Michelle’s Place, Breast Cancer Resource Center announces its support of a unique new program that offers women the opportunity to help unlock the key to preventing breast cancer: the Love/Avon Army of Women. The Love/Avon Army of Women is seeking to recruit one million women nationwide to help researchers learn what causes breast cancer and move beyond a cure to prevention. Women in the Temecula Valley area and across the U.S. are encouraged to be “one in a million” by learning more and signing up at www.armyofwomen.org.
The Love/Avon Army of Women is a partnership between the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation and the Avon Foundation and launched on October 1, 2008 to mark the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Women have taken personal action and raised millions of dollars that has advanced treatment and early detection, but researchers still do not know what causes the disease. The Love/Avon Army of Women empowers women with a new opportunity—a simple but revolutionary call for one million women of all ages and ethnicities to join the “Army” and consider serving as research volunteers to help scientists understand the causes of breast cancer—and how to end it once and for all.
“Michelle’s Place is excited to join the Army of Women and encourage others to stand up against breast cancer. It’s a small way to be a part of a very big movement!” stated Kim Goodnough, Executive Director. “We encourage women in the community to visit the new website www.armyofwomen.org and be part of this important effort.”
All women not currently undergoing breast cancer treatment, including breast cancer survivors and those who never had the disease, are eligible to register. Universities and research labs throughout the country may submit their studies for consideration to the Army of Women, and all research will undergo a thorough medical and ethical review. Some research may require women to complete a questionnaire, while others may require blood or saliva samples, or other simple steps (the research studies are not clinical trials and do not involve drugs or medical procedures). The Army of Women will serve as a virtual “matchmaker,” sending an email alert to women volunteers outlining the needs of each study, and women who meet the criteria have the option to take part.
“Women have repeatedly demonstrated through fund-raising and advocacy their personal dedication to ending breast cancer,” says Dr. Susan Love, the visionary behind the Army of Women and a leader in the breast cancer movement for more than 30 years. “This new initiative gives women the opportunity to be part of the research itself and help shift the focus. The Army of Women will enable more scientists to move from studying cancer after it occurs, and testing new drugs and treatments, to seeking the cause and prevention. If we all join together, I know we can end breast cancer in our lifetime.” Dr. Love, a renowned breast cancer surgeon and respected expert in the field, is also the author of the best-selling Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book and president of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation.
Women nationwide are invited to be “one in a million” and help end breast cancer. Visit www.armyofwomen.org.