A Message from Dr. Love
Moving Research Forward
Every now and again a research study grabs my attention because the investigators have gone off on a new path and have published findings that make me think: Wow, they could be on to something! In other instances, a study grabs me not because of what the researchers found, but because the media made it sound so much better than it was. And sometimes it’s a bit both—which is why I want to talk to you about the breast cancer vaccine that’s been all over the news.

Over the past few years, I’ve come to believe that it is very likely that there is a virus that is involved in the initiation of some forms of breast cancer. So, I was intrigued to learn more about this work. What these researchers have done is interesting. And while it may sound promising to hear that none of the vaccinated mice in their study developed breast cancer, it’s equally important to remember that scientists stop breast cancer from developing in mice all the time. So, it’s foolish for anyone to be acting like we have suddenly found a way to prevent breast cancer when we don’t even yet know if this vaccine will be safe or effective in women!

This is, however, a great example of why we started and why researchers need the Army of Women! If researchers are able to develop a safe vaccine that they think can prevent breast cancer, it will need to be tested in tens of thousands of women before it can be approved and then widely used. And, if and when that happens, the Army of Women would love to be a part of it! Until then, though, we’d all be much better off if everyone could remember that women are not mice, and that we should save our accolades for real breakthroughs, not media-manufactured ones. MORE >