Blog with Love

Welcome to Breast Cancer Awareness month! Have you ever wanted to know how you can help out with the fight to end breast cancer? If so check out below:

How do I Act with Love?
Despite the reigning success of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and millions of dollars raised, we
still have very little knowledge about what causes breast cancer. Now is the time to shift the
discussion from awareness to pinpointing the cause and accelerating prevention -- and you can help!
Turn your fervent awareness of this disease that strikes one in eight women, and take action by
investing yourself in breast cancer research. Together we can fast track research and end breast
cancer within our lifetime.

What is the Health of Women (HOW) Study?
The introduction of the Health of Women Study (HOW) on October 1st, 2012 was another step by
the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation to revolutionize how medical research is conducted. By
crowdsourcing health information, and involving the general public directly, we hope to uncover
critical information that will help researchers pinpoint causes and risk factors that will ultimately lead
to the end of breast cancer. This groundbreaking initiative invites the public, men and women over
the age of 18 of all health backgrounds, to be collaborators by participating in the study via the web
or on their mobile devices. To learn more about the Health of Women Study,
visit: www.healthofwomenstudy.org.

Blog with Love

It's as easy as one, two, three!

1. Blog with Love - post about the importance of moving breast cancer awareness into action by getting involved in breast cancer research.
2. Tell them HOW - ask readers to Act with Love by joining the Health of Women Study at www.healthofwomenstudy.org.  This study is a new revolutionary project of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation that will be launched to the public on October 1st!  Be the first to let them know!
3. Celebrate! - celebrate your post by tagging your blog with the official BFYBD button that will be sent to you upon finalizing the pledge form below.

Don't have a blog?  You can still participate!  Take the pledge and dedicate a Facebook Note on October 1st to BFYBD.  Be sure to tag the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation in your note!

How do I Act with Love?

Despite the reigning success of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and millions of dollars raised, we still have very little knowledge about breast cancer.  Now is the time to shift the discussion from awareness to pinpointing the cause and accelerating prevention--and you can help!  Turn your fervent awareness of this disease that kills one in eight women, and take action by investing yourself in breast cancer research.  Together we can fast track research and end breast cancer within our lifetime.

What is the Health of Women study?

With the introduction of the Health of Women study (HOW) on October 1st, the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation will revolutionize the fight against breast cancer.  By crowdsourcing health information, and involving the general public directly, we will uncover the information that will end breast cancer.  This groundbreaking initiative invites the public, men and women over the age of 18 of all health backgrounds, to be collaborators by participating in the study via the web or on their mobile devices.  HOW will also turn traditional research practices on its head by creating a venue for researchers to gather and share information, with the definitive goal of ending breast cancer.  To learn more about the Health of Women study, visit: www.healthofwomenstudy.org.

*Content from Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation

Army of Women Latin Style!

We need Latinas living in the U.S. who were diagnosed with breast cancer, completed chemotherapy within the last 10 years, and experienced menopause (el cambio de vida) as a result of their chemotherapy, to participate in a research study about chemotherapy-induced premature menopause. Chemotherapy is standard treatment for women with early stage breast cancer. One of the side effects of chemotherapy treatment is chemotherapy-induced premature menopause, which may be temporary or permanent. There is very little research that has been done specifically on Latinas and breast cancer, and it is important to learn more about their experiences. This study will help researchers learn more about chemotherapy-induced menopause from the perspective of Latinas who have been treated for breast cancer. Please read on to learn more about what's involved and who can participate. If this study isn't right for you, please pass it on! Please help the Army of Women and the research team find the women they need!

