The Ghana Breast Health Study

Background:

- Breast cancer is becoming more common in Africa. A higher number of cases appear in women under age 35 than in the developed world. However, little is known about the factors that may contribute to breast cancer in Africa. Researchers want to collect information from female patients in teaching hospitals in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana and to compare this information with that obtained from healthy women in the general population. These two hospitals treat most breast cancers in Ghana. The data will provide information regarding factors that predispose to the development of breast cancer among women in Ghana.

Objectives:

- To identify and study breast cancer risk factors in women in Ghana.

Eligibility:

• Women between 18 and 74 years of age who are diagnosed with breast cancer.
• Participants will come from teaching hospitals in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana. Women without breast cancer will be identified from the 2010 Ghanaian Census for comparison purposes

Design:

• Participants will answer questions about their health and lifestyle.
• Height, weight, and waist/hip measurements will be collected.
• Blood and saliva samples will be collected.
• Participants will be given a collection kit to collect a stool sample.
• Treatment will not be provided as part of this study.