Posted on: Wednesday, September 18, 2002

Hawai'i smokers sought for study

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

The National Cancer Institute is looking for 50,000 smokers or former smokers for a national lung cancer study and hopes to find 3,600 of them in Hawai'i.

The study is being launched nationally today and will take place at 30 sites nationwide, including the Pacific Health Research Institute in collaboration with Straub Clinic and Hospital/Hawai'i Pacific Health.

The National Lung Screening Trial aims to reduce the number of deaths from lung cancer by screening people at risk before they show symptoms of the disease, according to the institute.

For three years, people who agree to take part will receive — at no cost — either a chest X-ray or a CT scan, which stands for computerized tomography and provides multiple X-ray images using a computer.

"The National Lung Screening Trial is the most important cancer screening clinical trial taking place across the country," said Peter Balkin, chief of radiology at Straub and one of the leading investigators of the study in Hawai'i.

One thousand local volunteers will be needed within the first three months of the project, said Brysen Poulton, who will be recruiting local residents. Hawai'i was chosen as one of the sites because of its diverse ethnic base, he said.

It is an unusual study in that screening will be done on all participants, rather than a portion of those participating being used as a control group and receiving services, drugs or tests, Poulton said.

Researchers are looking for men and women between the ages of 55 and 74 who are smokers or former smokers who have quit within the past 15 years, were heavy smokers and/or longtime smokers, are not taking part in any other cancer screening and have never been diagnosed with lung cancer.

Those who want to take part can call 522-4760 or (800) 4-CANCER (422-6237), Poulton said.