What's the study about? The purpose of this study is to better understand the unique experiences and needs of Latinas diagnosed with breast cancer who are put into early menopause (el cambio de vida) due to their chemotherapy treatments. This is the first study to explore the impact of chemotherapy-induced menopause on Latinas, and the researchers will use what they learn to help other Latinas who may experience early menopause because of their cancer treatments. What's involved? If you sign up for the "Chemotherapy-Induced Premature Menopause in Latina Women with Breast Cancer" study, the research team will contact you by phone to confirm that you are eligible for the study. You will have the option of having a professional Spanish translator provided for you, if needed. If you are eligible and choose to participate in the study, you will be asked to do the following: • Complete a consent form and two questionnaires (available in English and Spanish). These can be mailed to you or given to you at a confidential agreed upon location. • Complete an interview with the research team, either over the phone or in person at a confidential agreed upon location. You will be asked several questions regarding your experience with menopause (el cambio de vida) resulting from chemotherapy you have received as part of your treatment for breast cancer. The interview will be recorded but kept confidential and will take about an hour of your time. • Approximately three months after your first interview, you may be contacted to answer questions regarding your menopause (el cambio de vida) experience over time, to clarify previous discussion, or to review answers from your previous interview. This will take a few minutes of your time. Study participants will be compensated for their time. Who is conducting the study? Jean Boucher, PhD, RN, and Maryellen D. Brisbois, MS, RN, at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester Where? Anywhere in the United States – interviews can be completed over the phone Who can participate? You can sign up for the "Chemotherapy-Induced Premature Menopause in Latina Women with Breast Cancer" study if you meet ALL of these MAIN criteria: • You are a woman over the age of 18 • You self-identify as Latina/Hispanic • You were diagnosed with breast cancer (Stage 1-3 only) • You had chemotherapy to treat your breast cancer and completed treatment within the last 10 years (it is OK if you received chemotherapy treatment more than one time) • You were still menstruating 3 months before you started chemotherapy • You experienced chemotherapy-induced premature menopause (you stopped menstruating) following your chemotherapy treatment • You live in the United States SIGN UP HERE!

New Army of Women Study

We need women in the United States who underwent surgical treatment for ANY type of breast cancer, including LCIS, DCIS, and Stage IV metastatic breast cancer, to take part in an on-line survey designed to explore the impact of breast cancer surgery on long-term health, quality of life, and satisfaction with care. A research team at Duke University will use the information collected from the survey to help guide surgical decision-making and optimize the long-term health of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Please read on to learn more about what is involved and who can participate. And please don’t forget to tell any of your female friends or family members ANYWHERE IN THE US who are breast cancer survivors about this on-line study!

What’s the study about? The overall goal of this study is to learn about the impact of breast-conserving surgery/lumpectomy, mastectomy, and mastectomy with breast reconstruction on a woman’s quality of life, general health care experience, and satisfaction with care and outcomes. What’s involved? If you’re interested in this study, you will be asked 5 questions to see if you meet the criteria to sign up for the study. If you are eligible to participate, you will receive a link to the study. If you sign up for the Evaluating Patient Reported Outcomes in Breast Cancer study, you will be contacted via email by the research team with instructions on completing the on-line screening form and surveys. You will be asked to provide basic demographic information (such as age and ethnicity) and answer questions about your breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, overall health, problems or complaints related to breast cancer and its treatment, and the impact of cancer on your life. The full survey will take approximately 30-45 minutes to complete. You can complete the survey in more than one sitting; you can take breaks as needed. Who is conducting the study? Dunya Atisha, MD, and Amy Abernethy, MD, at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC Where? Anywhere in the United States – this is an on-line study which you will be able to complete either on a desktop, laptop, or iPad-like technology. Who can participate? You can sign up for the Evaluating Patient Reported Outcomes in Breast Cancer study if you meet ALL of these MAIN criteria: • You are a woman over the age of 18 • You have had a previous diagnosis OR a current diagnosis of breast cancer of any stage. This includes those who have had a previous OR current diagnosis of LCIS, DCIS, or Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. • You had surgery to treat your breast cancer • You have access to the Internet and are willing to complete an on-line survey • You live in the United States

Yes, Sign Me Up
No Thanks
Recruit a Friend

Vitamin D and Breast Cancer Research

We need women in the Twin Cities Metro Area of Minnesota who are taking an aromatase inhibitor—Arimidex (anastrozole), Femara (letrozole), or Aromasin (exemestane)—after initial treatment for early-stage breast cancer and who are experiencing muscle, joint or bone pain to participate in a research study evaluating the effects of vitamin D₃ on these symptoms.

