Atlanta researcher leads largest U.S. population study of Black women and cancer

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Part of the mission for Atlanta-based researcher Dr. Lauren McCullough is to better understand why Black women get more aggressive types of cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, Black women in the United States have the highest death rate of any racial or ethnic group for most cancers.

That’s why they launched the Voices of Black Women study. Dr. McCullough is one of the study’s leading researchers.

“We see you, we honor you, we hope to partner with you to improve health,” Dr. McCullough said about the study’s importance for Black women.

American Cancer Society launches largest focused study on Black women

“We’re really interested in learning more about Black women’s lived experiences, how they engage with the medical care system, how other comorbid conditions may impact their treatment and care, and understanding why we have such inequities in cancer and other health outcomes,” she said.

Voices of Black Women is the largest behavioral and environmental focused population study of cancer risk and outcomes. Dr. McCullough said as a Black woman herself this study is extremely important.

The American Cancer Society now needs other Black women to enroll in the 30-year study. It will look at 100,000 Black women and their lifestyle, medical conditions, racism and discrimination, plus other factors.

“Black women’s voices have been muzzled for a very long time and then when Black women began to use their voices it was too powerful,” Dr. McCullough said. “But we want to show the power in their voices.”

Study participants must be Black women between 25 and 55 years of age who have never had cancer. Participants must live in one of 20 states plus Washington, D.C.

To enroll, click here.

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