Susan E. McCann, PhD, Department of Cancer Prevention and Control is conducting research into the relationship between diet and cancer, especially reproductive cancers. 

Dr. McCann currently has two active studies.  The first study is a year long dietary intervention pilot study comparing the effect of a low glycemic diet to usual diet on hormones that have been associated with breast cancer in premenopausal women.  Recruitment for this study ended in May 2007.

The second study which will begin recruitment this fall is funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and will target postmenopausal women newly diagnosed with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer.  This study is also a dietary intervention which will compare the effects on breast tumor biomarkers of two (2) weeks consumption of flaxseed with that of anastrozole, a commonly used breast cancer treatment.  We will also examine the effect of combined treatment with the flaxseed and anastrozole.