giffAR MG, g5

General number: 1-800-4-CANCER
Area hospitals participating in the STAR clinical study include:
• Henry Ford Health System, (313) 916-1856.
• University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, (800) 916-1125.
• Oakwood Hospital and Medical Center, (313) 593-8000.
• Providence Hospital Cancer Center, (800) 341-0801.
• William Beaumont Hospital, (877)-232-8226.
• Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute, (800) 527-6266.
• Michigan State University, (517) 432-2616.
• St. Joseph Mercy-Pontiac, (800) 372-6094.

important issues for patients.
cancer genetics at the Karmanos
Some women do not want to con-
Institute.
front their health risks and refuse
That means not everyone who is a
genetic testing. Others may take
carrier will get the disease, but the
unnecessary drastic measures if it's
data shows that 2.6 percent of
determined they are at risk.
Ashkenazi women are carriers of
For example, some women have
mutant (faulty) BRCA1 or BRCA2
had bilateral surgery to
genes. "That's 20 times
remove both breasts
more than the average
because they experienced
Caucasian population," said
the painful death of a
Dr. Tainsky, "a significant
),
mother or sister who died
difference.
of breast cancer. Genetic
He sees the STAR
testing would give these
research project as an
women a more reliable fac-
opportunity to be proactive.
tor for risk and provide
According to him, genetic
alternative treatments.
testing in Jewish women of
Complicating matters are
Ashkenazi descent has been
such other issues as dealing
extensively carried out in
with insurance companies
many locations, including
that may refuse coverage
New York and Chicago, but Dr Michael Simon
because it is known that a
not in southeastern
woman has a precondition
Michigan.
for the disease. In addition,
"The current plan from
some employers might not
the previous tamoxifen trial is
hire these women because
to examine DNA by genetic
they have special needs.
testing, noting which women
"Our plan is to speak
had or didn't have a faulty
out and educate as many
breast cancer gene and if they
people in the Jewish com-
were taking tamoxifen or a
munity as we can, Dr.
placebo. That will add on
Tainsky said. "I've presented
another two years to that
at a couple of different
study.
Dr. Michael Tainsky functions and I'm available
"If women with BRCA1
for meetings."
mutations as well as those
At Karmanos, and at most of the
women of Ashkenazi descent who
other cancer centers, a certified genetic
weren't genetically tested as carriers,
counselor is part of the process in deter-
volunteer for the new STAR project,
mining which women will participate in
there will be sufficient women with or
the STAR trial. They also help patients
without a genetic predisposition to
examine the issues to help make a deci-
cancer to determine, at the closure of
sion regarding testing and possible treat-
the STAR trial, whether BRCA1 or
ment. They may also keep the patient
BRCA2 mutation carriers will benefit
informed about future prevention trials
from tamoxifen or raloxifene.
and surgical procedures.
"The data we gather on them will
"I strongly believe that the more
answer questions such as if either drug
information a woman has about her
does help to prevent breast cancer in
health risk, the better her decision will
Ashkenazi women, and if so, which
be about her options and the more
works best. That information is going
comfortable she will be about her
to help this area's Jewish community."
decision," said Dr. Tainsky Li
According to Dr. Tainsky, there are

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