Cancer study volunteers considered local heroes

ISSUE: Cancer research locally
OUR VIEW: Participants deserve praise 

Cancer touches each of us in some form or fashion, either through a friend, relative or neighbor or personally. At some point in our lives, we will deal with this disease directly or indirectly.

For every four Americans, one is diagnosed with cancer. While final figures have not been released, in 2011 573,855 Americans were expected to die of cancer. The projection for Kentucky in 2011 was that 9,750 people would lose their lives to the disease.

According to the American Cancer Society, one in every four deaths in the United States is because of cancer. We can expect to see 822,300 new cases in American men and 774,370 in women this year.

Finding a cure translates into a projected savings for the U.S. economy of $227 billion. Prescription medications and medical treatments required for cancer patients are increasing every day, costing many patients up to $5,000 per month.

It is projected that cancer soon will surpass heart disease as the No. 1 cause of death in the United States.

It’s vital that every effort be made to find a cure and to give researchers the tools needed to win the war against cancer.

As with almost every challenge our society has faced, the answer comes from people. Most medical advances in society come from research that involves people who care. We are very fortunate to live in a community that is sensitive to the needs of others. We prove it time and time again with our support of nonprofit organizations in Hardin County.

Once again the community has risen to the challenge when 180 area residents enrolled this month in The Cancer Prevention Study 3. Residents signed up for a 30-year study that explores causes of cancer. The spirit and enthusiasm demonstrated by local residents is impressive.

If you have a friend, relative or neighbor who signed up for the study, be proud to have a hero in your circle of friends. These people literally have sacrificed their time and lifeblood for this study. They come from all walks of life, but one consistent factor is that all of these people are passionate about making a contribution to help eliminate the disease.

The nationwide recruitment goal for the study is 350,000 and we should be very proud that 180 of them are from our community.

The answer is out there, it does exist, we just have to find it and that may very well come from the people of Hardin County.

Thanks to each and every participant in this study. You truly are heroes.

This editorial represents a consensus of The News-Enteprise's editorial board.