October 14, 2009

Donate Tissue to Help Researchers Advance Breast Cancer Research

INDIANAPOLIS — Would you like to make a difference by helping to find a cure for breast cancer?

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center will collect breast tissue samples from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Clarian Arnett Cancer Care, 420 N. 26th St., Lafayette, Ind.

The Komen Tissue Bank is collecting samples in Lafayette to increase the number of samples from young, college-age women. Women of all ages, however, are welcome to donate.

What to Expect During the Donation Process
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 one gram (or the size of two peas).

To participate, women must:

• be age 18 or older
  
• understand and 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 anesthetic (numbing medicine)
  
• not be receiving a therapeutic blood thinner (this does not include aspirin)
  
• not have breast implants or have had a breast reduction

To register, visit www.komentissuebank.iu.edu or contact Pat Mitchum at (317) 274-2366, (866) 763-0047, or pamitchu@iupui.edu. Donors must have a confirmed appointment time.

By collecting samples from women with and without breast cancer, researchers will be able to determine the differences between these populations, which could lead to a better understanding of the disease. Samples taken from women without the disease are especially helpful because there are few collections of so-called "normal"tissue. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank at the IU Simon Cancer Center will ultimately give researchers valuable and unprecedented research data.

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Media Contact:

Michael Schug
IU Simon Cancer Center
(317) 278-0953
maschug@iupui.edu