Health Professionals Follow-Up Study

Contact: Walter Willett, M.D., Dr.P.H.

Study Website: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/hpfsExternal Web Site Policy

Number of Enrolled Cancer Patients/Survivors: varies by cancer site ~6,000 prostate cancer cases; ~1,200 colorectal cancer cases
Years of Diagnoses of Enrolled Cancer Patients/Survivors: 1986-2008
Approximate Years of Follow-up: >22 years
Cancer Sites Represented: Colon & Rectum
Prostate
Biological Specimens Collected: Blood/Blood Fraction
Buccal Cells
Normal Tissue
Germline DNA
Formalin Fixed Tumor Tissue
Treatment Outcome Measures: Physician/Medical Record Reported (for prostate cancer)
  • Cancer Recurrence
  • Death (colon and prostate)
Patient-Reported (for prostate cancer)
  • Quality of Life
  • Cancer Recurrence
Co-morbidities at Study Entry: Diabetes
Heart Disease
Pulmonary Disease
Other
Lifestyle Factors: Smoking
Alcohol Use
Diet
Physical Activity
Body Mass Index
Weight Loss/Control
Other: Broad range of exposure data; questionnaires are all available from the website
Treatment Data: Surgery
Radiation
Chemotherapy
Hormonal Therapy
Other: active surveillance for prostate cancer
Treatment Data Assessed By: Chart Abstraction
Patient Reported Questionnaire
Is the study open to collaboration? Yes

Note: Diagnosis of cancer is first reported by participants and then confirmed by review of medical records and pathology reports.

[Return to Top]