Are You Among 18,000 Sisters

 Still Needed For The Sister Study?

If you have lost a sister to breast cancer, or have supported a survivor, you may be able to help save thousands more from the experience.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) needs 18,000 more women to join the Sister Study, the nation’s largest research effort to find the causes of breast cancer. Researchers still do not know what causes the disease. NIEHS hopes to enroll a total of 50,000 women whose sisters had breast cancer. The Sister Study must meet its enrollment goal by the end of 2007.

Since its national launch in October 2004, The Sister Study has successfully recruited more than 32,000 participants — women whose sisters were diagnosed with breast cancer. Recruitment is far from over.

“Many women have heard about the Sister Study, but they haven’t signed up yet, and we really need them now,” said Dale Sandler, PhD, chief of the Epidemiology Branch at NIEHS and principal investigator of the Sister Study. “Doctors know very little about how the environment may affect breast cancer, that is why the Sister Study is so important. We hope women will make that call today,” she added.

Lyn May from East Haddam and host of Act Two with Newsday is participating in the Sister Study, in celebration of her sister Carol, a 16-year breast cancer survivor.

“I’m delighted to help the Sister Study learn more about the causes of breast cancer in older women and in African American women,” said 65-year-old Ms May. “I have daughters, granddaughters, stepdaughters, and nieces. I’m participating in this important study for them, and for all women of color.”

Available in English and Spanish, the Sister Study requires very little time from its volunteers. The ten-year observational study begins with participants answering questions about diet, jobs, hobbies, and things they have been exposed to throughout their lives to determine what may influence breast cancer risk. Later, at a convenient time and location for the participant, a female health technician collects small samples of blood, urine, toenail clippings, and house dust, which will also help give researchers a better picture of the woman’s environment and genes.

Women in the United States and Puerto Rico, ages 35 to 74, may be eligible to join the Sister Study if their sisters (living or deceased) had breast cancer. Women who join the Sister Study must never have been diagnosed with breast cancer themselves. Breast cancer affects women from every walk of life, so the Sister Study is seeking women of all backgrounds, occupations, ages, and ethnic groups.

“If you’re a woman of color whose sister had breast cancer, your participation in the Sister Study is especially important,” continued Dr Sandler. “We want to learn more about how to protect your daughters and your granddaughters from this devastating disease.”

Elizabeth Samson, a New Jersey resident of Filipino descent, joined the Sister Study after watching her sister Claire battle breast cancer. “Our wish is to keep the bonds that hold our family together, but to break the links of disease that threaten our lives,” said the 68-year-old economist. “We look to the Sister Study breast cancer research for some answers.”

The Sister Study follows sound, ethical research practices, and keeps all personal data safe, private and confidential. Women who join are not asked to take any medicine, visit a medical center, or make any changes to their habits, diet, or daily life.

Organizations that are in partnership with the Sister Study include the American Cancer Society, NIH’s National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Sisters Network Inc, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, and the Intercultural Cancer Council. In addition to working with its national partners, the Sister Study works with local, regional, and national organizations to inform diverse women about the study.

To volunteer or learn more about the Sister Study, visit the web site www.sisterstudy.org, or for Spanish visit www.estudiodehermanas.org. A toll free number is also available 877-4SISTER (877-474-7837). Deaf/Hard of Hearing call 866-TTY-4SIS (866-889-4747).