By Tim Bonfield
The Cincinnati Enquirer

If you are a woman who has survived breast cancer, Cincinnati cancer experts are looking for you.

A major federal study of breast cancer begins this fall in Cincinnati; scientists announced plans this week to build a breast cancer registry that will provide even more information for future studies.

The University of Cincinnati is building a list of people who have had breast cancer along with information about their tumor, their treatment and their lives before and after diagnosis. The list will be closed to the public, but could be used by researchers to recruit women about new studies.

The first packets of registry information were distributed Tuesday at a forum held by the Breast Cancer Alliance of Greater Cincinnati. Packets will be available from UC and will be distributed at community events.

Until now, there has not been a comprehensive listing of who has breast cancer in Greater Cincinnati. That has made it harder for researchers to track disease trends in various groups of people and possible causes, said Dr. Susan Pinney, an environmental health researcher and director of the new registry.

UC has provided about $35,000 in funds to start the registry. On Tuesday, the Breast Cancer Alliance donated another $10,000 to the effort.

For information about joining the registry, call (513) 558-0854 or e-mail outreach coordinator Andrea Ice at andrea.ice@uc.edu

E-mail tbonfield@enquirer.com