Susan Love: MD, MBA, Chief Visionary Officer and “Founding Mother” of Breast Cancer Advocacy and Research dies

Renowned Advocate and Breast Cancer Research Pioneer, Dr. Susan Love, Passes Away at 75

LOS ANGELES, July 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The world of breast cancer research and advocacy is mourning the loss of Dr. Susan M. Love, a visionary leader and founder of the Dr. Susan Love Foundation for Breast Cancer Research. Dr. Love, who dedicated her life to groundbreaking research and advocacy programs, passed away on July 2, 2023, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 75. The cause of her death was recurrent leukemia.

Dr. Susan Love made significant contributions as a breast surgeon and researcher, challenging the medical establishment’s treatment of women and advocating for more conservative approaches to cancer surgery. She was at the forefront of raising awareness about the risks associated with routine hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women. Her personal life was marked by a fight for the rights of same-sex couples as parents, culminating in a historic joint adoption approval from the Supreme Court of Massachusetts in 1993.

After leaving Boston’s Faulkner Hospital, Dr. Susan Love was recruited to establish what eventually became the Revlon UCLA Breast Center in 1992. She played a pivotal role in founding the breast cancer advocacy movement in the early 1990s and helped organize the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC). Her dedication to breast cancer research led her to retire from surgical practice in 1996, allowing her to focus entirely on finding the cause of breast cancer and striving to end the disease in our lifetime.

Dr. Love’s contributions extended beyond her medical expertise. Her book, “Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book,” initially published in 1990 and soon to release its updated 7th edition, has been hailed as the global “bible” for breast cancer patients by The New York Times. Translated into multiple languages, the book has reached a wide audience, providing vital information and support.

As the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of the Dr. Susan Love Foundation for Breast Cancer Research, Dr. Love spearheaded numerous research initiatives aimed at understanding the causes and prevention of breast cancer. Last month, a Dr. Susan Love Foundation NIH-sponsored study, published in the Journal Radiology, showcased the efficacy of handheld ultrasound devices with artificial intelligence in bringing mammography to remote and under-resourced communities.

One of Dr. Love’s groundbreaking initiatives was the Love Research Army, established in 2008. This innovative program brought together volunteers and scientists for clinical trials and cancer research, significantly accelerating the pace of discovery. With over 390,000 supporters worldwide, the Love Research Army has had a profound impact on breast cancer research.

Dr. Susan Love’s legacy also includes the International Symposium of the Human Breast, an annual gathering she convened for 13 years. This symposium facilitated collaboration between researchers, clinicians, and advocates from various disciplines, fostering ideas, collaboration, and seed-funding opportunities for breast cancer research.

Born in New Jersey, Dr. Love spent her formative years in Puerto Rico and Mexico. She displayed a passion for science, founding a science fair, earning research awards, and achieving the title of valedictorian. Dr. Love’s journey led her to Fordham University in New York, and despite the limited admission of women in medical schools during the 1970s, she emerged as one of the top graduates in the 1974 class of the State University of New York’s Downstate Medical School. Following her surgical training at Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital, she was recruited by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), to establish the Revlon UCLA Breast Center—one of Los Angeles’ first comprehensive breast centers.

Dr. Susan Love’s passing leaves a profound void in the world of breast cancer research and advocacy. Her vision, dedication, and commitment to ending breast cancer for all will forever be remembered. She is survived by her wife, Dr. Helen Cooksey, their daughter Katie Patton-LoveCooksey, and Katie’s wife, Diana Patton-LoveCooksey. Details regarding memorial services are pending.

To honor Dr. Susan Love’s legacy and contribute to the work she dedicated her life to, donations can be made to the Dr. Susan Love Memorial Fund at