Aromatase inhibitors are used to treat postmenopausal women who've had hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Some of the most common side effects from these drugs are musculoskeletal symptoms (AIMSS), which are pain in the muscle, joint, or bone, and loss of bone density. A research team at Park Nicollet Health Services in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, is investigating whether a moderately high daily dose of vitamin D₃ will help reduce these side effects.

Please read on to learn more about what's involved and who can participate. Know someone who lives in the Twin Cities Metro Area who might be interested? PASS IT ON! Forwarding our information to friends and family members is just as important as participating in a study.

What's the study about?

The study compares two doses of vitamin D₃: the current recommended daily allowance (600 IU/day) and the known upper safe level (4,000 IU/day). The main goals of this study are to determine whether higher daily doses of vitamin D₃ reduce musculoskeletal pain better than the standard daily dose; determine whether higher doses of vitamin D₃ makes it easier for women who have musculoskeletal pain to stay on an aromatase inhibitor for a longer period of time; and compare changes in estrogen levels, bone density and body composition, between women assigned to the two different doses of vitamin D₃.

What's involved?

If you sign up for this study, you will be contacted by the research team to confirm that you meet the main requirements which are explained in more detail below. If you choose to participate in the study, you will go to the study site in St. Louis Park and be asked to have a pre-study visit to verify that you can be in the study. These screening procedures may occur at one or more visits:

• Your medical background information and a review of what medications you are taking will be collected
• You will complete a questionnaire
• You will have a DEXA scan – a scan of your spine, hip, and legs that measures the density of your bones and also measures your body's composition of protein, bone and fat tissue

If you are eligible to participate and choose to do so, you will be asked to discontinue taking any of your own vitamins that contain calcium or vitamin D, and start taking 600 IU of vitamin D₃ plus 500 mg of calcium per day in the mornings for 30 days. This is called a "wash-out" period and ensures that everyone is taking the same amount of vitamin D₃ and calcium for 30 days prior to taking different doses. After this, you will be asked to go back to the study site for your baseline visit. At that visit, you will be randomly assigned (like choosing by the flip of a coin) to one of two groups:

• Investigational group: 4000 IU of vitamin D₃ plus 500 mg of calcium daily for 6 months
• Usual care group: 600 IU of vitamin D₃ plus 500 mg of calcium daily for 6 months

You will be asked to go to the study site for the baseline visit (30 days after starting the study) and then again at 1 ½, 3 and 6 months (total of 5 study visits over 7 months). At these visits, you may be asked to have the following tests and procedures:

• Review of your current medication
• Vital signs and physical examination
• Blood samples (approximately 1-3 tablespoons will be collected)
• Measurement of your hand grip strength
• Complete questionnaires
• Review of your Aromatase Inhibitor Adherence and Pain Medication diaries
• DEXA scan (6 month visit only)

The research team will explain all study activities in detail.

Who is conducting the study?

Alice Shapiro, PhD, RD, LN, and the Oncology Research Team at Park Nicollet Health Services and the University of Minnesota. This study is funded by the National Cancer Institute.

Where?

Frauenshuh Cancer Center at Park Nicollet Health Services in St. Louis Park, Minnesota (located on the Methodist Hospital campus).

Who can participate?

You can sign up for the Vitamin D₃ Effects on Musculoskeletal Symptoms with Use of Aromatase Inhibitors (D₃AI) study if you meet all of these main criteria:

• You are a woman over the age of 18.
• You are post-menopausal.
• You were diagnosed with breast cancer (Stage I, II, or IIIa).
• Your breast cancer was hormone-receptor positive [either estrogen positive (ER+), progesterone positive (PR+) or both].
• You do not have Stage IV, metastatic breast cancer.
• You have completed initial treatment for your breast cancer (surgery and/or chemotherapy and/or tamoxifen).
• You were prescribed and have been taking Arimidex (anastrozole), Femara (letrozole), or Aromasin (exemestane) for at least one month and are scheduled to continue taking them for at least 7 more months.
• This is the first time you have been prescribed an aromatase inhibitor for breast cancer.
• You are experiencing musculoskeletal pain and/or weakness.
• You are willing to take ONLY study-supplied vitamin D and calcium. Other supplements are OK but they must not contain additional vitamin D or calcium.
• You live near or are willing to travel to the Frauenshuh Cancer Center at Park Nicollet Health Services in St. Louis Park, Minnesota (on the Methodist Hospital campus).

