Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Seeks Seattle Area Volunteers for a Stress-reduction Study

SEATTLE, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- (ongoing until further notice)

    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.fhcrc.org/science/phs/health_smart/, call the study
             information line at 206-667-2448 or e-mail healthsmart@fhcrc.org

    Kristen Lidke Woodward
    Senior Media Relations Manager
    Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
    External Affairs and Communications Department
    1100 Fairview Ave. N., J5-300
    P.O. Box 19024
    Seattle, WA 98109-1024
    Phone: 206-667-5095
    Fax: 206-667-7005

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SOURCE Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

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