Sioux City's mayor touched by cancer cause - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

Sioux City's mayor makes March Cancer Prevention month.

The proclamation comes on the heels of an announcement earlier this week that the region will be included in a new cancer research study.

The goal is to better understand the genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that cause cancer.

Thursday, Mayor Bob Scott attended a funeral for a friend who lost his battle with cancer.  The disease first touched Scott much earlier in life.

"I'm glad to see that we're personally doing a study that may have an impact on the lives of our citizens. I was unfortunate enough to lose my dad when I was 12 to cancer and back then there was not much they could do," said Scott. 

Reed, the son of City Manager Paul Eckert battled a brain tumor in 2006.

Friday, Eckert and his wife Julie encouraged people to join the fight, so that other families don't have to go through the same thing.

"We're already involved in one or two studies like this, and it's simple, and it's easy," said Eckert.

Anyone between the age of 30 and 65 can participate if they've never had cancer.  The study will last 20 to 30 years.

Enrollment will take place April 23rd through the 27th.  For more information, call: (888) 604-5888.