After you RSVP, the research team will contact you to ask additional questions to be sure that this study is a good fit for you.

African American Breast Cancer Survivors in Southern California Needed!

We need African-American breast cancer survivors living in Southern California (Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties) who are nearing completion of treatment or completed surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation treatment 1-12 months ago, to participate in a breast cancer research study focused on follow-up care.

After diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, African-American women may be less likely to obtain appropriate follow-up care and surveillance than women of other ethnic groups. To address this issue, a research team at City of Hope in Duarte, California, has developed a peer navigator program specifically for African-American survivors that allows them to receive information, support, coaching, and other helpful tools for obtaining a Survivorship Care Plan from other African-American breast cancer survivors.

If you are an African-American breast cancer survivor in Southern California and are interested in helping the research team evaluate their program, please read on to learn more about what’s involved and who can participate. If this study isn’t right for you, please pass it on to every African-American breast cancer survivor you know who might be interested!

What’s the study about?

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of a peer navigator program on helping African-American breast cancer survivors obtain and follow a survivorship care plan. A survivorship care plan consists of two components: (1) a treatment summary describing the cancer diagnosis, history, stage, and primary treatments received; and (2) a follow-up care plan that includes information on recovering from treatment, ways to maintain good health, and recommendations for care.

What’s involved?

If you sign up for Sister Survivor: Improving the Survivorship Care of African-American Women with Breast Cancer, you will be contacted by the research team to confirm that you are eligible for the study. If you choose to participate in the study, you will be randomly assigned (like the flip of a coin) to one of two groups:

• Peer navigator and survivorship materials group
- Attend 5 meetings with a peer navigator, either face-to-face or over the phone. These meetings will occur over a 6-month period.
- Review survivorship materials
- Complete 3 surveys over a 12-month period.

• Survivorship materials only group
- Review survivorship materials.
- Complete 3 surveys over a 12-month period.

The information you provide is confidential and will be kept private.

Who is conducting the study?

Kimlin Ashing-Giwa, PhD, at City of Hope
African American Breast Cancer Coalition

Where?

City of Hope, Duarte, California

Who can participate?

You can sign up for Sister Survivor: Improving the Survivorship Care of African-American Women with Breast Cancer if you meet ALL of these MAIN criteria:

• You are a woman at least 18 years of age.
• You self-identify as African American.
• You have been diagnosed with breast cancer, including lobular carcinoma in-situ (LCIS) and ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS). Women diagnosed with Stage IV, metastatic breast cancer will not be eligible.
• You completed surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy 1-12 months ago (it is OK if you are on hormonal therapy, such as tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor).
• You have not been diagnosed with any other cancer besides breast cancer.
• You live in one of the following Southern California counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino,or Riverside.

After you RSVP, the research team will contact you to ask additional questions to be sure that this study is a good fit for you.

Yes, Sign Me Up

No Thanks

Recruit a Friend

Is Soy Causing Breast Cancer?

