‘Founding Mother’ of Breast Cancer Advocacy, Research Dr. Susan Love Dies

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Palisadian Dr. Susan Love, MD, MBA, who has led Dr. Susan Love Foundation for Breast Cancer Research since 1995 as founder and chief visionary officer, died at the age of 75 on July 2 with recurrent leukemia.

“A breast surgeon, Dr. Love is best known for pioneering work fueled by her criticism of the medical establishments’ paternalistic treatment of women,” a statement released by the foundation read. “She was an early advocate of cancer surgery that conserves as much breast tissue as possible. She also was among the first to sound the alarm on the risks of routine hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women.”

Love, who was born in New Jersey, spent her adolescence in Puerto Rico and Mexico, which is where she was named valedictorian, founded a science fair and was awarded for research projects. After two years of pre-med at Notre Dame of Maryland, she joined the School Sisters of Notre Dame, which brought her to Fordham University to continue her studies.

She graduated with the class of 1974 from State University of New York’s Downstate Medical School, then completed her medical surgical training at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston.

“[She] was recruited to found the Faulkner Breast Center at Faulkner Hospital,” the statement continued, “with comprehensive care that allowed patients to see teams composed of radiation therapists, oncologists and surgeons.”

In 1992, following her departure from Faulkner Hospital in Boston, Love was recruited to set up what eventually became the Revlon UCLA Breast Center.

“A founder of the breast cancer advocacy movement in the early 1990s, she helped organize the National Breast Cancer Coalition,” the statement continued. “She later served on the boards of the NBCC and the Young Survival Coalition. In 1996, she retired from the active practice of surgery to dedicate her time to the urgent pursuit of finding the cause of breast cancer to achieve her goal of ending breast cancer in our lifetime.”

Dr. Susan Love Foundation works with the mission “to perform and facilitate innovative and collaborative research while translating science to engage the public as informed partners.”

“This will enable us to achieve our vision,” the website read, “to end breast cancer.

“Last month, the Journal Radiology published results of a Dr. Susan Love Foundation NIH-sponsored study proving the efficacy of handheld ultrasound devices with AI to bring mammography to women in remote and under-resourced communities and countries,” according to the statement.

Foundation CEO Christopher Clinton Conway said he and the foundation, as well as millions worldwide, are “indebted to Dr. Love’s vision, dedication and commitment to ending breast cancer for all.”

“The light that Susan shared with the world has touched so many, and the world will mourn her loss,” according to the statement. “As an advocate, a researcher, a doctor, a surgeon, a friend, an author and so much more, her legacy will live on forever in the love she showed the world.”

Love earned a business degree from the UCLA Anderson School executive program in 1998. She first published “Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book” in 1990, which will be released in its updated seventh edition this year.

She launched The Love Research Army in 2008, which has grown to more than 390,000 supporters across the globe, and has helped accelerate cancer research by partnering volunteers with scientists for cancer research and clinical trials.

For over 10 years, the foundation hosted Walk With Love at Palisades Recreation Center, raising “millions of dollars for breast cancer research,” Love told the Palisadian-Post in 2022. The event, which took place virtually in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, featured a 5K course where participants walked or ran as an individual or team. In 2023, the event took place in Long Beach at Granada Beach.

“In her personal life, she fought to expand the rights of same-sex couples as parents,” according to the foundation’s statement. “In 1993, Dr. Love and Dr. Helen Cooksey made history by getting approval for the first joint adoption by a gay couple from the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, a state that did not recognize same-sex marriage at the time. This monumental case paved the way for Massachusetts to become the first state to legalize same-sex marriage a decade later.”

Love is survived by her wife, Cooksey, and their daughter, Katie Patton-LoveCooksey, and her wife, Diane Patton-LoveCooksey.

“Dr. Love’s fierce intellect, unrelenting tenacity and laser-like focus inspired people worldwide,” the statement concluded.

To make a donation to the Dr. Susan Love Memorial Fund, visit classy.org/give/416693/#!/donation/checkout.