When Jody Shuger heard a radio announcement that Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center was seeking women to participate in the Breast Gel Study, she called right away.

The reason for Shuger's eagerness was simple. The study could ultimately help her — and women like her — detect breast cancer before it's too late.

One of the keys to detecting breast cancer early is the mammogram, an X-ray that can reveal tumors long before they can be felt by a breast self-exam or by a doctor; however, dense breast tissue can interfere with the ability of a mammogram to reveal cancer. The Breast Gel Study examined whether a tamoxifen-based gel (4-OHT) decreases breast density in premenopausal women when applied to the breasts daily for six months.

A few years ago, when her doctor found a lump in her breast during a routine exam, Shuger discovered she had dense breast tissue that was not conducive to producing clear mammogram images.

Shuger's lump was benign, but it troubled Shuger to learn that less-definitive ultrasound tests were the only alternative to mammograms. That's why Shuger is so hopeful the gel proves effective. "It would be great for younger women with dense tissue to have the option of a mammogram," she said.

Breast Gel Study participants were randomly assigned to apply either the 4-OHT gel or a placebo. Participants were also asked to make clinic visits for breast and pelvic exams, Pap smear tests, and urine and blood tests to measure estrogen and 4-OHT levels. Mammograms were used to measure breast density at the beginning, middle and end of the study.

Shuger has nothing but positive things to say about her experience in the study. "You wouldn't believe how appreciative everybody who worked on the study was," she said. "They really made me feel like I was helping out in an important way."

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