Reflections from #SABCS25

The final day of #SABCS25 wrapped up yesterday, and today I’m heading home with a heart full of hope. Ayer fue el último día de SABCS25 y regreso a casa con el corazón lleno de esperanza.

Processing a Wealth of Knowledge

I’m still processing all the incredible information shared at this year’s San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. I’ll be sharing more detailed takeaways soon, once everything has had time to settle.

Advocacy and the Power of Our Voices

One of the most powerful messages I heard repeatedly came directly from researchers, clinicians, and leading experts:“Breast cancer survivors and patient advocates must speak up, advocate, and get involved in clinical trials.”

We were reminded how essential federal funding is to sustain this research, without it, many life-saving trials simply wouldn’t exist.

Make your voice heard by calling your representatives!

Clinical Trials and BIPOC Representation

Clinical trials are critical for advancing treatment, screening, diagnosis, and survivorship. Yet the continued underrepresentation of BIPOC patients in cancer research remains a serious concern. When racial and ethnic minorities are excluded, research findings fail to reflect how treatments work across diverse populations, reinforcing inequities in care.

La equidad en la investigación no es opcional; es una responsabilidad ética.

Honored to Join the 2026 Latino Cancer Patient Advocate Training Program

I’m thrilled to share that I’ve been selected as one of 14 trainees for the 2026 Latino Cancer Patient Advocate Training Program. This program is part of the Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations Conference, which brings together Latino cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and advocates to raise the Latino voice in research.

The goal of this conference is to bring together researchers, clinicians, patient advocates, and community leaders from across the country and internationally who are working in patient-centered, community-based, and translational cancer research.

Participants will learn about the most recent biomedical and population health discoveries in cancer, discover strategies for effectively engaging communities in research, and leave with new insights and ideas to help advance cancer science for Latinos and broader populations.

As cancer continues to be a leading cause of death among Latinos and all populations, patient leadership is vital. Our cohort will meet in person at the conference in San Antonio this February.

Supporting Survivors Through Every Challenge

As patient support leaders, we can guide patients and caregivers, help them communicate with care teams, and amplify patient voices to improve research, healthcare systems, and community outreach.

What drives me is speaking for those who are not at the table, for those no longer here, and for survivors navigating the ongoing realities of cancer, managing visible and invisible symptoms, treatment side effects, and the fear of recurrence or metastasis.

This also includes advocating for migrants and underserved patients who may skip critical medical appointments out of fear or lack of access. Ensuring that people diagnosed with cancer can live not only longer lives but lives with quality requires addressing emotional and psychological well-being alongside physical treatment.

Holistic support—emotional, psychological, and practical—is essential, and patient advocates play a critical role in providing guidance, education, and a trusted voice throughout survivorship.

Moving Forward with Purpose

Seguimos adelante para que menos personas pierdan la vida por cáncer, y para que quienes han sido diagnosticados puedan vivir con buena calidad de vida y una vida larga.

Please feel free to reach out if you’d like to learn more or want to know how to support me and our community during this important work.