it’s still difficult to get people to care, and I’m really surprised because there isn’t a person in the Valley who hasn’t been touched by someone who has cancer.
“You can’t live in this society without having someone who hasn’t been touched by cancer.”
The American Cancer Society is particularly looking for men, because the study needs to track prostate and other male cancers, Schiavone said. Last year at First Presbyterian, Strayer said, “Every time a husband would come in we would recruit him.”
Participants at enrollment sign a consent form, complete an initial survey, provide a waist circumference and give a small blood sample, taken by a phlebotomist.
“Every two to three years you receive a follow-up survey,” Schiavone said, “and this is to update your information.”
Using herself as an example, she said that should she report having developed cancer, the cancer society would seek to determine why.
“They’re going to look at women around the same age as me and they’re going to compare how come Karen got cancer and these other people didn’t,” Schiavone said.
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CANCER STUDY ENROLLMENT
The YWCA Adult Day Services Center at 3893 Adler Place, Suite 180, next to the American Cancer Society Lehigh Valley Unit office in Hanover Township, Northampton County, is hosting an introduction to the Cancer Prevention Study-3 at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Organizers hope to find what it calls champions to see people they know through to enrollment.
Enrollment events are as follows. Visit lehighvalleycps3.org or call 888-604-5888 to make an appointment.
- 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. May 11 at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 340 N. Lehigh Ave., Wind Gap.
- 4 to 7:30 p.m. May 15 at Rothrock Motors, 1648 Plaza Lane, Whitehall Township.
- 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. May 18 at Capital Blue, Suites 404/409, Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley, 2848 Center Valley Parkway, Upper Saucon Township.