Sisters Need to be Buddies

Hi Buddies,

Yet, another reason why sisters of women who've been diagnosed with breast cancer should take part in the Sister Study. Finding the possible environmental links to the causes of breast cancer is the focus of this multi-year study of Sisters.
Researchers are hoping to recruit 50-thousand sisters. They're especially interested in enrolling women of color, blacks, Latinas and Asians, who are routinely underrepresented in clincal breast cancer studies.
I'm including two links. The first is my Buddy Check 9 report explaining the significance of the Sister Study.
The second is a link to a "Black America On the Web" article on the need for African-American women's participation in the Sister Study & clinical trials in general.

http://www.wusa9.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=36070
http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/bawnews/sisterstudy716

In a related item, Susan G. Komen For the Cure Foundation has awarded two grants to the Black Women's Health Study. One study will look at whether neighborhood characteristics affect a woman's risk for breast cancer. Even though education and income levels may be equal, in many instances, a black woman's neighborhood is less advantaged than a white woman's. Could that contribute to a cancer diagnosis?
The second study will consider whether exposure to neighborhood violence increases a woman's risk for the disease...perhaps through its effects on her immune system.
These BWHS investigators are from Boston University & Howard University. To learn more about BWHS and its mission, here is their web address: www.bu.edu/bwhs

That's it for now,
Andrea