The story of soy and breast cancer is an excellent example of the research process. Pieces of information come in slowly, some studies contradict others, and then, overtime, as we learn more, we gain a clearer picture of the answer. But until that occurs, confusion and worry are common, as the subject in question—in this case soy—pops back and forth between the "good" category and the "bad."
Initially, soy was thought of as a wonder food. This happened because researchers looking for an explanation as to why women living in Asia had lower breast cancer rates than women living in the U.S. found that Asian women ate more soy products. Virtually overnight, soy became the best thing in breast cancer prevention. Tofu and soy milk were all the rage. All kinds of processed foods began to contain soy, and soy powders and supplements could be found everywhere. There was no question: Soy was GOOD!
But as scientists began to conduct laboratory studies to look for reasons why soy might decrease breast cancer risk, they found that when genistein, which is a type of isoflavone, was added to breast cancer cells they grew faster. Soon after, it was suggested that women who were taking tamoxifen and other anti-estrogens should avoid soy because soy acted like a weak estrogen, and could potentially counteract the tamoxifen or increase a woman's risk of recurrence. Suddenly, soy was now BAD!
That's why it was big news when a study conducted in Shanghai, China, published in December 2009 in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that women with breast cancer who ate soy had a decreased risk of having a cancer recurrence or dying of the disease.
The study was based on data from the Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study, which includes 5024 female breast cancer survivors. After following the women for four years, the researchers found that the higher a woman's soy protein or soy isoflavone intake, the lower her risk of having a breast cancer recurrence or dying from the disease. This was true regardless of whether women had ER-positive or ER-negative tumors, whether or not they were taking tamoxifen, and whether they were pre- or postmenopausal. (Although the researchers didn't look at this question, the findings would be expected to be the same for women on aromatase inhibitors.)
The study's authors pointed out that there are differences in the types of soy eaten by women in Asia and women in the U.S. In Asia, women are more likely to eat whole soy foods, like cooked soybeans, edamame, tofu, miso, and soy milk, whereas in the U.S. women tend to eat more processed foods that contain soy—and at much lower levels.
This is additional evidence that women in the U.S. with breast cancer can feel even better about adding whole soy foods to their diet. To be sure, we need more studies in women to confirm this finding. But a study of this size that has been so well done and that shows no negative effects clearly suggests that eating soy will not increase your risk of a recurrence and that, in fact, it might even reduce it!
What about soy letcithin? It is extracted from soybeans, but it is not part of the soy protein. As a result, it does not contain any isoflavones, which are the part of the soybean that acts as an estrogen. It is primarily used as an emulsifier to hold ingredients together. So, there is also no reason to worry that you are getting lots of isoflavones in your diet each time you chew gum or take a supplement.
The soy story also shows us why we can't over simplify the science. Soy is not a phytoestrogen but rather a "phytoSERM," more like tamoxifen than estrogen. It also reinforces that we cannot automatically extrapolate from studies on cells and rats to women. We need to do studies on women so that we know what happens in women's bodies.

This post is courtesy of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, dedicated to eradicating breast cancer and improving the quality of women's health through innovative research, education and advocacy. To support this important cause and donate, visit www.dslrf.org.

Army of Women for Philly!

We need women ages 40 to 62 who have not had breast cancer and have bothersome hot flashes or night sweats to take part in a research study. The study is testing two medicines that may help women who have menopause-related hot flashes. Researchers in Boston, Seattle, and Philadelphia are running this study. It is one of three clinical trials currently being conducted as part of the Menopausal Strategies – Finding Lasting Answers for Symptoms and Health (MsFLASH) study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.

Know someone who lives in Boston, Seattle, or Philadelphia who might be interested? PASS IT ON! Forwarding our information to friends and family members is just as important as joining the study.

What’s the study about?

The research team is studying two medicines that may help to reduce hot flashes in a study involving 8 weeks of treatment. One is a low-dose estrogen pill. This pill doesn’t include progesterone, and should not increase breast cancer risk when used for such a short period of time. The other is a serotonin-based pill called venlafaxine (brand name Effexor XR). It is currently used to help reduce hot flashes and to treat anxiety and depression. The researchers want to know if women who take these medicines have fewer or less severe hot flashes than women who take a placebo (inactive pill). They also want to determine if one medicine is more effective than the other.

What’s involved?

If you sign up for the Comparison of Venlafaxine-XR and Low-Dose Estradiol for Treatment of Menopausal Symptoms study:

• You will be called to answer questions about your hot flashes, menopausal status, and health.

• If you meet the main study criteria, you will be asked to attend 2 clinic visits, about a week apart. These visits are to confirm that the study is a good fit for you and that you are eligible.

• If you are eligible and join the study, you will be asked to take one study pill per day for 8 weeks. You will receive low-dose estrogen, venlafaxine, or a placebo (inactive pill). Neither you nor the study staff will know which type of pill you are taking. At the end of the study, you will be told which medicine you took. Women who took estrogen and who have a uterus will take progesterone for 2 weeks to protect their uterus.

