One Million Strong Starts with One—YOU

The Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation's Army of Women Program (made possible thanks to a generous grant from the Avon Foundation for Women) offers a revolutionary new opportunity for YOU to partner with research scientists to move breast cancer beyond a cure.

What is involved?

• Register TODAY and provide us with very basic information such as your name, email, age, city, and state of residence.
• You will receive email updates from us announcing new research studies looking for volunteers with or without breast cancer, just like you. There are many different types of studies. Some might require you to complete a questionnaire, while others might need a sample of blood, urine, saliva, breast fluid, or breast tissue. Some studies might be clinical trials testing a new detection marker or drug. You decide which studies you want to take part in. The email will detail the research project and who and what the researchers need.
• If you fit the criteria and you’d like to participate, all you need to do is “RSVP” and let us know you’ve accepted our “Call to Action.” You will be asked to go through an online screening process to confirm you fit the criteria for the study.
• Once we confirm your eligibility for the specific study, your information will be given to the researcher conducting the study and you will be contacted by the researcher for a secondary screening to make sure you meet the study criteria and answer any questions you might have about study participation.
• You are in complete control and you self select what you want to do! You will never be pressured to take part in any study. The decision to take part is yours—and yours alone.

Breast cancer has been around for decades, but it does not have to be our future. We can be the generation that eliminates breast cancer by identifying what causes this disease and stopping it before it starts. Sign up for your sister, mother, daughter, granddaughter, best friend, and the woman you met last week.

Have more questions? Visit our FAQ

Ready to sign up Today?

Current AOW Studies Looking for Volunteers

Effects of Depo Provera on Breast Tissue Study
The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of the effects of Depo Provera, which contains a high dose of a synthetic progestin, on the breast tissue.

Shift Work and Breast Cancer Risk Study
The research team is studying breast tissue samples from women who have not had breast cancer, who have worked either day shifts or night shifts for at least five consecutive years to better understand whether wake/sleep cycle disruptions may increase breast cancer risk. Later, the researchers will compare the samples collected from women who have not had breast cancer to breast tissue samples collected from women with breast cancer.

Discovery of Early Markers of Breast Cancer (Phase 1)
The research team is analyzing normal breast tissue from benign biopsies for evidence of DNA damage in breast cells and then investigating whether the presence of this DNA damage can predict who will develop breast cancer later in life. This study will happen in two phases. Currently, the researchers are looking for women who had a normal breast biopsy and went on to develop breast cancer. In a few months, they will be enrolling women who had a normal breast biopsy but did NOT go on to develop breast cancer. By recruiting both women who did develop breast cancer and women who did not, the research team will be able to look for markers in the breast cells that might be an indicator of breast cancer risk. This Call to Action is for women who had a benign breast biopsy and then developed breast cancer.

Phase Ib Trial of 2nd Generation Designer T Cells in Metastatic Breast Cancer
The purpose of this Phase Ib clinical trial is to determine whether a high dose of designer T cells is better when given with or without interleukin 2 (IL2), a drug that is thought to stimulate the immune system. For this reason, some of the study participants will receive modified T cells alone, whereas others will receive modified T cells along with IL2. The researcher would like to enroll about 12 people in this study. Phase I studies typically look at the safety and side effects of a new treatment. This is a Phase Ib study, so it is not only monitoring safety but also looking at whether the experimental treatment being studied is effective. In this case, effectiveness will be measured by how active the T cells become and how much the tumor shrinks.

The Milk Study
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst are studying the breast cells normally found in breast milk to see if there are any epigenetic differences–which have the potential to be reversed–between women whose biopsies turn out to be healthy and those whose biopsies show a problem, such as cancer. Learning more about these epigenetic differences may eventually help researchers develop a way to provide women with information about their breast cancer risk. The researchers have already enrolled more than 250 women, but most of the samples have come from Caucasian women. Since breast cancer risk factors differ among ethnic groups, the researchers are particularly interested in enrolling African-American women, Latinas, Asian women, and other ethnic minorities.

