Welcome!
The Sister Study is the only long-term study of women ages 35-74 who have never had breast cancer themselves but whose biological sister was diagnosed with the disease. It is a national study to learn how environment and genes affect the chances of getting breast cancer. A total of 50,000 women have joined the effort to find the causes of breast cancer.
If you are a participant and need assistance, please call our toll-free number 1-877-4SISTER (1-877-474-7837)
For Deaf or Hard of Hearing, call toll-free
1-866-TTY-4SIS (1-866-889-4747)
Woman by woman…Sister by sister…
We
can make a difference!
THE EARLY LIFE EXPOSURES STUDY
Early life factors may influence health later in life. The new Early Life Exposures Study seeks to learn how well selected Sister Study participants were able to answer questions about their early life experiences by inviting their mothers to answer similar questions. Researchers will use this information when examining how early life experiences influence health in adulthood.
WHY IS THE SISTER STUDY SO IMPORTANT?
- The Sister Study is one of the first long-term studies to help us understand how women's genes and the things in their environment — homes, workplaces, and communities — influence risk of breast cancer. It is the first to collect such extensive and detailed information about environmental exposures.
- Women from different generations and from various racial and ethnic groups and geographic regions of the U.S. and Puerto Rico will take part in the study. Sister Study results can then be used to help as many women as possible. (read more)
- The risk for breast cancer increases as you get older. It is the most ... (read more)
- To find out more about who is leading the Sister Study, click here to visit the "Who is Leading the Study?" page.
- To meet the Sister Study Recruitment Team, click here.
The Sister Study has Two Advisory Boards
The Scientific Advisory Board and the Recruitment and Retention
Advisory Board provide guidance to study staff.
(read more)
Sister Study in the News and Media:
- October 5 , 2009: "Sister Study Exceeds Recruitment Goal: Now the Real Work Begins"
Read the Sister Study Recruitment News Release here. (read release)
- March 16 , 2009: "First Sister Study Results Reinforce the Importance of Healthy Living"
Read the first Sister Study results News Release here. (read release)
- June 25, 2008: "Saving Sisters - Marilyn Norby in Washington State"
Marilyn Norby's sister story was featured on SouthWhidbeyRecord.com's web site.
For the entire article (read article)
- December 2007: Woman's Day Magazine
United in Hope
After my sister Olivia battled breast cancer, I signed up for the landmark Sister Study and convinced our sisters to join. Then the unthinkable happened: I was diagnosed, too
Cruz Mireles, as told to Cheryl Platzman Weinstock
For the entire article (read article)
- September 2007: The First Lady of
Puerto Rico, Mrs. Luisa Gándara, announced her enrollment in the
Sister Study during a Press Conference event at Fortaleza, San Juan, and
she exhorts other Latina women to take action and enroll in this important
study. (download pdf)
(Requires Adobe Acrobat - download here)
- 2007 Yoplait Champion: Sister Study recruiter Sara Williams honored as 2007 Yoplait Breast Cancer Champion. (more)
- May 5, 2007: Ms. Mary Anderson wrote
a wonderful article about Sister Study participants in the Courier-Tribune
newspaper of Asheboro, NC. (download pdf)
(Requires Adobe Acrobat - download here)
- January 10, 2007: Champion Sisters
of Houston chime in to help the Sister Study in an article from Houston
Community Newspapers by Valerie Clifton.
(read article)
- January 2007: Coping Magazine included “The Value of Sisterhood,” an
article about Sister Study participant Wish Martin.
(download pdf)
(Requires Adobe Acrobat - download here)
- November/December 2006: United Auto
Workers' Solidarity
Magazine highlighted the Sister Study in an article called “Understanding
Breast Cancer: Study Seeks Factory Workers.”
(download pdf)
(Requires Adobe Acrobat - download here)
- November 2006: The Sister Study was
featured in Ladies Home Journal in a sidebar written
by Karen Bruno, which was included in an article by Susan Brody.
(download pdf)
(Requires Adobe Acrobat - download here)
- Fall 2006: Every Woman Magazine published an
article about the Sister Study, “Sister
Power - Sisters Fighting The Battle Against Breast Cancer.”
(download pdf)
(Requires Adobe Acrobat - download here)
- July 25, 2006: The Sister Study was featured WABC-New York's Seven's On Call with Dr. Jay Adlersberg. (watch video)
- June 6, 2006: The Sister Study was featured in the Lexington Herald-Leader. (read article)
- April 25, 2006: The Tampa Tribune published an article
about the Sister Study.
(read page 1, page 2)
- January 24 and April 10, 2006: The Sister Study was featured on UNC-TV's North Carolina NOW. Watch the video to meet some of our sisters and recruiters, and hear why they are so committed to the Sister Study. (watch video)
- January 2006: The Dowegiac Daily
News featured a story about the Sister
Study.
(read story)