• You will be asked to come to 1-2 more clinic visits after you have been taking the study pills for 8 weeks.

• You will be asked to participate in 3 phone calls.

• Each of the clinic visits will take about an hour. During these visits, the researchers may:

o Check your blood pressure, pulse, height, weight, and waist and hip measurements.
o Ask you to do a urine pregnancy test if you have had a menstrual period in the past 12 months.
o Ask you to fill out a study form about your overall health, feelings, sleep, pain, bodily functions, and sexuality.
o Collect about 2 tablespoons of blood from a vein in your arm to make sure the study is a good fit for you.

• You will be asked to fill out diaries at home during the duration of the study. These will include a hot flash diary, vaginal bleeding diary, and sleep diary.

• The entire study lasts for 15 weeks.

Who is conducting the study?

• Hadine Joffe, MD, MSc, and Lee Cohen, MD, at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; JoAnn Manson, MD, DrPH, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
• Susan Reed, MD, MPH, and Katherine Newton, PhD, at the University of Washington and Group Health Research Institute (GHRI), Seattle, WA
• Ellen Freeman, PhD, at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA

Where?

Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Group Health Research Institute (GHRI), Seattle, WA
University of Pennsylvania, Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Philadelphia, PA

Who can participate?

You can join the Comparison of Venlafaxine-XR and Low-Dose Estradiol for Treatment of Menopausal Symptoms study if you match ALL of these MAIN categories:

• You are a woman between ages 40 and 62

• You are peri- or postmenopausal

• You have bothersome hot flashes/night sweats

• You have NOT been diagnosed with endometrial, ovarian, or breast cancer

• You are NOT currently pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant

• You read, write, and speak English

• You live near or are willing to travel (at your own expense) to Boston, Seattle, or Philadelphia for 3 or more study visits.

After you RSVP, the research team will ask you additional questions to be sure that this study is a good fit for you.

Yes, Sign Me Up

No Thanks

Recruit a Friend

Top 10 Things to Do to Prevent Breast Cancer

What can I do to prevent breast cancer? What is the best way to find my cancer early, before it has spread?

These are two of the most common questions women have.

Here's what we know:
There is nothing that you can do to ensure that you absolutely do not get breast cancer. However, studies suggest that some lifestyle choices may help reduce breast cancer risk.

These include:

1. Eating a healthy diet that is low in animal fat and high in whole grains and fruits and vegetables. There is no data indicating that a specific diet, per se, can help reduce breast cancer risk.

2. Taking a multivitamin and make sure it includes adequate folic acid.

3. Having your children before 35, if you have a choice.

4. Breastfeeding your children.

5. Avoiding unnecessary X-rays.

6. Drinking alcohol in moderation and make sure you take folic acid when you do drink.

7. Losing weight (if you are overweight).

8. Not gaining weight after menopause.

9. Getting regular exercise.

10. Using hormone therapy to treat menopausal symptoms for the shortest time period necessary, it at all.

You should also be sure to:

· Evaluate any breast symptoms or changes that develop.

· Have mammograms when appropriate.

· Consider raloxifene if you are postmenopausal and need to take a drug to prevent bone loss.

· If you have a family history of breast cancer or for other reasons are at high risk of getting breast cancer, visit our section for High-Risk Women.

 

To help us learn more about breast cancer prevention, you can:

· Join the Love/Avon Army of Women, revolutionary initiative that is changing the face of breast cancer research.

· Participate in studies sponsored by the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation.

· Become a breast cancer advocate, and work with us to insure that research on breast cancer prevention is supported and funded.

This post is courtesy of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, dedicated to eradicating breast cancer and improving the quality of women's health through innovative research, education and advocacy. To support this important cause and donate, visit www.dslrf.org.

Breast Cancer Survivors: Uterine Cancer Risk and YOU!

We need women in the United States who have been diagnosed with breast cancer of any stage (including LCIS and DCIS) to take part in an on-line survey developed by researchers who are trying to identify individual characteristics that may put some breast cancer survivors at higher risk of developing uterine cancer.

