Younger Women Sought to Help Test Materials on Uncertainty

By Eloesa McSorley, LBBC Staff; reviewed by Diane Blyler, PhD

Researchers seek African-American women affected by breast cancer to test materials designed for the needs of women under age 50

Sponsored By: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are enrolling young women affected by breast cancer in a study that will test materials designed to help manage feelings of uncertainty after a breast cancer diagnosis.

The study is one of a series of studies on Managing Uncertainty in Cancer (MUIC) that focus on how people diagnosed with different types of cancer deal with both the physical and emotional side effects of cancer and cancer treatment.

Goals and Structure of the study

The goal of the Younger Breast Cancer Survivors: Managing Uncertainty study is to determine whether women who are given an informational program about managing fear of recurrence and coping with long-term treatment side effects will be able to better manage their symptoms of uncertainty, have a better quality of life and show less evidence of stress than women who do not receive such information.

Participating women will be randomly placed into two groups. At the beginning of the study, one group will receive information about dealing with the physical and emotional side effects of cancer and cancer treatment. This is the "intervention," or technique, under study. The information will be presented as part of a program called "Managing Uncertainty Day to Day," which includes a CD and written materials designed to help women deal with uncertainty and long-term side effects of treatment. Nurses will call women in this group to familiarize them with the materials.

Women in the other group (the control group, or the group that receives the standard technique) will receive calls from a member of the research team four times throughout the course of the study to discuss their survivorship experience. When the study is complete, women in this group will receive the CD and written materials.

During the course of about eight months during the study, all participants will receive three home visits to be interviewed about themselves. The will also give saliva samples during three 3-day periods to test levels of cortisol, a hormone that can provide information about levels of stress.

Am I Eligible?

This study seeks women under age 50 who are between two and four years from completing breast cancer treatment. You may still be taking tamoxifen or other ongoing hormonal therapy. To participate, you must live in any of the 100 counties of North Carolina.

The study has reached its enrollment goal for Caucasian women and seeks to sign up more African-American women so the researchers can see if support materials are helpful to women of both racial backgrounds. This information is important because not only are there health disparities, but there are also disparities in who participates in research. Very few studies include enough African-American women to be able to see if they benefit. This study is the first intervention program developed for younger breast cancer survivors.

If you fit the criteria and would like more information or are interested in enrolling in the study, call the toll-free study number at (800) 349-5858.

Interested in Learning More?

If you would like to learn about ways to manage the emotional and physical side effects that arise after treatment, look at a recent LBBC teleconference on the topic. In "Moving Beyond Breast Cancer: From Treatment to Survivorship," Julia H. Rowland, PhD, explores issues related to finishing your treatment plan, and moving into the realm of survivorship. Download it from our publications page.

Learn more about the study

For more information, contact: For more information, call (800) 349-5858

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