Genomic Markers of Breast Cancer Prevention Induced by hCG in Women at High Risk
Because pregnancy and breastfeeding appear to reduce breast cancer risk in women, including those with a BRCA1 or 2 mutation, researchers are interested in seeing if giving hormones that mimic pregnancy can change these high risk women’s breast tissue in ways that appear to reduce their risk. The researchers are looking for 18 women for this study.

The Impact of Colonic Microbiota on Breast Cancer
The purpose of this study is to find out what type of bacteria can be found in the intestines and to look at the way the bacteria metabolize estrogen and other female hormones. The bacteria of women who have never had breast cancer will be compared to the bacteria of women who have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Thirty (30) women who have never had breast cancer are needed for this study.

Yoga for Breast Cancer Survivors: Effects on Fatigue, Immune Function, and Mood
Breast cancer survivors can have a lot of post-treatment problems, such as fatigue, depression, and a decrease in physical function. It is possible that physical activities, like yoga, could help ease these symptoms. This is a study about how yoga affects fatigue, immune function, and mood of women treated for breast cancer.

Combination of Low-Dose Anti-Estrogens with Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Prevention of Hormone-Independent Breast Cancer
The purpose of this study is to find out if combining raloxifene with a dietary supplement called omega-3 fatty acid has an effect on breast density or urine and blood chemicals associated with breast cancer development.

Early Detection of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Using Exhaled Breath Markers
The research team is using specially trained dogs and a chemical test to analyze breath samples for substances called biomarkers that may be useful in diagnosing ovarian cancer. This type of research has been done before with breast and lung cancer.

Breast Cancer Risk in Young Women Study
The purpose of the study is to learn what genetic factors may play a role in the development of breast cancer in young women. The researchers need to recruit 5,000 women who were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer when they were 40 years old or younger for this study.

Breast Cancer Microbiota Study
The purpose of this study is to find out what types of bacteria are found in the intestines and how these bacteria metabolize estrogen and other female hormones. The researchers are comparing the bacteria found in women who have never had breast cancer, women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer within the last 5 years, and women who have never had breast cancer but who have a first-degree relative WITH breast cancer.

Pregnancy and Breast Cancer Risk Study
The research team will analyze breast tissue samples from women without breast cancer. They are studying both women who have given birth (both early and later in life) and those who have not. They are specifically looking at the stroma, the breast tissue that supports the breast ducts, as they want to determine what role it plays in breast cancer. They are also going to study whether the age a woman becomes pregnant, the number of pregnancies she has had, and whether or not she has breast-fed has an affect on the stroma.

Project CARE
This study is evaluating a stress management, relaxation skills training, and breast cancer education program for Black/African-American women with breast cancer. It is being conducted by researchers at the University of Miami who are interested in evaluating what effect this program has on quality of life.

Acupuncture for Sleep Problems
The purpose of this study is to learn whether acupuncture can reduce sleep disruption and improve sleep in breast cancer survivors. The study will enroll 64 female breast cancer survivors who have difficulty falling or staying asleep.

The Jewels in Our Genes Study
The research team is studying why some African American families have multiple cases of breast cancer. This will help to better understand if there are undiscovered genes unique to African Americans that may predict early breast cancer risk.

BEAT Cancer Study
This study is evaluating the effectiveness of the BEAT Cancer program for breast cancer survivors. The research team will compare the effects of the intervention to usual care (written materials about exercise for cancer survivors) on short- and longer-term physical activity adherence among breast cancer survivors.

A Mindfulness Meditation-Based Intervention for Younger Breast Cancer Survivors
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a specially designed mindfulness meditation-based intervention on psychological, behavioral, and biological functioning in women who were diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50.

Variations in the Health Needs of Breast Cancer Survivors
The information gained from this research about the well-being and quality of life of lesbian and bisexual women with breast cancer will be used to develop programs and services designed to reduce health disparities. After the research team enrolls the lesbian and bisexual women, they will enroll heterosexual women to take part in the phone survey.

Inflammation Changes Over Time In Obese, Overweight, and Normal Weight Women
The research team is studying nipple aspirate fluid and blood to determine if inflammation biomarkers are: 1. higher in breast fluid than in the circulating blood; 2. higher in obese and overweight women compared with normal weight women; and 3. more variable through the menstrual cycle of premenopausal women compared to postmenopausal women.

