Healing Choices for Women with Breast Cancer

Enrollment for this study is now closed. We are no longer enrolling new participants. Thank you

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are you doing this study?

In this study researchers will be testing if new methods and materials for providing breast cancer information to our callers are helpful to them. This new service will provide this information using either the Internet or a CD.

Who can participate in the study?

Any newly diagnosed breast cancer patients who are still making decisions about their breast cancer treatment is eligible for this study.

Who is funding the study?

This study is funded by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health. The Cancer Information Service is the public and professional information program of the National Cancer Institute.

Who has reviewed and approved the study?

This study was reviewed and approved by a special committee called the “Human Subjects Protection Committee” at each participating institution. This committee reviewed this study to make sure it was ethical, and that the benefits of conducting this study outweigh any possible negative effects.

What are the medical or research credentials and experience of the researchers and other study personnel?

The CISRC principal investigator and all the project leaders and co-investigators have years of experiences in cancer research and have previously received grant funding for cancer research from the NCI and other national and non-profit organizations.

Can I have the contact information of the principal investigator or other study personnel?

Yes, please see contact information above for both Principal Investigator and Project Manager.

How are participants’ information and data protected?

If a person decides to join this study, we will never share or report any of her individual answers. Only summaries of what all people in this study say will be reported. It is very important that we keep personal information private. We keep all participants’ information in one location on a secure database that can be accessed only by the study team.

What will you be doing with results?

The results of the study will be used to understand if and how patients benefited from the new educational methods and materials on breast cancer and its treatment. This information is useful as it provides evidence that the new educational methods and materials can also help other breast cancer patients learn more about breast cancer and make a treatment decision.

Who will have access to the data?

Participant privacy is very important to us. Only the research team will have access to personal data. Once a person signs up for the study and authorizes us to interview her, we will only use personal information for study purposes. This means that if we publish anything it would not have a participant’s name or any other information that would link it to her.

Will there be follow-up surveys after the first survey? If so, how many surveys will participants receive?

The first call /interview will take place about two months after the participant’s first call to the CIS, and the second call will take place seven months later. Our researcher will ask participants questions about the study, the materials received, and how they are doing. We might contact participants again for additional follow-up beyond 9 months if they agree to continue their participation in the study.

How long will the study last?

The study started in 2008 and will end in 2009. Each participant who agrees to participate will receive two telephone calls/interviews from a member of our research team. The first call/interview will take place about two months after the participant’s first call to the CIS, and the second call call/interview will take place seven months later.

Can potential participants talk with people already enrolled in the study?

Because we keep the contact information of all participants private, it will not be possible to provide the contact information of the people that are already enrolled in the study.

Are there any kinds of treatment, medical tests, or procedures the participants will have during this study?

This study does not include any medical procedures or treatment.

What are some of the benefits of taking part in this study?

Participants will have access to new educational materials and method designed to help patients learn more about breast cancer and treatment. Results from the study also may help other women diagnosed with breast cancer in the future.

What are some of the possible risks or side effects of taking part in this study?

Because this study will provide participants with information and ask questions related to their experiences with breast cancer, there is a small chance that this study may cause a person to feel anxious or worried about her breast cancer. This might happen even though this study is designed to make our callers better informed about their breast cancer, and to help them with their breast cancer-related concerns.

Will participants have to pay for any charges?

Participants in this study will not pay for any charges.

What happens when this study is over?

After all of the interviews are completed the data will be analyzed. The researchers will present their findings at conferences and in journals. Audiences for the findings are likely to include women diagnosed with breast cancer, the professionals who serve them, and other researchers.

Where can people find more information about this study?

You can direct potentially eligible participants to call: The National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service (CIS) at 1‑800‑4‑CANCER.

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