For decades, breast cancer research has long been limited by the lack of diversity in data. Each person’s breast cancer experience tells their own story and is one piece of the puzzle of finding the cures for breast cancer. This is one of the reasons why Susan G. Komen’s ShareForCures® research registry was created. This research registry offers people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer a way to participate in research. Each breast cancer diagnosis is unique and promoting inclusive research can eliminate breast cancer disparities and improve health outcomes. ShareForCures provides an opportunity for people from all backgrounds and walks of life to have their health data included in research to help pave the path towards potentially better treatments and faster cures.
Why Diverse Participation Matters
Breast cancer manifests differently in every person, influenced by their genetics, race and life experiences. Historically, research has relied on data from a small, often similar, group of patients, which doesn’t fully reflect the spectrum of those impacted by breast cancer. People from marginalized communities are especially underrepresented in research, which can lead to a gap in knowledge of how to treat their breast cancers and limit the effectiveness of treatment for everyone.
With ShareForCures, Komen is working to fill that gap by ensuring breast cancer research represents everyone. By participating in this fully inclusive registry, individuals contribute to a growing body of data that helps researchers develop better treatments and outcomes.
How ShareForCures Works
The registry invites participants to share their health data with breast cancer researchers through an easy-to-use, secure, online system from the comfort of their own home. By building a more inclusive data set, ShareForCures helps to fuel precision medicine — where treatments are personalized for different people based on their unique biology.
Janice, a ShareForCures participant, emphasizes the importance of representation: “I joined ShareForCures because when I participated in a clinical trial, no one looked like me. I thought ‘Someone has to take the first step in representing the Black community in research and I want to be that person. For myself and for the ones I love and their futures.’”
Your Role in Advancing Diverse Research
Participating in ShareForCures isn’t just about sharing data — it’s about helping future generations of people diagnosed with breast cancer to hopefully receive care that’s personalized and effective. Whether it’s encouraging someone you know to join or spreading the word, your support is crucial in ensuring diverse voices are heard in breast cancer research.
Here’s how you can get involved:
- JOIN: Your participation helps researchers understand breast cancer across different populations.
- SHARE: Share this blog with your community to raise awareness about the need for diversity in breast cancer research.
- PROMOTE: Encourage someone you know who has been affected by breast cancer to join ShareForCures and contribute to this transformative initiative.
Moving Forward Together
The future of breast cancer research depends on participation from all communities. By joining ShareForCures, you’re helping researchers understand how breast cancer affects people of different races, backgrounds and life experiences — paving the way for more effective treatments for everyone and where a world without breast cancer is possible.
