Below is the statement from Dr. Susan Love about her returning after going through treatment for leukemia. I was very excited that on January 10th, because I am a volunteer, I joined Dr. Susan Love and the Community Engagement Team at the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation for an interactive, informative webinar to learn more about the Foundation, its signature Army of Women Program, and mobilizing the community to help create a future without breast cancer!

For me it was so exciting to hear her voice . I am so used to her being at so many breast cancer events and I missed her. I was also pleased that when I asked her “Although I am very excited about the deadline to end breast cancer in 2020, what is being done to help the metastatic community now?” She expressed that it was an important question and went in to some details about advances being made in the metastatic setting especially in relation to molecular profiling and understanding why it occurs. There is still so much work to do especially when it comes to metastatic breast cancer.

If you don’t know about Dr. Susan Love’s Foundation please click on the links below to learn more. You don’t have to have had breast cancer to join. In fact many of the studies are for women who have not had breast cancer, so please take a look and see if you can join to help!

LINKS FOR INFORMATION:

Dr Susan Love’s Research Foundation

Army of Women

January 2013 – Studies You Can Join

The Health of Women (HOW) Study

Dr. Susan Love’s statement about her return:

Back in Action

By Dr. Susan Love On Wednesday, January 16, 2013 · 70 Comments

First of all I want to announce, fanfare please, that I am back to work at the Foundation! I am feeling stronger every day with my new bone marrow and very short hair. If I were to encapsulate in one word what my recent experience with leukemia has inspired, I would have to say impatience. I have talked for years about the collateral damage that patients experience from cancer treatments and now I know them first hand. They are not acceptable!

While we all want a cure, we have to focus collectively on finding the cause! I have come back to work with new energy focused on research strategies going forward that can have an immediate impact on women’s lives and move us closer to finding the cause and true prevention! I told you I was impatient! Stay tuned, as we will need all of you in the Army of Women and Health of Women Study (HOW) study to participate as we move forward!

While out on leave, my team at the Foundation has been steadfast in their efforts to introduce our innovative research projects. We launched our Bacterial and Viral Diversity Study in collaboration with Delphine Lee MD at the John Wayne Cancer Institute this November. This is a very exciting exploratory study to see if a virus or bacteria could cause breast cancer. We have already begun out sample collections at the Foundation. We are collecting fluid from the ducts of Army of Women volunteers and characterizing all of the non-human DNA we can find. Then, we will match it to known viruses and bacteria and see who is there! This is the first step to determine whether breast cancer could be caused by a virus or bacteria. I’m thrilled to be back doing research and to have this exciting project underway. Updates to come!

When l read the terrible news on Dr Susan Love‘s Blog that she has leukemia, I was shocked. I just couldn’t believe that such a great person like Susan could have this terrible disease. She is so dedicated to her work and I am so honored that she has come to so many events that I have also gone to.

My favorite event was when the BCCRF (Breast Cancer Care and Research Fund) headed by Michele Rackoff organized their first summit Saturday September 4th called “Taking Action to End Breast Cancer-A Women’s Conference” in Manhattan Beach. The speakers were Dr. Leslie Bernstein (Epidemiologist & Researcher), Dr. Lupe Salazar, (Medical Oncologist & Immunologist), Michele Rakoff (patient advocate) and Dr. Susan Love. After they spoke Susan had a book signing and my friend took a photo of us.

After that we had a lovely luncheon and Susan sat at my table as we all discussed breast cancer. She was so fascinating to listen to and I really appreciate they way she spoke with us in such an inclusive way. I asked her some questions and her brilliant mind had me mesmerised by everything she was talking about. We talked about the slash and burn approach to breast cancer, whether we are using the right treatments, and how we are going to change the conversation so that we finally make progress in ending this disease. Susan is also so down to earth. We also talked about her Army of Women. I just finished participating in one of her Army of Women Studies the day before she announced her illness.

Susan started her treatments in the hospital on Monday, June 18th. Leave it to her to say to her friends on Facebook “I have signed up for a free month of Amazon Prime and streaming Netflix …. I start treatment Monday and face 4-6 weeks in a hospital room! But will have wifi….so stay tuned”! She is such an all around giving person of her time and energy. She has so much grace and cares so much about breast cancer. Her book kept me company while I had to learn what I was facing when diagnosed, had surgery, did chemo, radiation and then had my recurrence. I also looked up everything for my friend Lila who died in January from breast cancer when she had her recurrence in 2009. In fact I made sure I got the latest edition to try to find any bright spot I could about her disease.

I just keep wishing I could do something for her. Of course I have said every prayer I can think of and I am also frightened. I know that she will fight this and keep her awesome personality throughout all of her treatment. But still this kind of treatment is heavy stuff no matter how strong anyone is. Leave it to Susan to have such a bright attitude. Today Susan said, “Day 3 So far so good…doing laps around the floor and found an electronic piano to practice!” She has such great wit.

I have decided because she is going through this with so much positive energy that I am going to follow her lead. Her bravery, humanity, and humor is so inspiring. Keep it up, Susan and thank you for being in our lives. My prayers and thoughts are with you and the rest of your family.