Cancer Prevention Study

This post is very different from the crafts and activities that I normally post about. But it's a topic that's very important to me so I'd like to share.

In 2007 my mom passed away from Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. It's an absolutely awful thing to watch someone go through 15 months of cancer treatments and then see them die in front of you. I lost my mom and my best friend. And now I'm afraid I'll go through the same thing. I'm afraid of cancer. I see a few bruises on my legs and wonder if I'm sick. My kids get the sniffles and I start to worry about them. I don't want to get cancer. I don't want my kids to get cancer. I don't want anyone else to get cancer. So I'm doing something about it.

On Tuesday I enrolled in the Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3). The study helps researchers better understand the genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors that can cause or prevent cancer, which ultimately saves lives.

Enrolling in the study and helping to change the future face of cancer is easy. You will read and sign a consent form, complete a survey, provide some physical measurements (such as waist size, weight, height, blood pressure and heart rate) and give a small blood sample. From there, you will receive periodic surveys asking for information about lifestyle, behaviors and other factors related to their health.

You can find the enrollment site closest to your area, and schedule your appointment by visiting www.cps3seattle.org. If you don't live in the Seattle area, go here to find a site in your state.

To be eligible for the study, you must:

• Be between the ages of 30 and 65
• Have no personal history of cancer
• Be willing to make a long term commitment to filling out periodic follow-up questionnaires

If you don't qualify for the Cancer Prevention Study there are so many other things you can do to help those fighting cancer and be an important part of finding a cure -- donate blood, register to be a bone marrow donor, get involved in a fundraising walk or run (Light the Night and Do the Puyallup Walk are both happening this month). It doesn't take much time or effort to be part of the cure. Thanks for reading!