An Active Participant

As documented through my many posts about my enrollment in the PRESENT I enjoy helping forward the science around breast cancer. I am so grateful for all who came before me and participated. The fact that my chemo was approved less than 20 years ago and tamoxifen is only 40 years old treatment, for breast cancer is still being developed by leaps and bounds. Participating in the vaccine study is super important to me to help shape future treatment. It's how I feel that I can give back.

Now I have found even more ways to give back, in the name of science. And sometimes all they want is my blood. I have been turned onto an amazing resource called the Army of Women. Here they have other blogs to read, resources and most importantly they have a list of Current Projects. This is a program of the Dr. Susan Love Research Program and they have open studies posted on the site. Well, guess what I found a new study to enroll in, its called Breast Cancer Risk in Young Women Study. The researchers are looking at genetic factors for women who had breast cancer at 40 years or younger. From the Army of Women site I was able to let the researchers know of my interest; I fit the bill and they sent me an email to confirm my interest. I confirmed my interest and a package arrived in the mail. It contained consent forms (for the release of my medical history, pathology reports, previous genetic tests, etc), a box with two blood tubes and a FedEx return envelope. All I had to do was sign the forms and get my blood drawn. Easy. Peasy. Lemon Squeezy.

This time I was able to recruit two other people to be involved in the genetic testing. Mom and Dad. So now I have family members sending their blood across the country in the name of science! I also completed at phone interview for my family history. When I get to my paternal grandmother and detail her and her sisters history of ovarian cancer I got the usual response "Oh dear". Zero breast cancer though. A very interesting genetic history. Maybe this one will turn up a marker, maybe it wont. However, I know that the more data that studies have the better chance they may find a commonality in young women with breast cancer and find why the incidence might be increasing. And all they wanted was two tubes of blood. 

Also, looking at the studies the Nutrition Nerd in me totally wished I lived in Chicago and could enroll in the gut microbes and breast cancer study. Fascinating stuff.