NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – The American Cancer Society has picked Hampton Roads to be involved in a new study to help fight breast cancer, focusing on Black women.

Its called the VOICES of Black Women study. Researchers here and in Atlanta are looking for 100,000 women to participate in the study. They want 90% of participants to be African American women. The goal of the study is to determine why Black women have a higher mortality rate of breast cancer, despite more white women developing the disease.

10 On Your Side talked with Dr. Bruce Waldholtz with the American Cancer Society. He is involved in the study.   

“African American women are actually a little bit less likely than white women to get breast cancer, but have a 40% higher mortality rate,” said Waldholtz, who is a cancer survivor himself.  He’s also a researcher at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk.  

“There are likely multiple causes for that. And this study, which is done entirely online… it explains the purpose of the study, which is to try to decrease health care disparities in breast cancer,” Waldholtz said.

The 30-year study will involve 20 women from 20 states and Washington, DC.  Researchers will look at things like medical history and lifestyle factors to find early triggers that could cause breast cancer for women down the road. They are looking for participants ages 25 to 55.  Women will be required to compete a 30-minute study two times a year. 

Recruitment for the study began in Oct. 2023 with a pilot launch in Atlanta and Hampton Roads. The national launch expands enrollment to Alabama, California, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

Eligible participants must identify as Black, be assigned female at birth or self-identify as women and not have a history of cancer.

Researchers say the information they learn from this study will be used to help fight cancer for future generations. 

The American Cancer Society says the cost of the study is about $100 million over 30 years.

If you’re interested in participating, you can sign up online using the link here.