VCU Massey Cancer center launches “The Daughter’s Project” to give women a voice in fighting breast cancer

By Andrea Butler
Massey Cancer Center

Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Massey Cancer Center today launched “The Daughter’s Project,” a research study of women over age 18 whose mothers had breast cancer within the last 25 years.

The project seeks 150 women for individual telephone interviews. Questions are designed to explore the daughters’ perspectives on breast cancer knowledge, informational needs, and their desired resources for future breast health interventions.

“This younger generation of women has greater potential to decrease breast cancer rates as they reach their adult years, compared to those of their mother’s generation, because they have more years to practice preventive behaviors,” said Diane Baer Wilson, EdD, MS, principal investigator of the study. “We want to give women with a family history of breast cancer a voice in how they receive health information, and their insight will help shape the direction of future interventions designed for daughters of women with breast cancer.”

For additional information on participating, women may call 804-828-1561.

Wilson notes that there is little formal research on breast cancer communication between mothers and daughters. Her study will explore whether daughters of women who have had breast cancer are aware of their health risks; whether they are vigilant for their own health; the range of communication patterns to which they’re exposed; and resources that would be of interest to them to stay abreast of information on the disease.