November 4, 2012
Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation Kicks Off
30 Days, 30 Reasons
Why Breast Cancer Matters After October
On November 1st, the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation (DSLRF) launched its latest blogging campaign, 30Days, 30 Reasons – a nod to the ground we have covered, how far we still need to go and the urgency with which we must move forward to eradicate the disease that continues to kill 108 people every day. With the onset of November, many relinquish their passionate efforts for the cause in the previous month, allowing their fight for progress to fall to the background. This November, DSLRF will Act with Love by issuing a month long reminder that breast cancer affects the lives of thousands 365 days a year, not merely for the 31 days we dedicate a national salute of solidarity.
Every day throughout November, a new reason to continue our efforts towards eradication will be posted on our blog and announced via the Foundation’s Facebook and Twitter. We would love for you to follow along, share this content with your readers, and even dedicate blog postings throughout the month to daily reasons of special interest to you.
Stay tuned, stay informed, and spread the word!
If you have any questions on this latest campaign, please feel free to contact me directly at jjohnston@dslrf.org
May 21, 2012
Ford & The Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation Celebrate ‘Models of Courage’
Ford joined the fight against breast cancer 18 years ago to raise awareness and funds. It’s new Models of Courage program was established to honor women and men from across the country who are inspirations to everyone involved in the fight against breast cancer. And this year’s 11 Models of Courage aren’t just role models! As part of the Ford Warriors in Pink program, they are actually modeling the 2012 line of Warriors in Pink apparel and accessories, which includes everything from tank tops and yoga pants to ties, jackets, and sunhats. You can even design your own t-shirt!
We are especially pleased to let you know that 100 percent of the net proceeds of these sales go directly to the fight against breast cancer AND you can select the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation to be the organization you want to support! So start shopping today! And keep shopping throughout the year!
We are also encouraging everyone to go to the Ford Warriors in Pink Facebook page and let Ford know how happy they are that Ford is supporting the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation and our mission to go beyond a cure and end this disease!
April 26, 2012
AFRICAN AMERICAN BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NEEDED!
| We need African-American breast cancer survivors living in Southern California (Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties) who are nearing completion of treatment or completed surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation treatment 1-12 months ago, to participate in a breast cancer research study focused on follow-up care. |
After diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, African-American women may be less likely to obtain appropriate follow-up care and surveillance than women of other ethnic groups. To address this issue, a research team at City of Hope in Duarte, California, has developed a peer navigator program specifically for African-American survivors that allows them to receive information, support, coaching, and other helpful tools for obtaining a Survivorship Care Plan from other African-American breast cancer survivors.
If you are an African-American breast cancer survivor in Southern California and are interested in helping the research team evaluate their program, please read on to learn more about what’s involved and who can participate. If this study isn’t right for you, please pass it on to every African-American breast cancer survivor you know who might be interested!
| What’s the study about? |
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of a peer navigator program on helping African-American breast cancer survivors obtain and follow a survivorship care plan. A survivorship care plan consists of two components: (1) a treatment summary describing the cancer diagnosis, history, stage, and primary treatments received; and (2) a follow-up care plan that includes information on recovering from treatment, ways to maintain good health, and recommendations for care.
What’s involved?
If you sign up for Sister Survivor: Improving the Survivorship Care of African-American Women with Breast Cancer, you will be contacted by the research team to confirm that you are eligible for the study. If you choose to participate in the study, you will be randomly assigned (like the flip of a coin) to one of two groups:
• Peer navigator and survivorship materials group
- Attend 5 meetings with a peer navigator, either face-to-face or over the phone. These meetings will occur over a 6-month period.
- Review survivorship materials
- Complete 3 surveys over a 12-month period.
• Survivorship materials only group
- Review survivorship materials.
- Complete 3 surveys over a 12-month period.
The information you provide is confidential and will be kept private.
Who is conducting the study?
Kimlin Ashing-Giwa, PhD, at City of Hope
African American Breast Cancer Coalition
Where?
City of Hope, Duarte, California
Who can participate?
You can sign up for Sister Survivor: Improving the Survivorship Care of African-American Women with Breast Cancer if you meet ALL of these MAIN criteria:
• You are a woman at least 18 years of age.
• You self-identify as African American.
• You have been diagnosed with breast cancer, including lobular carcinoma in-situ (LCIS) and ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS). Women diagnosed with Stage IV, metastatic breast cancer will not be eligible.
• You completed surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy 1-12 months ago (it is OK if you are on hormonal therapy, such as tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor).
• You have not been diagnosed with any other cancer besides breast cancer.
• You live in one of the following Southern California counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino,or Riverside.
After you RSVP, the research team will contact you to ask additional questions to be sure that this study is a good fit for you.
April 13, 2012
| HELP US FIND OUT IF SOY CAN REDUCE BREAST CANCER RISK! |
Studies have shown that eating soy in the diet reduces breast cancer risk but we don’t know why. This study is looking into whether it does this by decreasing breast density. A research team at the University of Southern California is looking for women with a family history of breast cancer AND breast cancer survivors to participate in a study to see if taking a soy supplement (in tablet form) for one year can reduce breast density or slow or reduce cell growth in the breast. Study participants cannot be currently receiving cancer treatment.
Please read on to learn more about what’s involved and who can participate. If this study isn’t right for you, please pass it on! Help us reach as many eligible women as possible!
| What’s the study about? |
The research team is studying the effects of one year of soy supplementation on women with a family history of breast cancer (high-risk women) AND women who have been treated for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or invasive breast cancer. They want to see if soy can reduce breast density or slow or reduce cell growth in the breast.
