When Sandi Stanford was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993, the medical landscape surrounding the disease was vastly different from how we view, treat, measure, and research it today. Back then, patients faced a system where information was often opaque, and decisions were largely left behind closed doors in clinical settings. Much of the progress that has been made since then in medicine, science, and technology can be attributed to a profound shift in perspective—one driven not just by physicians and researchers, but by a powerful new class of stakeholders: the survivors.
This new breed of survivors refused to stand on the sidelines. Instead, they educated themselves, inserted themselves directly into research discussions, and initiated conversations designed to benefit future generations. They called themselves cancer patient advocates. One of the most prominent pioneers of this movement was Sandi Stanford of San Antonio, Texas, a woman who helped transform a terrifying personal diagnosis into a lifetime of impactful action and institutional reform.
Stanford passed away on August 29, 2026, at the age of 82. While the global cancer community mourns her immense loss, her fierce, compassionate spirit lives on through the generations of advocates she mentored and trained over decades of dedicated service, carrying forward her mission of improving cancer outcomes for all people.
“She did so much for women with breast cancer at the local and national level. She was loved by all. Her contribution to improving the lives of Latinos and all cancer patients and survivors will never be forgotten,” said Dr. Amelie Ramirez, director of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. “She will continue to be a bright light in advocacy and live on through those she’s touched and the change she inspired.”
Sandi Stanford: Surviving Breast Cancer
Born on January 23, 1944, Sandi Stanford built a full life in San Antonio, Texas, raising her children alongside her husband while establishing a successful career as an area manager at USAA. However, in 1993, at the age of 50, her life trajectory changed drastically.
What was supposed to be a joyous holiday season spent with family and friends quickly turned dark during the week of Christmas festivities when she received a phone call from her doctor. The voice on the other end confirmed her worst fears: tests had revealed two tumors, one measuring 5.5 centimeters and a second at 1.0 centimeter. She was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer.
In early 1994, Stanford underwent intensive surgery and chemotherapy, enduring several serious adverse health events that directly threatened her life. Throughout the physical and emotional toll, her anchor was knowing her husband and children were by her side. At the time of her diagnosis, Stanford was also fortunate to have health insurance that covered her extensive treatment, as well as enough accumulated sick leave to weather the most demanding phase of her recovery.
Yet, Stanford acutely recognized that not everyone was as fortunate. Living in South Texas, she witnessed firsthand how the Latino community was disproportionately impacted by the disease and faced towering systemic hurdles just to access basic treatment.
“I started with a very little voice and now my voice is bigger [through advocacy],” Stanford recalled in a past interview with Salud America!. “I’m not afraid to say something or ask a doctor a question. Whereas in the Latina community, that’s not the case.”
Determined to bridge this gap, she decided upon completing her treatment to walk the path of advocacy, dedicating her time and energy to helping and mentoring other women facing a breast cancer diagnosis.
Sandi Stanford and the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation
Stanford’s formal advocacy journey began in her hometown in 1995 when she became involved with the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation. Established in 1993, the foundation initially supported breast cancer patients primarily through local support group meetings. However, it soon became clear that the challenges patients and survivors faced required a far broader strategic approach than a standard support group could provide.
After a founding member attended a symposium highlighting cutting-edge research for local oncologists, the nonprofit developed a pioneering advocacy program designed to bring patient voices directly to the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS). Stanford quickly emerged as a driving force behind this initiative, understanding that patient engagement needed to move beyond emotional support and into the scientific arena.
“Originally, we would just have a helpline. We just had a support group, and the thought was, we don’t need to do something else to accomplish what we need,” Stanford told Cancer Today magazine. “Now we know we need to be talking to the researchers. We need to be a part of their grants. We need to understand the science. We need to be able to talk to them face to face so we can understand what they are saying, and they can understand us. There’s a respect there now.”
Stanford served as a board member of the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation from 1999 until her passing, and she held the position of organization president from 2009 to 2011. This local leadership served as a springboard for an international career in patient advocacy.