Studies have shown that the drug tamoxifen, which is used to treat women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer, can increase a woman’s risk of developing uterine cancer. These researchers want to identify certain personal characteristics that might influence whether or not a woman taking tamoxifen goes on to develop uterine cancer. It is NOT necessary to have taken tamoxifen to complete this survey.

Please read on to learn more about what’s involved and who can participate. And please don’t forget to tell any of your friends or family who are breast cancer survivors about this on-line study!

What’s the study about?

The research team wants to develop a tool that can determine whether a woman with breast cancer is at higher risk of going on to develop uterine cancer. Women will be separated into two groups: 1. those who developed uterine cancer after being diagnosed with breast cancer and 2. those who did not develop uterine cancer after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Comparing the two groups will allow the research team to investigate the specific individual characteristics that are associated with developing uterine cancer after being diagnosed with breast cancer. If you were diagnosed with uterine cancer before you were diagnosed with breast cancer, you can still participate in the survey.

What’s involved?

If you sign up for the Breast Cancer, Uterine Cancer, and YOU Study, you will be sent a link to an on-line survey. The survey is confidential. This means that you will be asked to provide basic demographic information (such as age and ethnicity), but that you will NOT be asked for any identifying information (such as your name or e-mail address). The survey will ask questions about your smoking and exercise history, breast cancer diagnosis and treatment history, reproductive health and menstrual history, and personal and family medical history, including whether or not you have been diagnosed with uterine cancer. The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.

Who is conducting the study?

Michael Milam, MD, MPH, at the University of Louisville Brown Cancer Center, in Kentucky

Where?

Anywhere in the United States – this is an on-line study

Who can participate?

You can join the Breast Cancer, Uterine Cancer, and YOU Study if you match ALL of these MAIN categories:

• You are a woman over the age of 18
• You have been diagnosed with breast cancer of any stage (including LCIS and DCIS) at some point in your life
• You have access to the Internet and are willing to complete an on-line survey
• You live in the United States

If you RSVP for the study and are found to be a match, you will receive a link to the on-line survey.

Army of Women New Study

Here is the newest Army of Women study. Please help the cause and share the information!

 

Project Title Variations in the Health Needs of Breast Cancer Survivors

Researcher Ulrike Boehmer, PhD, at the Boston University School of Public Health, in collaboration with Brown University

Study Summary The information gained from this research about the well-being and quality of life of lesbian and bisexual women with breast cancer will be used to develop programs and services designed to reduce health disparities. After the research team enrolls the lesbian and bisexual women, they will enroll heterosexual women to take part in the phone survey.

Who Can Participate? You can sign up for the Variations in the Health Needs of Breast Cancer Survivors Study if:
• You identify as lesbian, bisexual, or as a woman who partners with women
AND
• You have been diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in your life
After you RSVP, the researchers will ask you additional questions to be sure that this study is a right fit for you.

What Does Participation Involve? If you choose to join this study, you will be asked to take part in a phone survey that will last approximately 45 minutes. Questions about your health, medical history, demographics, and sexual orientation will be asked. Six hundred women are needed for this study.

Where? Anywhere in the United States

 

Apply here!

NEW AOW Study

A New Way to Predict Breast Cancer Risk?

Posted by Dr. Susan Love at 6:00 am

We need women anywhere in the United States who had a benign breast biopsy after January 2000 and have NOT been diagnosed with breast cancer. Some women who have had a benign breast biopsy are at higher risk of developing breast cancer than women who have not had a benign breast biopsy. However, there is currently no way to determine which women who have had a benign breast biopsy will actually go on to develop the disease.

We have recruited for this study in the past and now need your help for the next phase. The researchers are now looking for women who had a normal breast biopsy but have NOT had breast cancer. Please read on to learn more about what’s involved and who can participate. If this study isn’t a good fit for you, please pass it on to anyone you know who might be interested!

What’s the study about?

A research team at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is investigating whether the amount of DNA damage seen in the cells in normal breast tissue may be an indicator of future breast cancer risk. Previously, the researchers recruited women who had had a benign breast biopsy and then went on to develop breast cancer. NOW, they need women who had a benign breast biopsy but did NOT go on to develop breast cancer. By recruiting women who did develop breast cancer and women who did not, they will be able to look for markers in the breast cells that might be an indicator of breast cancer risk.

