The LEGACY Girls Hormone Pilot Study: Implications for Breast Cancer Prevention through Exploring Hormone Biomarkers in Young Girls

To fulfill the Master of Public Health degree requirements from the University of San Francisco, I have inserted myself in the role of an intern at the Cancer Prevention Institute of California (CPIC). There, I completed 300 fieldwork hours on a research study called the LEGACY Girls Hormone Pilot Study. This pilot study seeks to gather preliminary data on urinary hormones steroids in developing girls and assess the feasibility of multiple urine samplings across menstrual cycles. Results will assist in planning a future prospective study in a large cohort of girls and to support a R01 grant seeking to address questions related to ovarian hormone during pubertal development and breast cancer risk. This fieldwork summary will include background on breast cancer risk factors including literature on hormones and risks factors of breast cancer, a description of the agency, an overview of the pilot study, and implications for breast cancer prevention. This paper will also provide evidence on how my fieldwork had contributed to my successful fulfillment of the MPH program competencies, core knowledge areas, and cross-cutting interdisciplinary competencies of public health. Overall, this invaluable experience have deepened my appreciation for the field of epidemiology as it relates to cancer prevention research and enhanced my understanding on the inner workings of a research study