Female Volunteers Needed For Stress Reduction Study

    
    
    WHAT:         Are you stressed? Do you have a family history of breast
                  cancer?
    
                  Health SMART is a study is being conducted by
                  researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
                  to see how stress-reduction workshops can help women
                  with a family history of breast cancer manage their
                  everyday stresses and cancer-risk concerns. The goal
                  of the study, funded by the National Cancer Institute,
                  is to see whether various stress-management and coping
                  techniques reduce stress and improve immune function.
    
                  Specifically, the study will teach women scientifically
                  proven stress-management techniques (such as
                  mindfulness meditation and guided imagery), coping
                  strategies (such as anger management and assertiveness
                  training) and provide information on health behaviors.
                  All workshops are conducted in a supportive group
                  setting with other women who have a family history of
                  breast cancer. Participants will be asked to complete
                  questionnaires, give blood and saliva samples, and
                  receive two hepatitis-A vaccinations. Some risks
                  involved in participating in the study include the
                  possibility of discomfort and a bruise at the blood
                  draw site, the possibility of distress from discussing
                  one's breast cancer risk in a group setting, brief pain
                  at the hepatitis-A vaccination injection site and, in
                  rare cases, an allergic reaction to the vaccine. There
                  is no charge to participate.
    
                  All participants will receive a set of CDs with
                  relaxation exercises, a tote bag and a workbook filled
                  with stress-management techniques taught in the
                  classes.
    
    WHO:          The study aims to recruit 96 Seattle-area women, age 18
                  to 60, who are willing to participate in 10 two-hour
                  workshops.
    
    WHERE:        All study activities will take place on the Hutchinson
                  Center campus in the Prevention Center, which is
                  located in the Robert M. Arnold Building, 1212 Aloha
                  St., Seattle.
    
    CONTACT:      For more information about the Health SMART Study,
                  please visit http://www.healthsmartstudy.org/, call
                  the study information line at 206-667-2448 or e-mail
                  [e-mail]
    

/PRNewswire -- March 30/

SOURCE Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

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