American Cancer Society to survey US 'life-styles'

Abstract

ABSTRACT The American Cancer Society (ACS) will conduct a study of American life-styles and environment over the next six years in an attempt to learn how ongoing changes may alter—for better or worse—the incidence of disease, especially cancer.The study, slated to begin Sept 1, will continue until at least 1988 and will involve more than 1 million Americans. Even with the aid of 85,000 unpaid volunteers, it is expected to cost more than $12 million—at least $2 million more than was estimated when the project first was announced a year ago (JAMA [MEDICAL NEWS] 1981;245:1518).The study will be about equal in size but wider in scope than a survey the ACS conducted from 1959 to 1972 with 68,000 volunteers. That study provided data that, among other things, pointed to the health consequences of cigarette smoking, encouraged exercise in coping with cardiovascular disease, and associated sexual activity at an early