Atlanta researcher leads largest U.S. population study of black women and cancer

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Part of Atlanta-based researcher Dr. Lauren McCullough’s mission is to better understand why Black women suffer from more aggressive types of cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, black women in the United States have the highest mortality rate of any racial or ethnic group for most cancers.

That’s why they launched the Voices of Black Women study. Dr. McCullough is one of the study’s principal investigators.

“We see you, we honor you, we hope to collaborate with you to improve health,” Dr. McCullough said of the study’s importance for Black women.

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“We’re really interested in learning more about the experiences of Black women, how they engage with the medical care system, how other comorbid conditions may impact their treatment and care , and understand why we have such inequalities in cancer and other health problems.” she says.

Voices of Black Women is the largest behaviorally and environmentally focused population-based study of cancer risk and outcomes. Dr McCullough said as a black woman herself, this study was extremely important.

The American Cancer Society now needs more black women to enroll in the 30-year study. The study will examine 100,000 black women and their lifestyles, health issues, racism and discrimination, and other factors.

“Black women’s voices were silenced for a very long time, and then when black women started using their voice, it became too powerful,” Dr. McCullough said. “But we want to show the power of their voices.”

Study participants must be black women aged 25 to 55 who have never had cancer. Participants must live in one of 20 states plus Washington, D.C.

To register click here.

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