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Current Projects
Project Title Yoga for Breast Cancer Survivors: Effects on Fatigue, Immune Function, and Mood
Researcher Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, PhD
Study Summary Breast cancer survivors can have a lot of post-treatment problems, such as fatigue, depression, and a decrease in physical function. It is possible that physical activities, like yoga, could help ease these symptoms. This is a study about how yoga affects fatigue, immune function, and mood of women treated for breast cancer.
Project Title Variations in the Health Needs of Breast Cancer Survivors
Researcher Ulrike Boehmer, PhD at the Boston University School of Public Health
Study Summary Lesbian and bisexual women are part of an underserved population, and little research has been done to assess their health and well-being as breast cancer survivors. Identifying their unique needs by asking questions related to health and well-being in a survey will help researchers to develop culturally appropriate survivorship programs for these women. The information gained from this research into the well-being and quality of life of lesbian and bisexual breast cancer survivors will be used to develop programs and services designed to reduce health disparities.
Project Title Weight loss and biological parameters in breast cancer survivors
Researcher Andrea Arikawa, PhD
Study Summary Studies have found that women who are overweight or gain weight after having breast cancer are at greater risk of having a breast cancer recurrence than are women who are of average weight. But why would this be the case? That’s what researchers at the University of Minnesota are trying to discover. The purpose of this study is to find out if weight loss increases or decreases certain biomarkers that are associated with breast cancer risk, recurrence, and quality of life.
Project Title The Milk Study: Using Breast Milk to Screen for Breast Cancer and Assess Breast-Cancer Risk
Researcher Kathleen Arcaro, PhD
Study Summary The purpose of this study is to determine if breast cancer and breast cancer risk can be accurately assessed from a breast milk sample. Currently, there is no accurate way to give women information about their personal risk of developing breast cancer. We will use the cells naturally present in breast milk to examine changes in DNA that occur in association with benign and cancerous breast lesions. Learning about the genetic changes associated with both breast cancer and non-cancerous breast lesions will help us develop a way to provide women with information about their breast cancer risk. Using breast milk to screen for breast cancer will reduce unnecessary biopsies among nursing women.
Project Title Protocol for Narrowing the Gap in Adjuvant Therapy
Researcher Vanessa Sheppard, PhD
Study Summary African American women are more likely to die of breast cancer than Caucasian women, even though fewer African American women are getting breast cancer each year and screening use has improved. This difference has gotten worse over the past 20 years. The Gap Study was designed to gather the information needed to better understand the differences in breast cancer treatment experiences between Black/African American Women and White/European American Women. The researchers want to know more about how to improve the survival rates of women with breast cancer.
