Residents of the 109 have the chance to participate in a "historic" cancer study put on by the American Cancer Society.

The Cancer-Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3) would enable researchers to better understand environmental and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer, according to the American Cancer Society website.

"Many individuals diagnosed with cancer struggle to answer the question, 'What caused my cancer?' In many cases, we don't know the answer," principal investigator of CPS-3 Alpa V. Patel said in a statement. "CPS-3 will help us better understand what factors cause cancer, and once we know that, we can be better equipped to prevent cancer."

The study is expected to enroll about 300,000 people across the United States and Puerto Rico, according to a press release from the American Cancer Society. Tarrant County residents would have the opportunity to enroll via a partnership with Tarrant County College.

American Cancer Society spokeswoman Joy Brandon Davis said participation is important and the study is crucial in the fight against cancer.

“For the people in 76109, this is their chance,” she said. “Lots of time, when people get cancer they say ‘I wish this was something I could do.’ This is it. This is their chance to help people.”

“With a little bit of their time and a little bit of their blood sample, they can help scientists find cures and fight against cancer.”

Researchers will use the information from the study to continue a line of work that started in the 1950s, according to the press release. The current study, CPS-II, began in 1982 and is still ongoing but lifestyle changes as well as changes in cancer in understood has made a new study necessary.

Some of the findings that have come from the previous studies include confirming the link between smoking and cancer as well as the impact of air pollution on heart and lung health, Brandon said.

Residents interested in participating in the study should enroll ahead of time at cancer.org/cps3. More information is available by emailing [email protected] or calling 1-888-604-5888 toll free. 

Here are the dates and locations of the study open enrollments:

11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 29, Southeast Campus

11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 30, Northwest Campus

11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 31, Northeast Campus

11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 5, South Campus

11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 30, Trinity River Campus