MENUSt. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor and University of Michigan Partner in Nationwide Cancer Prevention Study
Contacts:
Nicole Fawcett
Amanda Bosherz, American Cancer Society, 248-663-3492 or 586-419-2699; email: [email protected]
Laura Blodgett, St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, 734-712-4536; email: [email protected]
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - This fall, Ann Arbor-area residents have one last opportunity to join the movement to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays by participating in Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3), a historic study that has the potential to change the face of cancer for future generations. St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center will partner with the American Cancer Society to enroll at least 500 Ann Arbor area residents in the study.
By enrolling in the study, participants will help researchers better understand the genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors that cause or prevent cancer, which ultimately will save lives. To enroll, residents must be between the ages of 30 and 65 and never have been diagnosed with cancer. They also must be willing to make a long-term commitment involving brief follow-up surveys at home for the next 20 to 30 years. The study will enroll a diverse population of 300,000 people across the United States.
Enrollment will take place at four Ann Arbor-area sites between Oct. 30 and Nov. 13, 2013. This will be the final opportunity for area residents to join the study. Residents can make an appointment to enroll by visiting cancer.org/semicps3.
After making an appointment, enrollees will be asked to fill out a comprehensive online survey. During enrollment individuals provide a waist measurement, give a small blood sample and complete a brief survey. Over the course of the study, participants will be asked to fill out follow-up surveys every few years.
"Our community has a unique opportunity to help finish the fight against cancer. Participating in this study could be the most important and meaningful action to fight cancer if even just one person could be spared a cancer diagnosis," says James Montie, M.D., Valassis Professor of Urologic Oncology at the University of Michigan.
"Most of us know someone who has heard those three words 'You have cancer.' I personally enrolled in this study in honor of my friend who passed away in 1999. I am honored to have St. Joe's as one of the host locations for this year's enrollment," says Rob Casalou, president and CEO of St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor and Livingston.
Previous cancer prevention studies by the American Cancer Society have been instrumental in helping to identify some of the major factors that can affect cancer risk. These studies have uncovered the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer; the significant impact of being overweight or obese on risk of cancer occurrence and death; the link between aspirin use and reduced risk of colon cancer; and the link between postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy and various gynecologic cancers such as breast and ovarian cancer.
For more information about CPS-3, visit www.cancer.org/cps3 or call 888-604-5888.
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 cancer.org.
About Saint Joseph Mercy Health System
Saint Joseph Mercy Health System (SJMHS) is a health care organization serving six counties in southeast Michigan including Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw and Wayne. It includes 537-bed St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, 443-bed St. Joseph Mercy Oakland in Pontiac, 304-bed St. Mary Mercy Livonia, 136-bed St. Joseph Mercy Livingston in Howell, 119-bed St. Joseph Mercy Port Huron and 113-bed St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea Hospital. Combined, the six hospitals are licensed for 1,726 beds, have six outpatient health centers, six urgent care facilities, more than 25 specialty centers; employ more than 14,000 individuals and have a medical staff of nearly 3,200 physicians.
SJMHS is a member of CHE Trinity Health, one of the largest Catholic health care delivery systems in the nation. It serves people and communities in 21 states from coast to coast with 84 hospitals, 95 continuing care facilities and home health and hospice programs that provide nearly 2.4 million visits annually. The organization was formed by the May 2013 consolidation of Trinity Health and Catholic Healthcare East.
For more information on health services offered at Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, please visit www.stjoeshealth.org.
About the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center
The University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center has more than 400 faculty members delivering the highest quality, compassionate care to today's patients and researching ways to improve the treatments of tomorrow. It's our mission: the conquest of cancer through innovation and collaboration. The U-M Rogel Cancer Center is among the top-ranked national cancer programs for both research and patient care. It is one of 41 centers designated "comprehensive" by the National Cancer Institute and one of 23 institutions that make up the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, which sets national guidelines for consistent, high-quality and cost-effective cancer care. Learn more in our About Us section or call the U-M Cancer AnswerLine at 800-865-1125.