MSU breast cancer study to focus on young African American women

By Rina Miller, Michigan Radio

Michigan State University scientists are looking at why young African American women and poor women appear to be at greater risk for invasive breast cancer.

Nearly 44,000 American women under 50 are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer each year.

Ellen Velie will lead a five-year study looking at why women from a lower socioeconomic status are at increased risk for tumors with the worst prognosis.

“The things we’re going to be asking about are childhood growth, body size, pubertal development and body size in adulthood as well,” Velie says. “We’ll also ask about physical activity in her lifetime, and then diet in her adult life.”

Women from metropolitan Detroit and Los Angeles County will take part in the research.
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