A Global Voice for Breast Cancer Advocacy
From Denmark to San Antonio, Stanford’s advocacy footprint spanned the globe. She consistently addressed researchers, clinicians, and healthcare stakeholders on the critical necessity of incorporating patient advocates into the design of better research methodologies and therapies.
Her resume of leadership roles across major cancer centers and organizations is extensive. In 1999, she began volunteering with the American Cancer Society as both a public speaker and a certified breast self-exam trainer. She served on multiple planning and steering committees for the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, helping shape the direction of one of the world’s premier scientific breast cancer meetings.
Remaining deeply connected to her local community, Stanford maintained a heavy involvement with UT Health San Antonio’s Mays Cancer Center, serving as chair of its Community Advisory Board from 2019 to 2024. She also lent her expertise to University Health Systems through various committees from 2011 to 2020.
Her influence extended into national and state-level research initiatives. She sat on the board of directors for the San Antonio Clinical Trials Task Force, served as an advocate member for the California Breast Cancer Research Program across multiple terms between 2002 and 2010, and contributed to the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program from 2005 to 2008. Whether speaking about prevention at public health events or working alongside programs like the WNBA Stars breast health initiatives in San Antonio, Stanford carried her message everywhere she went.
Shepherding a New Generation of Advocates
While her advocacy reached international platforms, Stanford always found deep fulfillment in grassroots efforts close to home, including the Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations conference. Organized under the leadership of Dr. Amelie Ramirez, the biennial conference brings together prominent researchers, physicians, healthcare professionals, patient advocates, and students from around the world to address cancer disparities affecting Latinos and broader populations.
As a respected research advocate and close collaborator with Dr. Ramirez, Stanford served on the scientific planning committee for the conference. In this role, she helped raise awareness about the indispensable value of patient advocates and coordinated the survivorship components alongside fellow advocate Dr. Barbara Segarra-Vázquez of the University of Puerto Rico.
Recognizing an opportunity to expand their impact, Stanford and Segarra-Vázquez sought support to establish a dedicated patient advocacy training program attached to the conference. Their shared goal was to unite survivors, train them to navigate complex healthcare systems, and elevate the Latino patient voice within clinical research.
“You really have to have passion to become a patient advocate,” Segarra-Vázquez noted of the advocacy mission. “It’s that desire to help others, that desire to speak for those who cannot speak, maybe because they’re not sitting at the table, or maybe because they’re not here anymore. It’s our role to continue the legacy and to have less people or no people at all die from cancer.”
With backing from Dr. Ramirez and major sponsors including Abbott, Pfizer, and Susan G. Komen, Stanford and Segarra-Vázquez launched the inaugural Latino Cancer Patient Advocate Training Program in February 2024. The pilot cohort welcomed 15 Latinas to step into advocacy roles. Following its initial success, the program returned in 2026 to welcome a second cohort of 16 participants, which notably included male cancer survivors and caregivers for the first time. The latest group completed their training in August 2026.
“Since I met Sandi in 2012, I could tell that she was one of a kind. She was always selfless and just wanted to help new advocates find their voice. I am grateful she believed in my vision of Latino advocates and partnered with me to make it happen. She was family to me,” Segarra-Vázquez said.
Remembering Sandi Stanford’s Enduring Legacy
Sandi Stanford’s unwavering commitment to breast cancer advocacy and her fearless dedication to empowering survivors have left an indelible mark on the medical community. Colleagues at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium remembered her as a pioneer in patient advocacy, a fierce leader, a mentor, and a dear friend whose impact on the breast cancer community remains immeasurable.
Organizations across the state and country have honored her memory following her passing. The Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation remembered her as an "energizer bunny" and a true powerhouse who poured her heart into empowering patients and demanding better research and care. Similarly, Texas Wings described her life as a beautiful testament to what happens when survivorship is transformed into service.
Generations of patients, researchers, and advocates will continue to benefit from the pathways Stanford forged. Those touched by her warmth, sharp insight, and boundless compassion will carry forward her life’s work, ensuring her bright light continues to guide the fight against cancer.
