You can help by donating a tissue sample to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank at the IU Simon Cancer Center from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, June 25, in the Hematology Clinic and Women’s Center (second floor) in the patient building of the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, 1030 W. Michigan St.
Parking is available across the street in the Vermont Street Garage on the Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) campus.
What to Expect During the Donation Process
During the donation process, a tissue sample is taken from one breast with a needle and local anesthesia. The amount of tissue taken is about one gram (or the size of two peas).
To participate, women must:
- be age 18 or older
- have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign an informed consent
- be willing to give one hour of their time to complete a questionnaire and a breast biopsy
- not be allergic to local anesthetics (numbing medicine)
- not be receiving a therapeutic blood thinner (this does not include aspirin)
- not have breast implants or have had a breast reduction
To register, visit www.komentissuebank.iu.edu or contact Kathi Ridley at (317) 274-2366 or keridley@iupui.edu. Donors must have a confirmed appointment time.
The Komen Tissue Bank, which is the first and only healthy breast tissue bank in the world, currently has samples from more than 7,500 women.
By collecting samples from women with and without breast cancer, researchers will be able to determine the differences between these populations, which could lead to a better understanding of the disease. Samples taken from women without the disease are especially helpful because there are few collections of so-called “normal” specimens. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank at the IU Simon Cancer Center will ultimately give researchers valuable and unprecedented research data. Through an Oracle Commitment Grant, all of the tissue collected will be made into a resource for scientists around the world through the development of a virtual tissue bank.