What’s involved?
If you sign up for the Effects of Soy on Breast Tissue Study, you will be randomly assigned (like flipping a coin) to receive either soy tablets or inactive placebo tablets for one year. You will be asked to take one tablet daily and record your intake on a pill diary.
You will also be asked to attend five clinic visits at the University of Southern California/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, in Los Angeles, or the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Los Angeles (LAC-USC) Medical Center. If you take part in the study, you will have the following procedures:
• 5 blood draws and urine collections: one at the beginning of the study, and then at the end of months 3, 6, 9, and 12
• 2 mammograms and 2 magnetic resonance imaging scans (MRI): one each at the beginning of the study and the other at the end of month 12
• 2 breast biopsies: one at the beginning of the study and the other at the end of month 12. This procedure is conducted in the clinic under local anesthesia.
You will also be asked to complete questionnaires about your medical history, including your menstrual and pregnancy history, your use of hormones including oral contraceptives and menopausal hormones, your use of other medications, and your dietary habits.
Who is conducting the study?
Anna Wu, PhD, Augustin Garcia, MD, Debra Hawes, MD, Linda Hovanessian-Larsen, MD, Heather McDonald, MD, Sue Ellen Martin, MD, Malcolm Pike, MD, Pulin Sheth, MD, Darcy Spicer, MD, and Debu Tripathy, MD, at the University of Southern California
Where?
University of Southern California/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Los Angeles (LAC-USC) Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
Who can participate?
You can sign up for the Effects of Soy on Breast Tissue Study if you meet ALL of these MAIN criteria:
• You are a woman between the ages of 30-75
• You
o Have been previously diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or invasive breast cancer OR
o You have a family history of breast cancer
• You are not currently receiving cancer treatment, including tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitor, chemotherapy, radiation, or other forms of treatment
• You are not currently taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
• You are not currently taking hormone therapy
• You do not have soy allergies
• You are willing to refrain from consuming all soy food and supplements during the 1-year study period
• You live near or are willing to travel to the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, in Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Los Angeles (LAC-USC) Medical Center
After you RSVP, the research team will contact you to ask additional questions to be sure that this study is a good fit for you.
March 31, 2012
ARMY OF WOMEN: NEW STUDY LAUNCH!
Comparison of Venlafaxine-XR and Low-Dose Estradiol for Treatment of Menopausal Symptoms
The Army of Women is looking for women ages 40 to 62 who have not had breast cancer and have bothersome hot flashes or night sweats to take part in a research study. The study is testing two medicines that may help women who have menopause-related hot flashes. The researchers want to know if women who take these medicines have fewer or less severe hot flashes than women who take a placebo (inactive pill). They also want to determine if one medicine is more effective than the other.
Researchers will be running this study out of locations in Boston, Seattle, and Philadelphia! It is one of three clinical trials currently being conducted as part of the Menopausal Strategies – Finding Lasting Answers for Symptoms and Health (MsFLASH) study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.
Know someone who lives in Boston, Seattle, or Philadelphia who might be interested? PASS IT ON! Forwarding our information to friends and family members is just as important as joining the study.
March 21, 2012
“Women: Get your annual mammograms and do your self breast exams monthly. Your life may depend on it.” We have all heard this before, but how many of us have actually heeded those words? We all lead busy lives. Who wants to take time out of our busy schedules for breast exams? You do if you care enough for those around you who love you. You do not want to cut your life short because you did not want to be bothered with breast exams.
I am here to tell you that I am living proof that nothing replaces self breast exams, not even mammograms. It was just weeks after having a mammogram that I found a lump. I was only 32 years old.
One of the examining radiologists had the nerve to tell me I was too young for it to be cancer. Can you believe it? Seriously. Sometimes you have to fight for yourself and ignore the arrogance of those who can’t see past their own beliefs. Your very life may depend on it.
I have a family history of breast cancer. My mother and my aunt both lost their lives as a result of breast cancer. This fact alone has made me hyper sensitive to the whole issue.
I went on to work with a surgeon who agreed that I indeed needed a biopsy. The result was that it was cancer. It had already begun attaching itself to the muscle underneath. Not good. Thankfully I caught it in time and had a modified radical mastectomy. I am still clear of cancer 20 years later.
I am by no means suggesting that women not get a mammogram. Mammograms save lives. What I am suggesting is that no one or nothing can take the place of you watching out for and caring for yourself. You know what your breasts should feel like.You know if something does not feel right. I had developed a lump that did not belong there and I knew it. The radiologist was wrong and I was right. I am not happy that I was right, but I am thankful that I took self breast exams seriously enough to actually do them and find this cancer before it took my life.
I want to tell you about an organization called ‘Army of Women’. The Love/Avon Army of Women (AOW) is a unique program of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit breast cancer research organization. The program is funded through a grant from the Avon Foundation for Women. The AOW is a groundbreaking initiative that connects breast cancer researchers via the internet with women who are willing to participate in a wide variety of research studies.
Here’s some more information about AOW. Did you know that:
- the goal of the Army of Women is to recruit ONE MILLION MEN AND WOMEN of all ages and ethnicities, including breast cancer survivors and those who have never had breast cancer?
- participants will be involved in important research to discover THE CAUSE of breast cancer – how to stop it before it starts?
- participation in any of the studies is ALWAYS, COMPLETELY voluntary?
Please join the Army of Women TODAY!
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