April 2, 2007 – The American Cancer Society has joined with the Sister Study to recruit the sisters of women who had breast cancer for a landmark study. Conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), one of the National Institutes of Health, the Sister Study is designed to explore how the environment and genes affect the chances of getting breast cancer.

NIEHS hopes to enroll a total of 50,000 women whose sisters had breast cancer. It’s imperative that the Sister Study meet its enrollment goal by the end of 2007. Since its national launch in October 2004, the Sister Study has successfully recruited more than 33,000 participants, but recruitment is far from over.

“Women play the role of daughter, mother and friend throughout their lives, but no relationship is as unique as the one between two sisters,” said Debra Moore, health promotions coordinator of the American Cancer Society. “Researchers hope the sisters of women with breast cancer can help discover how the environment and genes affect a woman’s chances of developing breast cancer.”

Dale Sandler, Ph.D., Chief of the Epidemiology Branch at NIEHS and principal investigator of the Sister Study said, “We appreciate the American Cancer Society’s support of the Sister Study. It’s critical that we all work together to find the causes of this devastating disease.”

Women in the United States and Puerto Rico, ages 35 to 74, may be eligible to join the Sister Study if their sisters, living or deceased, had breast cancer. The Sister Study is for women who never had breast cancer, but who had a sister who did. Breast cancer affects women from every walk of life, so the Sister Study is seeking women of all backgrounds, occupations, ages, and ethnic groups.

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.

“Many women have inquired about the Sister Study, but they have not yet enrolled in this program,” Moore added. “Every woman is at risk for developing breast cancer. We hope the sisters of women with breast cancer will make that call today to get enrolled.”

Beside the American Cancer Society, other organizations that are in partnership with the Sister Study include Intercultural Cancer Council, NIH’s National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Sisters Network Inc., Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and 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.

To volunteer or learn more about the Sister Study, visit the web site www.sisterstudy.org. or for Spanish visit www.estudiodehermanas.org. A toll free number is also available at 1-877-4SISTER (1-877-474-7837). The Deaf/Hard of Hearing may call 1-866-TTY-4SIS (1-866-889-4747).