Sometimes, the only way to figure out what went wrong is to go back to the start, when everything was right.
That’s how researchers at the Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank are approaching research into breast cancer. They are collecting samples of women’s healthy breast tissue, so they can study what goes wrong when that tissue becomes cancerous.
Next month, they’re coming to the Valley, and they’re asking women to come and donate samples of their healthy breast tissue to the bank. They’ve gathered more than 5,000 samples from women around the country so far, and they need women here to sign up to donate now.
The Show’s Lauren Gilger spoke about it with Dr. Lida Mina, a breast medical oncologist with the Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center.
The healthy breast tissue collection event will take place on March 3 at Banner MD Anderson in Mesa. If you're 18 or older, you can sign up to donate until March 2.
What to expect during the donation process
Physicians, staff, and volunteers from IU's Komen Tissue Bank and Banner MD Anderson will collect the tissue samples for this breast cancer clinical trial.
During the donation process, a tissue sample is taken from one breast with a needle and local anesthesia. The amount of tissue taken is about 1 gram (or the size of two peas). To participate, women must:
- Be 18 or older.
- Have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign an informed consent.
- Be willing to give one hour of their time to complete a questionnaire and a breast biopsy.
- Not be allergic to local anesthetics (numbing medicine).
- Not be receiving a therapeutic blood thinner (this does not include aspirin).
