Well, I've finally been called to action!
I received the following email (copied and pasted here for you) today:
Grow the Army of Women
On-line survey for breast cancer survivors
If you know of anyone who has ever had breast cancer, please share this with them!
Dear Nancy,
We need women in the United States who have been diagnosed with breast cancer of any stage (including LCIS and DCIS) to take part in an on-line survey developed by researchers who are trying to identify individual characteristics that may put some breast cancer survivors at higher risk of developing uterine cancer.
Studies have shown that the drug tamoxifen, which is used to treat women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer, can increase a woman's risk of developing uterine cancer. These researchers want to identify certain personal characteristics that might influence whether or not a woman taking tamoxifen goes on to develop uterine cancer. It is NOT necessary to have taken tamoxifen to complete this survey.
Please read on to learn more about what's involved and who can participate.
And please don't forget to tell any of your friends or family who are breast cancer survivors about this on-line study!
What's the study about?
The research team wants to develop a tool that can determine whether a woman with breast cancer is at higher risk of going on to develop uterine cancer. Women will be separated into two groups: 1. those who developed uterine cancer after being diagnosed with breast cancer and 2. those who did not develop uterine cancer after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Comparing the two groups will allow the research team to investigate the specific individual characteristics that are associated with developing uterine cancer after being diagnosed with breast cancer. If you were diagnosed with uterine cancer before you were diagnosed with breast cancer, you can still participate in the survey.
What's involved?
If you sign up for the Breast Cancer, Uterine Cancer, and YOU Study, you will be sent a link to an on-line survey. The survey is confidential. This means that you will be asked to provide basic demographic information (such as age and ethnicity), but that you will NOT be asked for any identifying information (such as your name or e-mail address). The survey will ask questions about your smoking and exercise history, breast cancer diagnosis and treatment history, reproductive health and menstrual history, and personal and family medical history, including whether or not you have been diagnosed with uterine cancer. The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Who is conducting the study?
Michael Milam, MD, MPH, at the University of Louisville Brown Cancer Center, in Kentucky
Where?
Anywhere in the United States – this is an on-line study
Who can participate?
You can join the Breast Cancer, Uterine Cancer, and YOU Study if you match ALL of these MAIN categories:
• You are a woman over the age of 18
• You have been diagnosed with breast cancer of any stage (including LCIS and DCIS) at some point in your life
• You have access to the Internet and are willing to complete an on-line survey
• You live in the United States
If you RSVP for the study and are found to be a match, you will receive a link to the on-line survey.
If you're a Breast Cancer Survivor and interested in joining, click below.
If you know of someone else who might be interested you may share information with them by clicking here:
~ end of email ~
Even though my cancer was 'hormome-sensitive and in spite of the fact that Tamoxifen has been proven to reduce the chance of a women having a recurrence of Breast Cancer, I chose not to follow up my mastectomy with Tamoxifen, even though it was suggested by my surgeon & oncologist, partially because I had heard (and read) that it can increase a BC survivor's chance of developing uterine cancer (not to mention blood clots). I'm glad that this subject is being studied so that we can learn whether or not it is worth the risk to take it.
