At our next two tissue collection events (coming up on April 27^th and October 19^th in Indianapolis) the KTB will be helping to facilitate at new study conducted by Dr. Tarah Ballinger and her team.

We know that exercise is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer. What we don’t know is:

1. how do we help women at increased risk for breast cancer regularly exercise? And
2. how does exercise affect breast tissue?

The purpose of this research is to help find some answers to these questions.

Participants in this study will be asked to:

• participate in an exercise program for a 16-week period. The program includes an online course continuing three, 30-minute exercise videos per week. These videos are led by breast oncologist Tarah Ballinger MD and the cancer center’s lead exercise physiologist Danielle Halsey;
• have two breast research biopsies at local Komen Tissue Bank events on April 27, 2024, and October 19, 2024;
• provide a blood sample in conjunction with both biopsies; and
• undergo an assessment of your body composition (what percentage of your body weight is fat) using an In-Body machine at both events. For this, you stand on a platform and hold on to special handles. During the test, the machine sends safe, non-painful low-level currents throughout your body using hand and foot electrodes in the base and handles to analyze body fat and muscle content.

Who is eligible for this study? Women ages 18 to 69 years who:

• are at increased risk of breast cancer due to first or second degree relative with family history, dense breast tissue, or history of atypical hyperplasia on breast biopsy (patients with pathogenic gene mutations conferring risk are allowed);
• are currently not meeting exercise guidelines (defined as less than 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per week measured by the Goden Leisure time questionnaire administered during screening);
• are not currently receiving or planning to receive hormone replacement therapy; and
• be available for and plan to attend both Komen Tissue Bank collections on April 27 and October 19, 2024.

Low dose hormonal birth control or IUD is allowed.

Women participating in this study must complete informed consent for both this the Komen Tissue Bank study, and authorization of the release of health information must be obtained according to institutional guidelines.

If you are interested in participating or to learn more about this opportunity, please email ExStudy@iu.edu or call 317-944-3553 and leave a voicemail.