KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Dozens of Kansas Citians who don’t have cancer volunteered on Tuesday so that in the future, they and others won’t have it either.
Somewhere in the questionnaire that Connie Mahone filled out could be the secret to not getting cancer.
“I’ve got longevity on my maternal side and so folks live into their 90s and not been diagnosed with cancer,” Mahone explained.
She and others answered questions about their sleep, exercise, eating and other habits. Their waists were measured and blood was drawn.
They were volunteering for the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention Study 3. The enrollment Tuesday at Research Medical Center was one of many held in the metro over the last year. But the study still needs volunteers between the ages of 30 and 65 who’ve never had cancer.
“If you truly want to help save lives and give us answers what might be preventing cancer, what can prevent cancer, then this is an easy way to do it,” said Renee Kelley of the American Cancer Society.
The volunteers fill out questionnaires every few years over the next two to three decades, so researchers can see the differences between people who develop cancer and those who don’t.
Kelley gave one example of findings from previous prevention studies.
“We basically learned that people that were taking baby aspirin for cardiovascular disease were also seeing a benefit from colon cancer,” she said.
Lindsey Reed was one of many health care workers who enrolled in the study. The nurse cares for cancer patients.
“It’s very sad to see patients go through what they go through,” she explained.
Her hope in being part of the study is that one day there will be no more cancer patients.
A final enrollment of volunteers in the Kansas City metro will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at Menorah Medical Center, 5721 W. 119th Street in Overland Park, Kansas (main hospital entrance, Room 1).
Participants still have time to register online. Just click here.
If you don’t want to sign up online, you will still have the ability to walk-in that day to volunteer.
