INDIANAPOLIS — You can help contribute to making new discoveries in breast cancer research.
The Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank is collecting breast tissue samples this month.
The tissue bank analyzes samples from women and men who don't have breast cancer to determine the differences between healthy and cancerous tissues. Health officials said more than 5,000 people have contributed breast cancer samples to the bank.
You can donate on Oct. 19 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, which is located at 1030 W. Michigan St.
Officials said people who are younger than 35 and people who are Black, Latine, or Asian are especially encouraged to donate.
To donate, participants must:
- Be 18 or older.
- Have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign an informed consent.
- Be willing to give 60-90 minutes 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.
You can click here to register or call the Komen Tissue Bank at 866-763-0047. Donors must have a confirmed appointment time.
Prior to the donation, heath officials said participants will complete an informed consent document and an online questionnaire, height and weight measurements will be taken and a blood sample will be taken.
