For Immediate Release

For more information contact:
Kim Varner
Hager Sharp
1-202-842-3600 x254
kvarner@hagersharp.com

Area Women Join Fight Against Breast Cancer
Sisters from the New York Metropolotian Area enroll in the Sister Study to find the causes of breast cancer

New York, NY (June 19, 2006) - Watching a loved one suffer is hearbreaking and may leave you feeling helpless. For over 26,000 women whose sisters had breast cancer, the Sister Study is now giving them hope. The Sister Study is a long-term observational study researching how our environment and genes affect the chances of getting breast cancer. To date, 2,049 women in New York and New Jersey have joined this landmark study.

The Sister Study is conducted by the National Institutes of Envrionmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), one of the National Institutes of Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Recruiters from the study will exhibit at the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Flushing, NY at Kissena Park on June 24-25, 2006.

Lyn May, the host of Long Island's Act Two with Newsday joined the Sister Study, in celebration of her sister Carol, a 16-year breast cancer survivor.

"I'm delighted to help the Sister Study learn more about the causes of breast cancer in older women and in African American women," says 65-year-old May. "I have daughters, granddaughters, stepdaughters and nieces. I'm participating in this important study for them, and for all women of color."

You may be able to join the Sister Study if you are between 35 to 74 years old, your sister had breast cancer, and you live in the United States or Puerto Rico. Women who join the Sister Study must never have had breast cancer themselves.

Through a range of questionnaires and samples from the participants, the 10-year study takes a detailed look at how women's genes and things women come in contact with at home, work and in the community may influence breast cancer risk. Although the Sister Study launched in October 2004, enrollment will continue through September 2007. The study is looking for 50,000 women of diverse backgrounds, states, occupations, races and ethnicities, so that the results of the study will benefit all women.

Elizabeth Samson, a New Jersey resident of Filipino descent, joined the Sister Study after watching her sister Claire battle breast cancer. "Our wish is to keep the bonds that hold our family together, but to break the links of disease that threaten our lives." said the 68-year-old economist. "We look to the Sister Study breast cancer research for some answers."

The Sister Study follows sound, ethical research practices, and keeps all personal data safe, private and confidential. Women who join are not asked to take any medicine, visit a medical center, or make any changes to their habits, diet or daily life.

Organizations that are in partnership with the Sister Study include the American Cancer Society, the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health, Sisters Network, In.c, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization. In addition to working with its national partners, the Sister Study works with local, regional and national organizations to inform diverse women about the study.

Joining the Sister Study if fairly simple, can be done from home when it is convenient for women, and is available in English and Spanish. To volunteer or learn more about the Sister Study, visit the website at www.sisterstudy.org, or for Spanish visit www.estudiodehermanas.org. A toll free number is also available 1-877-4SISTER (1-877-474-7837). Deaf/Hard of Hearing call 1-866-TTY-4SIS (866-889-4747).

The Sister Study will host a booth at the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Flushing, NY at Kissejna Park on June 24-25, 2006. They will be sharing a booth in the Velodrome, with the American Cancer Society.

Sister Study recruiters/spokespersons Naomi Takeuchi and Sara Williams will be staffing the booth and available for interviews.

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