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Release Date: November
18, 2002 Society
Campaign "Some Things Only a Woman Can Do"
Through its "Some Things Only a Woman Can Do" campaign, the Society is providing older women with free resources to learn about medical research studies, as well as conditions affecting them predominately, disproportionately or differently as compared to men. The campaign is designed to empower women to become more involved in their own health and affect the health of future generations. "There is a lack of research on long-term health for women, who now live upwards of 30 years past menopause," said Phyllis Greenberger, M.S.W., president and chief executive officer of the Society. "As women continue to live longer, they will continue to suffer from a variety of chronic diseases, which can affect quality of life. Medical research can play an important role in the prevention, management or treatment of disease - perhaps for women today and most certainly for our daughters and granddaughters." It is predicted that by next year people aged 65 and older will make up 20 percent of the population. Statistics show that of those reaching age 85 or older, women are more likely to have chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease. With respect to Alzheimer's Disease, since many more women than men survive to the ages when it is most prevalent, the disease will potentially have a profound effect on older women as an estimated 14 million Americans will have the disease by the middle of this century unless a cure or prevention is found. "It wasn't until the early 1990s that law required women to be included in clinical trials, so most of what is known about disease and health conditions has come from men under the age of 70," said Sarah Keitt, M.P.H., the Society's scientific program manager. "Research is showing there are key differences between men and women with regard to disease and treatment response, and it is vital that both older men and women are studied to understand critical differences concerning the conditions that predominately occur in our later years of life." Through the "Some Things Only a Woman Can Do" campaign, free educational materials are available in both Spanish and English. The materials answer questions about what medical research is, what types of studies are available (including studies for healthy people), what women should know about participating, and how to find disease-specific studies. The campaign also has a brochure created specifically for older women. These materials can be requested by calling toll-free 1-877-332-2636, or via the Internet at www.WomanCanDo.org. The Web site also offers statistics and information about how conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, incontinence, heart disease, osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease, affect older women. The Society for Women's Health Research developed "Some Things Only a Woman Can Do" in 1999 after seeing the need for an educational campaign to increase women's awareness and understanding of medical research, and of the role individual women could play in improving women's health. The campaign has reached out to women of all ages, races and ethnicities to educate them about the importance of medical research and provide them with the resources they need to make an educated decision about participating in studies. Nearly 90 other organizations have joined the Society's Alliance for Women in Clinical Trials to bring this information to women throughout the U.S. ###
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