Susan Love, a surgeon, author, breast cancer advocate and co-founder of the National Breast Cancer Coalition, an organization that pushes for increasing federal funding for cancer research, has recently died.
When Susan Love was in medical school at Harvard University, there were few women and fewer in surgery graduate school.
She decided to devote herself to breast cancer research, and, during her lifetime, she ran clinics in Boston and Los Angeles and taught at Harvard Medical School and the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, UCLA. She was one of the first women to stand against the invasive "cut, burn and poison", as she used to say, approach for treatment, arguing that radical mastectomies were often unnecessary and alternatively proposing lumpectomy, to preserve woman's breast tissue and reduce the impact on body and psyche. Susan Love, was one of the first surgeons to understand the importance of doctor-patient empathy, holding patient’s hand before each surgery, as described in the book "Susan Love's Breast Book", written by Karen Lindsay. “This book,” wrote the NY Times, “became the Bible for people living with breast cancer as well as a reference for information on prevention and treatment”.
It was translated into half a dozen languages and is currently in its seventh edition. In this book-interview, Susan Love has "demystified" breast cancer, the diagnosis of which was not even pronounced.
Susan thought that women were ready to unite and be one "collective voice". She led campaigns for prevention among the poorest population in the Bronx, carrying an ultrasound machine with her.
An extraordinary woman, who also fought for her partner, so that she could adopt their children born from artificial insemination. Her battles are very current: a woman and a genius, with great humanity.
Professor Antonio Giordano, M.D., Ph.D., is the creator and head of the Sbarro Health Research Organization, located at Temple University's College of Science and Technology in Philadelphia. Stay connected with him through his various social media platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram, to receive the latest updates.
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