From December 12 to 15 valley residents are asked to participate in a massive cancer study at Greentree Mall. The study is sponsored by Alberta Health Services.
The Tomorrow Project is a research study, the largest ever undertaken in Alberta, attempting to learn more about what causes cancer. The data from the study could lead to new strategies for prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment.
“The problem with cancer is that it is a complicated set of diseases,” said Dr. Paula Robsen of the Tomorrow Project. “There are a lot of risk factors and we know different cancers have different risk factors.”
The project is travelling across Alberta, and seeks to sign up 50,000 people. Roughly 18,000 have joined so far.
“We need 50,000 people to get enough statistical power to figure out the causes of different kinds of cancer,” continued Dr. Robsen. “35 to 69 years old is the range when cancer kills more people than heart disease, accidents, and stroke combined.”
The project needs a strong turnout of men. At the moment 60 per cent of the participants are women.
“We need more men to help us out,” said Dr. Robsen. “We know that 1 in 2 men in Alberta will develop cancer in their lifetime, compared to 1 in 3 women.”
Volunteers are asked to complete a survey that asks questions designed to get an accurate picture of their lifestyle. Measurements, such as weight, height, and blood pressure are then taken. Lastly, participants are asked to provide a sample of blood and urine.
Volunteers would then be tracked for 50 years through periodic questionnaires.
The fluid samples are frozen until the volunteer develops a disease. The samples are then thawed and compared with other samples to determine if there are differences in people who develop a disease to those who do not.
“I urge the residents of Drumheller to sign up for the Tomorrow Project and be instrumental in bringing about a positive change in the health of future of Albertans,” said Mayor Terry Yemen, who has joined the study. “This is a great opportunity, as a community, to participate in something we can all be proud of.”
“People everywhere have had their lives affected by cancer in one way or another,” said Drumheller-Stettler MLA Jack Hayden, who joined as well. “I fully support a study devoted to finding the causes of this disease and hopefully being able to prevent it one day.”
Residents who miss the dates that the Tomorrow Project will be in Drumheller can still participate at home by registering online. A questionnaire and saliva kit would be sent through the mail.
“The information is still highly valuable,” said Dr. Robsen. “We want to make the project as accessible as possible.”
If interested in joining the study and the fight against cancer the Tomorrow Project is asking residents to sign up, toll free, at 1-877-919-9292 or visit www.in4tomorrow.ca for more information. Questionnaires can be obtained at the Public Library or the Drumheller Health Centre.
