Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 11, 1 Nowemapa 2004 — Breast cancer study [ARTICLE]

Breast cancer study

Native Hawaiian women who have sisters diagnosed with breast cancer are being sought by a national study that began enrollment in October. The Sister Study, conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health, will look at 50,000 women to investigate environmental and genetic causes of breast cancer. The Sister Study is the largest study of its kind to look at breast cancer risk factors. continued on next page

continued from previous page Women of all backgrounds and ethnic groups are eligible for the study if they are between the ages of 35 and 74, live in the United States, have never had breast cancer themselves and have a sister - living or deceased - who has had breast cancer. To recruit a diverse group of volunteers and to ensure the results benefit all women, researchers are especially encouraging African-American, Latina, Native American and Asian women, as well as women 60 and older, to join the Sister Study. The landmark study will stay in touch with the volunteers for 10 years and compare those who develop breast cancer with the majority who do not. To volunteer or learn more about the Sister Study, visit www.sisterstudy.org, or eall toll free at l-877-4SISTER (877-474-7837). Deaf/Hard of Hearing eall l-866-TTY-4SIS (866-889-4747).