Understanding breast cancer
Study seeks women factory workers
The UAW Health and Safety Department reports that increases in cancer rates which
are likely work-related have been seen in UAW-represented vehicle assembly, machining,
foundry and other facilities.
The union is actively researching the chemical causes of these excesses through
jointly funded
studies. One study suggested higher rates of breast cancer are associated with
increased exposure to metalworking fluids.
To join the Sister Study, go to www.sisterstudy.org or call (877) 4-SISTER
toll-free, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. (EST).
Few previous studies of breast cancer have involved women who work in industry.
The Sister Study, an extensive study of women whose sisters had breast cancer,
is being conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences,
one of the National Institutes of Health. One aim is to help identify environmental
and job factors that may cause breast cancer.
UAW women are being asked to participate.
“The Sister Study is national and if we include a diverse group of
women – including women who work in factories – we stand a better
chance of including women with a wide range of exposures and lifestyles,” said
Dr. Dale Sandler, chief of the NIEHS’ Epidemiology Branch. “This,
in turn, increases the chance we can detect the impact of some environmental
exposures on breast cancer risk.”
It’s possible that women factory workers who have much more physically
active jobs than the majority of American women are less likely to get breast
cancer. Or they may be more “take-charge” types who have better access
to health care. Thus far, the important risk factor is getting older, so there’s
a lot of research to do.
Sisters of women with breast cancer are twice as likely as other women to
develop breast cancer, in part due to shared genes. But sisters likely share
environments
as well. Researchers want to know about shared environmental factors, with
the goal being to eventually develop strategies that decrease the risk.
They will study 50,000 women ages 35-74 who have not had breast cancer but
whose sisters have. They will answer some over-the-phone and written surveys
and provide blood, urine, household dust and toenail samples. The survey takes
about four hours, but is divided into segments to fit into work schedules.
Researchers stay in touch with the women for 10 years to track changes in
address, health or environment.
Members of UAW Local 1714’s Women’s Committee wanted to help
raise breast cancer awareness when they returned from a Coalition of Labor Union
Women conference last year.
They sold “hope bracelets” for $5 in their General Motors Metal
Fabricating plant in Lordstown, Ohio. They often had to make them on their breaks
as people waited.
“There were a lot of people out there who had family members dealing
with breast cancer,” said Angela Jacobs, the committee’s former co-chair.
They donated $1,748 to the Sister Study. Jacobs, who recently took a buyout,
and her co-chair, Kathie Rowan, who recently took a retirement offer, said they
want UAW women to participate to see if working in a factory increases the risk.
“There are a lot more women in the factories now,” Jacobs said. “We
work around a lot of chemicals. I think it’s really important to figure
out what is causing breast cancer, to keep us safe.”
Vince Piscopo
