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Breast Cancer Study Targets Sisters of Afflicted Women

Posted on: Tuesday, 19 October 2004, 18:00 CDT

Oct. 19--One in nine women were diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. 10 years ago. Now the ratio is one in seven.

Although strides in technology and medicine have resulted in fewer deaths, the number of diagnoses continues to creep upward.

Some experts now say the environment is the culprit.

"There's no doubt in my mind it contributes to breast cancer," said Lori Stone-Rubin, executive director of the Inland Empire Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, after learning the National Institutes of Health needs about 45,000 more women for its Sister Study.

In the 10-year study, researchers plan to follow at least 50,000 American women ages 35 to 74 who have sisters with breast cancer. The study will look into how their genes and things they come in contact with at home, at work and in the community may influence breast cancer risk.

It was piloted earlier this year in Arizona, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Virginia. About 5,000 women have volunteered.

While past studies have largely focused on hormones, reproductive health and lifestyle, the Sister Study will also focus on environmental exposures, from personal care and household products to workplace and common exposures.

"We're not the first one to study breast cancer and genetics. There's a lot of interest in it now," said Dr. Dale Sandler, chief of the epidemiology branch at the National Institutes of Health. "What's different about our study is the amount of emphasis we're placing on the environment."

Sandler said volunteers will undergo an initial two-hour interview in which they'll be asked to discuss diet, family history and work life. Blood, urine and toenail samples will be collected.

Dust will be collected from their homes.

Researchers are particularly interested in black, Latina, Native American and Asian women, as well as women 60 and older.

"Traditionally, most studies that have involved breast cancer, as well as other medical issues, have involved white women volunteers," Sandler said. "We want the results to apply to everybody, and to do that we need more minority women involved."

As for the large number of volunteers, Sandler said the National Institutes of Health believes it is achievable and will give researchers better results.

Based on the age of women when they get breast cancer, the researchers anticipate that at least 300 volunteers, unfortunately, will be diagnosed each year.

"Over the 10 years, we anticipate about 3,000 women will be diagnosed," Sandler said. "That gives us the statistical power we need to be able to compare these women to the majority of women breast cancer."

According to the latest American Cancer Society's Cancer Facts Figures report, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in California.

The report estimated that 22,000 Californians would be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

In San Bernardino County, it was estimated that 850 people would be diagnosed and that 200 new deaths would be reported.

Beckie Moore-Flati, a spokeswoman for the American Cancer Society of the Inland Empire, said California's contracts for the Sister Project are being handled by a Northern California agency. It is not yet known if a Southern California location for the study will be selected, she said.

Organizations that have partnered with the National Institutes of Health include the American Cancer Society, Sisters Network Inc., the Komen Foundation, and Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization.

To volunteer or learn more about the Sister Study, visit www.sisterstudy.org or call (877) 474-7837.

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(c) 2004, San Bernardino County Sun, Calif. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News. For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: San Bernardino County Sun

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