As a researcher Mia K. Markey, PhD has a professional interest in fighting cancer and knows the importance of every person who enrolls in a research project. She’s a researcher at The University of Texas at Austin and works to improve diagnostic and screening imaging so that cancers can be found at their earliest stages.
Dr. Markey enrolled in the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention Study–3 (CPS-3) in 2012. “CPS-3 is important because it looks at people over a long period of time and the everyday factors that can increase or decrease their chance of getting cancer.”
After completing her baseline survey at home online, which captured details on her medical and family history, Dr. Markey enrolled at the Texas Medical Association in Austin. After signing the informed consent she completed a brief survey, had her waist measured, and finally, rolled up her sleeve to provide a blood sample. As an active study participant she will be asked to update the American Cancer Society every 2-3 years on her health, lifestyle and environmental exposures for 20 or more years.
“We are all touched by cancer in some way and I am no different. I joined the study because as a researcher I recognize the importance of studies like this. You don’t have to be a scientist or a doctor to make a positive impact in the area of cancer. I encourage others to do what they can to help out and joining this study will make a difference,” says Markey.
The goal of the American Cancer Society is to recruit 300,000 adults for the Cancer Prevention Study-3. Adults ages 30-65 who are willing to make a long term commitment to the study and have never been diagnosed with cancer (excluding basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma) are eligible to participate. Currently, there are no other studies of this magnitude in the US. CPS-3 will examine genetic, lifestyle and environmental exposures of participants over a 20 year period to determine factors that cause or prevent cancer.
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.