Tina and Wanda
Left to right: Tina and Wanda
By Tina, a Sister Study participant from North Carolina
One day in April, after my sister returned from a trip, she called to inform me that she had discovered a lump under her left arm. She made an appointment to have it checked out and after two weeks, my sister had confirmation that it was in fact breast cancer. We discussed the treatment recommended by her doctor. At that time, I was the strong and supportive sister. Once I hung up the phone, I began to wonder will I have to take care of her, will my 2 nephews come to live with me or go live with their father, are my sister’s affairs in order? We had been through this with our mother who had been diagnosed with colon cancer. Our lives changed rapidly in order to provide the care our mother needed in the months before she passed.
I started to think of how similar our health issues are, the things we share. We were both being monitored for colon cancer. I didn’t know what to expect but I did know that I would be there for her. My sister was a trooper. She kept her head up and maintained a positive attitude. She used humor to deal with the hard things like the loss of her hair. We began to increase our phone calls and had a few more visits than in the past. I reassured my sister of how proud I was of her and how beautiful she is. Wanda has completed her chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Her hair is growing back and she has regained her figure. My sister is very active in her local chapter of Sisters Network, Inc.
I became involved in the Sister Study at the invitation of my sister. Wanda cares enough about me and other women, that she would like to ensure that all women are aware of the importance of prevention, treatment and cure. We talk about the need for women to know that breast cancer can be hereditary, that early detection is vital through breast self-examination and regular mammograms. This research is especially important for women of color, be they Black, Hispanic, Native American or Asian. There is not enough information about minority women so we are unsure of what to do, afraid of not understanding what the doctor is telling us and we infrequently participate in research studies. Breast cancer doesn’t have to be a death sentence. The more researchers know, the better they can predict and or prevent this from affecting so many women. Sisters have a common bond in their genetic make-up. The Sister Study enables researchers to look at the environmental and genetic issues which may contribute to the development of breast cancer. This research is only beneficial if they have committed participants. I invite you to get involved not only for yourself, but for generations of women to come.
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