WTHR |American Cancer Society launches huge study

American Cancer Society launches huge study

Cat Andersen/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis - When Myles Brand and Melvin Simon died of pancreatic cancer, many wanted to know what caused it. Right now, medical experts say it's virtually impossible to tell and it's often a death sentence. Yet, ask people about lung cancer and most will tell you that one of the leading causes is smoking. It's common knowledge.

What's the difference between the two? A nationwide study conducted in the 1950's. Before that, doctors were doing ads for cigarettes!

"It took 177,000 people and 88,000 volunteers to prove that there was a link between smoking and lung cancer," said Barbara Miller, American Cancer Society Community Program Manager.

The American Cancer Society wants to make more cancer causes just as obvious. They're launching another comprehensive study of a half a million people.

"This is how cancer is cured. It's looking for patterns. It's looking for genetics. It's looking for environmental factors. This is game time. This is putting the monies that you contribute into action," said Linda Wilgus, who is not only the Committee Chair for Cancer Prevention Study-3 at the Zionsville Relay for life, she is also a participant.

The study needs people between the ages of 30 and 65 who've never had cancer before.

Miller says, "this does require a long term commitment because we're going to keep in touch with these people for the next 20 or so years."

The initial time commitment is about 60 to 90 minutes. You get a small blood sample taken at the American Cancer Society office in Indianapolis (5635 W. 96th Street) and fill out a survey. The survey is what takes up the bulk of your time because it's very extensive. After that, you're mailed another survey every 3 to 4 years and you just fill it out and mail it back.

After you answer the basics, the survey gets detailed. Some of the questions... "Have you ever worked in a job that involved long distance driving?" and "How often did you go on vacation to a warm sunny climate?"

From stress to diet to location to medicines, the study is designed to track what those who develop cancer have in common.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to truly make a difference in the fight against cancer. We can learn things that are unimaginable at this point in time," Miller says.

They say if just one life is saved, the study will be considered a huge success, and you can be a part of it.

Enrollment dates at the W. 96th Street office are as follows:

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Thursday, November 12, 2009 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday, November 14, 2009 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Thursday, November 19, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, November 21, 2009 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.