What is tissue? Tissue is blood, saliva, tumor section, hair and other samples. This may lead to new cancer treatments. It’s in all of our interest to help with cancer research. You can make a difference.

Many public and private organizations are looking for volunteers. For example, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is promoting their “All of Us” program. For more information link to https://allofus.nih.gov. Talk with your health care provider about others.

“The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act” (GINA) was passed by Congress in 2008. It helps prevent health insurers from discriminating against you based on test results. Employment discrimination based on genetic risk is also illegal. Check with your state for additional protections.

However, this act does not cover life insurance, long term care insurance or disability insurance. GINA does not apply when an employer has fewer than 15 employees. It does not cover people in the U.S. military or those receiving health benefits through the Veterans Health Administration or Indian Health Service.

For some general information see the National Cancer Institute (NCI) brochures:

• • Providing Your Tissue for Research: What You Need to Know
  • Donating Your Tissue for Research video
  • Clinical Trials: What Patient Advocates Want You to Know

Read the article NIH-funded genome centers to accelerate precision medicine discoveries to learn more about how genomes are being sequenced through the All of Us Research Program.

Please note that the members and/or staff at both Cancer Beast LLC and cancerbeast.com are not medical professionals nor legal experts and cannot give medical or legal advice. Always check with your medical provider and attorney before you make these decisions.