The Sumner and Bonney Lake region has been selected for participation in the third iteration of the American Cancer Society’s ambitious landmark study. Cancer Prevention Study CPS-3 will recruit participants for a population sample at the cities’ Relay For Life in July.

Since the first study in the 1950s, the Society’s prevention studies track healthy adults over an extended period of time; in this case, 20 to 30 years. The sample size is large enough that it is likely some of the subjects—all of whom must be cancer-free at the beginning of the study—will develop some form of cancer. As subjects’ bills of health change—or don’t—researchers will track behavior, lifestyle and genetic factors to suss out correlative links.

“The first study linked cigarette smoking to lung cancer, and the studies have linked obesity to cancer and Aspirin to colon cancer,” said Darina Keller, a Medical Records Director for Linden Grove Health Care in Puyallup.

The Society selected the Bonney Lake and Sumner Relay For Life event—and others across the nation—for its outstanding performance in inviting community participation, indicating a likelihood of high interest in CPS-3 enrollment, Keller said.

The overall objective of CPS-3 is to enroll 300,000 or more individuals—aged 30 to 65 years—who have never been diagnosed with cancer.

Anyone interested in enrollment will be subjected to a two-phase process. At the Relay For Life event, eligible subjects will be asked to complete a survey, provide a waist measurement and small blood sample. At home, the same subjects will be asked to complete a fuller baseline survey of lifestyle habits, behaviors, and medical and family histories. Enrollees continue participation by completing surveys every two years.

The Sumner/Bonney Lake Relay For Life will take place at Bonney Lake High School, July 27 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.