COOKEVILLE — Cancer. It is a disease that most have dealt with in one way or another
According to Lisa Bagci, director of the Cancer Center at Cookeville Regional Medical Center, approximately 850 people throughout the 14-county Upper Cumberland region are diagnosed as new cancer patients each year.
With those statistics, she says it makes sense to ask those that call the Upper Cumberland home to join a new study to help fight and end the disease.
On June 21, Putnam County will host a kick-off event for the American Cancer Society’s newest cancer study — a study referred to as Cancer Prevention Study 3 — that would allow people to participate from their home.
“I know that cancer research doesn’t happen in labs in California alone,” Bagci said. “I think it needs to take place in communities like ours. The Upper Cumberland is such a diverse group.
“Who better than us to participate to give our data and a little bit of blood for this research so that maybe the researchers can find the link between who does get cancer and who does not so that our kids and our grandkids possibly could see the results of that study so that we can find a cure. That’s what I do.”
The study is open to anyone in the United States and Puerto Rico who is willing to commit to the long-term study.
Participants should be between 30 and 65 years old, have never been diagnosed with cancer — not including basal and squamous cell skin cancer — and would complete periodic follow-up surveys from home for the next 20 to 30 years.
The enrollment process involves two steps: the first at a local enrollment event where potential participants will be asked to read and sign an informed consent form, complete a brief written survey, provide a waist circumference measurement and a small blood sample — similar to a doctor’s visit.
The blood sample will be taken by a certified, trained phlebotomist.
The second step is completed at home, where participants will complete a more detailed survey. The survey will ask information about lifestyle, behavioral and other factors related to the participant’s health.
Following enrollment, participants will receive mailed surveys at home every few years to update their information.
“It’s only going to be every few years so the time factor is very insignificant in the big scheme of things and taking 15 to 20 minutes to fill out a survey every few years is not too much to ask,” Bagci said.
Putnam County will host several CPS3 enrollment events later this summer:
* Tennessee Tech, August 1, from 7 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in the General Purpose Meeting Room of the Fitness Center
* TTU, August 2, from 11 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. in the General Purpose Meeting Room of the Fitness Center or at Baxter Elementary School from 7:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. and from 3 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.
* Cookeville Life Church, August 3, from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Children’s Church at 2223 N. Washington Ave.
Enrollment sessions are also scheduled for Warren and Cumberland Counties as well.
“I feel like it’s super important for us to play a role in that (study),” Bagci said. “Especially for my role here at the Cancer Center. I don’t want to have to do this anymore. If we can find a cure, then we can move on to something else. I would love to see that day.”
The ultimate goal is to enroll up to 500,000 adults from various racial/ethnic backgrounds from across the United States.
The local kick-off event for the study will be held at 11:30 a.m., June 21 at Cookeville Life Church located at 2223 N. Washington Ave.
For more detailed information, visit www.cps3uppercumberland.org.
“It’s really not a huge commitment,” Bagci said of the study. “A little bit of blood, an initial survey, and then the commitment to do follow-up surveys every few years — I think that’s something everyone can do.”
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