Army of Women

OK, I sent out a pretty big email about this after I saw it on t.v this morning, but I just had to post it on my blog, too, in the hopes that even more women can be reached. This is an incredible opportunity to help researchers find a cause, and cure, for breast cancer. If you're comfortable, I encourage you to volunteer for this program! Please pass this info on to any women you think would be willing to help.

Here's the link to sign up:
http://www.armyofwomen.org/


Army of Women goals:

• To recruit one million healthy women of every age and ethnicity, including breast cancer survivors and women at high-risk for the disease, to partner with breast cancer researchers and directly participate in the research that will eradicate breast cancer once and for all.
  


• To challenge the scientific community to expand its current focus to include breast cancer prevention research conducted on healthy women.

Below is some information from the Frequently Asked Questions section of their website.

Why should I sign up?
You should sign up for your sister, mother, daughter, granddaughter, best friend, and the woman you met last week. Breast cancer has been around for decades, but it does not have to be our future. We can be the generation that stops breast cancer once and for all by figuring out what causes this disease and how to prevent it! This is YOUR chance to be part of the research that will end breast cancer.

How does the Army of Women work?
Women who are interested register on the Love/Avon Army of Women website, providing very basic information such as name, age, city, and state of residence. Army staff notify volunteers via email about studies that need volunteers. These emails describe the study, criteria to participate, and what is involved. Women who fit the criteria respond to the email to express their interest. Army staff then contact these women to let them know how to take part.

Why do researchers want to study healthy women?
Most basic research in breast cancer has been done in the laboratory and on animals, or with samples collected and stored from women with breast cancer. Researchers use animals and samples from a “tissue bank” because they don’t have ready access to healthy women. But what we learn from animals doesn’t always translate into how cancer develops in women, and tissue only from women with cancer may not help solve the puzzle of what caused the cancer. The Army of Women will allow researchers to conduct a wider array of studies and to solve the puzzle as to how breast cancer starts and how to stop it in women!

What exactly will I have to do in a study?
It depends on the type of study. Studies may need women who will:
-Complete a questionnaire.
-Donate blood—this would typically involve having a blood sample taken from a vein in your arm.
-Donate urine, saliva, or even toenail clippings.
-Donate urine—this would involve collecting a small sample at a clinical laboratory.
-Donate a small sample of breast tissue—this would typically involve having a core needle biopsy done under local anesthesia as an outpatient. Your breast will look exactly the same as it did before the tissue was removed.
-Donate breast fluid—this would be done with a breast pump. You would be asked to massage your breast and squeeze your nipple prior to the pump being placed on your nipple. The procedure usually takes 1-15 minutes per breast.
-Donate breast fluid obtained through ductoscopy and/or ductal lavage. This procedure obtains fluid from the breast by washing out the breast ducts.

What if I don't want to participate in a certain study?
You are in control and are able to determine which, if any, research studies you would like to be involved in. You will never be asked to leave the Army of Women because you have not yet participated in a research study.

PLEASE consider what a difference this could make!