A year ago I joined the Sister Study from information that I heard about through ABC news. This study is collecting data from women who have had a sister who have had breast cancer. Women of different ethnic backgrounds, and women from Norh America and Puerto Rico are included in the study. After my sister, Linda, was diagnosed with breast cancer, I wanted to do something meanful that could impact future generations. This study is still recruiting women. A second study has emerged. This study is for women who have sisters that were diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 50. Both of these studies collect various information on your family history, environmental exposures, and your personal health history. Urine samples, toenail clippings and dust samples you collect from your home are submitted. These samples are stored for future study. The data that is collected is protected under HIPPA and under rigid guidelines. This important study could impact my daughter, granddaughter, and nieces. I would encourage any women reading this to please consider participating in this study if they qualify to do so. You can check out their webiste at www.sisterstudy.org
Another important researcher, Dr. Susan Love and Avon are interested in building a data base of one million women to be invited via e-mails to participate in breast cancer studies by various researchers. This program in called "Army of Women" So far, 68,000 women have signed up to participate in this data base. I signed up for this program and I invite you to as well. More information and the registration form is at: www.armyofwomen.org
When you look at our short time on this earth and all the suffering that women (and men) have endured because of breast cancer, participating in these studies are a very small price to pay. A slogan of our area newspaper, the McCook Gazette is: "Service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy in this world". How apt. I think it can be applied here. We need to serve others by volunteering our family histories, DNA, and other critical information to help unlock the mystery of why women and men are affected by this disease. One in eight women are diagnosed every year. Although women are becoming educated about breast cancer, early detection and mammograms, we still need to gather information for researchers to continue their important work. Please join me.
Joyce Kohout
Cambridge, NE