Stepping STONE (Survivors Taking on Nutrition & Exercise)
Researchers at Georgetown University have developed a program that they hope will help Black/African-American breast cancer survivors increase their physical activity and improve their diet. This study is looking at the effectiveness of the program in improving the quality of health behaviors. If the researchers find that the program works well, it has the potential to help Black/African-American breast cancer survivors throughout the U.S.

ENERGY Study
This study will examine the effects of a program that was created to help overweight breast cancer survivors lose weight by increasing their physical activity level and developing healthier eating habits. A total of 800 women will be participating in this study across the United States at four research sites.

Interpersonal Therapy for Depression in Breast Cancer Study
The purpose of this study is to see which type of talk therapy is the most effective treatment for depression in women and men who have had a breast cancer diagnosis. It is open to women and men who were diagnosed with stage I-IV breast cancer more than six months ago.

Discovery of Early Markers of Breast Cancer (Phase 2)
A research team at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is investigating whether the amount of DNA damage seen in the cells in normal breast tissue may be an indicator of future breast cancer risk. Previously, the researchers recruited women who had had a benign breast biopsy and then went on to develop breast cancer. NOW, they need women who had a benign breast biopsy but did NOT go on to develop breast cancer. By recruiting women who did develop breast cancer and women who did not, they will be able to look for markers in the breast cells that might be an indicator of breast cancer risk.

We Stand Ready to Help You

The Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation's Army of Women Program, is dedicated to accelerating research into the cause and prevention of breast cancer. Our goal is to form partnerships between women and scientists.

The Army of Women members are eager to work with any researcher who is involved in or contemplating research in understanding the cause and prevention of breast cancer. The Army of Women can ACCELERATE your research, and give you ACCESS to over 300,000 women willing to give tissue, fluid, blood or information.

We have established key relationships with the American Association for Cancer Research and the National Breast Cancer Coalition. As our collaborators, both organizations are assisting with the recruitment of scientists and women, and both organizations also hold positions on the Army of Women Steering Committee and the Scientific Advisory Committee.

Look for us at your upcoming research or medical meeting!

Learn more about how we can accelerate your research

Collaborators

Featured Blog Updates

Jan 26th, 2012

Army of Women: Foot Soldier Spotlight! Posted by drlove at 12:00 pm | 0 Comments

Jan 24th, 2012

January 2012 - Looking Back Posted by drlove at 3:58 pm | 8 Comments

Jan 18th, 2012

A New Way to Predict Breast Cancer Risk? Posted by drlove at 6:00 am | 0 Comments

Dec 2nd, 2011

’Tis the Season for Breast Cancer Stories (again?) Posted by drlove at 4:37 pm | 2 Comments

Read All Blog Updates

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ArmyofWomen: The Army of Women is looking for passionate women to help us recruit volunteers! Info at - http://t.co/lkRNtd0W
Posted: January 27, 2012 at 8:00 pm

ArmyofWomen: Pregnancy & #BreastCancer Study in Boston-need BOTH women who have given birth & those who have not! - http://t.co/Ox8ihVXj
Posted: January 27, 2012 at 3:00 pm

ArmyofWomen: Support #breastcancer researcH TODAY – Donate to the @DrSusanLove Research Foundation - http://t.co/kg1trGpI
Posted: January 27, 2012 at 1:30 pm

ArmyofWomen: RT @DebbieWWGN: Since @ArmyofWomen launched in 10/08, 360,000 signed up & 59,000 volunteered for 57 BC studies, Amazing! Keep up good work!
Posted: January 27, 2012 at 12:01 pm

ArmyofWomen: RT @UTAFoundation: Great meeting w/ @ArmyofWomen – did you know 1 in 8 US women will be diagnosed w/ #breast #cancer in her lifetime?
Posted: January 27, 2012 at 12:01 pm

The Latest AOW News

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• Posted on: June 4, 2010
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• Posted on: June 3, 2010
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• Posted on: November 16, 2009
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• Posted on: October 5, 2009
  "Million in the Mirror" For Breast Cancer Research Wins the Love/Avon Army of Women PSA Contest
• Posted On: October 1, 2009
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• Posted On: September 29, 2009
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