What’s involved?

If you agree to participate in the Discovery of Early Markers of Breast Cancer study (Phase 2), you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire about your reproductive history, smoking history, and family health background. You will receive and then return the questionnaire by mail (at no cost to you). You will then need to ask your doctor or pathologist for two things: the pathology slides from your benign breast biopsy and a block of your paraffin embedded benign breast tissue. (You will be given a detailed instruction sheet to give to your doctor or pathologist to explain what is needed and why.) You will mail these items to the researchers, at no cost to you. If you prefer, you can give the research team permission to request the pathology slides and tissue block from your doctor.

The researchers need to enroll 400 women in this study.

Who is conducting the study?

Dr. Isabelle Bedrosian and Dr. Abenaa Brewster, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Where?

Anywhere in the US (all participation is handled in the mail)

Who can participate?

You can sign up for the Discovery of Early Markers of Breast Cancer study (Phase 2) if you match ALL of these MAIN categories:

• You are a woman over the age of 18
• You have had screening mammograms performed
• You have NOT been diagnosed with breast cancer (including DCIS)
• You had a benign breast biopsy after January 2000
• You were NOT pregnant or breastfeeding when you had the benign breast biopsy
• You were NOT using birth control pills or menopausal hormone therapy when you had the benign breast biopsy
• You have NOT tested positive for the BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutation (if known)
• You live in the United States

After you RSVP, the research team will ask you additional questions to be sure that this study is a right fit for you.

Army of Women Call to Action

I like to posted these studies to help get the word out!

From the Army of Women:

We need women anywhere in the United States who had a benign breast biopsy after January 2000 and have NOT been diagnosed with breast cancer. Some women who have had a benign breast biopsy are at higher risk of developing breast cancer than women who have not had a benign breast biopsy. However, there is currently no way to determine which women who have had a benign breast biopsy will actually go on to develop the disease.
We have recruited for this study in the past and now need your help for the next phase. The researchers are now looking for women who had a normal breast biopsy but have NOT had breast cancer. Please read on to learn more about what's involved and who can participate. If this study isn't a good fit for you, please pass it on to anyone you know who might be interested!

What's the study about?

A research team at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is investigating whether the amount of DNA damage seen in the cells in normal breast tissue may be an indicator of future breast cancer risk. Previously, the researchers recruited women who had had a benign breast biopsy and then went on to develop breast cancer. NOW, they need women who had a benign breast biopsy but did NOT go on to develop breast cancer. By recruiting women who did develop breast cancer and women who did not, they will be able to look for markers in the breast cells that might be an indicator of breast cancer risk.

What's involved?

If you agree to participate in the Discovery of Early Markers of Breast Cancer study (Phase 2), you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire about your reproductive history, smoking history, and family health background. You will receive and then return the questionnaire by mail (at no cost to you). You will then need to ask your doctor or pathologist for two things: the pathology slides from your benign breast biopsy and a block of your paraffin embedded benign breast tissue. (You will be given a detailed instruction sheet to give to your doctor or pathologist to explain what is needed and why.) You will mail these items to the researchers, at no cost to you. If you prefer, you can give the research team permission to request the pathology slides and tissue block from your doctor.
The researchers need to enroll 400 women in this study.

Who is conducting the study?

Dr. Isabelle Bedrosian and Dr. Abenaa Brewster, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Where?

Anywhere in the US (all participation is handled in the mail)

Who can participate?

You can sign up for the Discovery of Early Markers of Breast Cancer study (Phase 2) if you match ALL of these MAIN categories:
• You are a woman over the age of 18
• You have had screening mammograms performed
• You have NOT been diagnosed with breast cancer (including DCIS)
• You had a benign breast biopsy after January 2000
• You were NOT pregnant or breastfeeding when you had the benign breast biopsy
• You were NOT using birth control pills or menopausal hormone therapy when you had the benign breast biopsy
• You have NOT tested positive for the BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutation (if known)
• You live in the United States
After you RSVP, the research team will ask you additional questions to be sure that this study is a right fit for you.