--- title: "Susan Love on the Impact of “Our Bodies, Ourselves” and Why Breast Cancer Should Focus on Breasts" date: 2011-10-27T20:31:24-04:00 author: OBOS Admin canonical_url: "https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/susan-love-on-the-impact-of-our-bodies-ourselves-and-why-breast-cancer-should-focus-on-breasts" section: Blog (Archive) --- [Donate](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/donate) [From the Archives of Our Bodies, Our Blog](/blog)# Susan Love on the Impact of “Our Bodies, Ourselves” and Why Breast Cancer Should Focus on Breasts By Christine Cupaiuolo • October 27, 2011 Please note: This entry -- originally posted at [Our Bodies, Our Blog](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog) -- has not been updated since the publication date listed above. [Susan Love](http://www.dslrf.org/ "Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation"), the well-known breast cancer researcher and women's health advocate, was a 23-year-old medical student when the first edition of "Our Bodies, Ourselves" was published, but the book's impact was instant and permanent. "It completely revolutionized how I and really the whole world looked at women's health," she said during an exclusive web-only [interview with NBC Nightly News](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#45037783 "Susan Love on NBC Nightly News"), which earlier this week [broadcast a report](http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2011/10/the-legacy-of-our-bodies-ourselves-sex-plumbing-and-menopause "NBC Nightly News report on Our Bodies, Ourselves") on the 40th anniversary of "Our Bodies, Ourselves" and the [new 2011 edition](/publications/obos2011/default.asp "2011 "Our Bodies, Ourselves""). (Also see the web-only interview with OBOS co-founder [Judy Norsigian](http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2011/10/judy-norsigian-on-our-bodies-ourselves-past-present-and-future "Judy Norsigian - NBC Nightly Nes").) Women were treated as "small men who have babies," says Love, noting there was no effort made to understand how women's bodies or brains might be different than men's. "Men were the model, and women were sort of this extra thing." "Our Bodies, Ourselves" put forth the radical notion that women are worthy of study. Love recalls seeing the map of the cervix in the first edition of and thinking, "It was amazing, it was a miraculous thing! Who knew what was in there?" Fast forward 40 years, and Love is still considering the differences between women and men in her medical research. While most of the medical community studying breast cancer is focused on cancer cells, Love focuses on the breast itself. "Believe it or not, all these years after 'Our Bodies, Ourselves,' we know all the molecular biology of breast cancer. But we still don't know how many holes are in the nipple that milk comes out of," said Love. "We still don't know the anatomy of the breast. We still don't know what the breast is doing when it's not making milk. So we still need 'Our Bodies, Ourselves' in our lives." Visit msnbc.com for [breaking news](http://www.msnbc.msn.com), [world news](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507), and [news about the economy](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072) --- #### 0 Response Our Bodies Ourselves is no longer able to accept comments. ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)Topics - [Activism & Resources](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/activism-resources) - [Breast Cancer](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/breast-cancer) - [Feminism & Gender](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/feminism-gender) - [Our Bodies Ourselves](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/our-bodies-ourselves) ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)### *Why You Can* **Trust Us** - We rigorously evaluate all content - We embrace a reproductive justice framework - We don’t accept ads or sell products - We reject funding from the pharmaceutical industry - We counter misinformation and disinformation - We address the social, political, and economic factors that affect health and sexuality [read more](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/why-you-can-trust-us) Share [](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)