Army of Women Gene Study

Felicia3

Howdy, all. Been gone for a while, but I thought I'd check in and pass this on...

Army of Women just announced a study for African-American Women who had any type of BC or is a relative of a BC patient/survivor. Everything is done by mail, so it doesn't matter where you live.

I just signed up, so the site won't let me click back to original site that announces the study for some reason, but here's the cut/paste version:

African-American women have higher rates of premenopausal breast cancer than women of European ancestry. They are also more likely to die of breast cancer. Is it possible that there are certain inherited genetic mutations that may explain why? A research team at the University at Buffalo thinks the answer is yes. And they need African-American women who were diagnosed with breast cancer of any stage, including metastatic disease and DCIS, AND their relatives who are also breast cancer survivors, to help them find out. If you are interested in learning more, please read on!This study may sound familiar to you. That is because we first sent a Call to Action in October 2010 to recruit African-American families for this study. With help from the Army of Women members, the researchers are working toward their goal. But they need more women to participate and we need YOUR help to find them!What's the study about?The research team is studying why some African American families have multiple cases of breast cancer. This will help to better understand if there are undiscovered genes unique to African Americans that may predict early breast cancer risk. What's involved?If you join the Jewels in Our Genes study you will be asked questions about your breast cancer diagnosis and about your family history of breast cancer. You will be asked to give a sample of saliva so that the researchers can collect your DNA. The questionnaire and saliva kit will be mailed to you and you will mail it back to the researchers, at no cost to you. The information you provide is confidential and will be kept private.The researchers need to enroll up to 400 women (150 families with more than one breast cancer survivor), in this study.Who is conducting the study?Heather Ochs-Balcom, PhD, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NYWhere?Anywhere in the United States, all necessary participation is handled through the mail.Who can participate?You can join the Jewels in Our Genes study if you match ALL of these MAIN categories:
- You are a woman older than 18 years of age- You consider yourself to be Black/African American

- You were diagnosed with breast cancer of any stage, including metastatic disease and DCIS. There is no time limit since diagnosis and it is OK if you are currently receiving treatment.

- You have at least one living female blood relativewho was diagnosed with breast cancer of any stage, including metastatic disease and DCIS. The relative can be first degree (mother, daughter, sister) or second degree (cousin, grandparent, aunt, or niece). There is no time limit since diagnosis and it is OK if she is currently receiving treatment.- You have tested negative for the BRCA 1 and 2 mutations (if known). If you do not know your status, you can still participate in the study. 

- You live in the United States

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

Felicia3

Check out www.armyofwomen.org for info...