The cancer advocacy community is mourning the loss of Sandra "Sandi" Stanford, a pioneering patient advocate whose decades-long dedication transformed how patients engage with researchers, medical institutions, and policymakers. Stanford passed away on August 29, 2026, at the age of 82, leaving behind a profound legacy of empowerment, education, and systemic reform in cancer care.
When Stanford was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993, the medical landscape was vastly different from today. Innovations in medicine, science, and technology have since revolutionized how the disease is viewed, treated, measured, and researched. However, a major driving force behind these advancements has been a new breed of survivors who refused to remain on the sidelines. Educating themselves and inserting their voices into the research process, these individuals became known as cancer patient advocates.
Stanford, a resident of San Antonio, Texas, emerged as a leading figure among them, pioneering programs and initiatives that turned a devastating personal diagnosis into a lifetime of community action. Her contributions resonated locally and nationally, leaving an indelible mark on healthcare outcomes for Latinos and all cancer patients.
Dr. Amelie Ramirez, director of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, remembered Stanford’s monumental impact. "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," Dr. Ramirez said. "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, Stanford built a life in San Antonio, Texas, where she raised a family and worked successfully as an area manager at USAA. In 1993, at the age of 50, her life trajectory shifted dramatically during the Christmas holiday season. What should have been a joyous time spent with loved ones turned into a crisis when she received a phone call confirming her worst fears: doctors had discovered two tumors, measuring 5.5 centimeters and 1.0 centimeter, respectively. She was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer.
In early 1994, Stanford underwent intensive surgery and chemotherapy, enduring several serious adverse health events that threatened her life. Throughout the grueling physical ordeal, her husband and children remained firmly by her side, serving as her primary anchor.
Stanford was fortunate in ways many others were not. At the time of her diagnosis, she had insurance that covered her treatment and enough accumulated sick leave to get her through the most physically demanding phase of her journey. But witnessing the harsh realities faced by others, particularly in South Texas where the Latino community was disproportionately impacted by the disease, opened her eyes to deep disparities in healthcare access and treatment hurdles.
Reflecting on her journey, Stanford noted how advocacy fundamentally transformed her ability to navigate the medical system. "I started with a very little voice and now my voice is bigger. I’m not afraid to say something or ask a doctor a question. Whereas in the Latina community, that’s not the case," she shared with Salud America! following her recovery. Driven by this realization, she dedicated the rest of her life to mentoring and helping women facing similar diagnoses.
Sandi Stanford: 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 (ABCF). Established in 1993, the organization initially focused on providing support group meetings for breast cancer patients. However, the organization soon recognized that traditional support groups alone could not address the broader systemic needs of patients and survivors.
After a founding member attended a symposium highlighting local oncology research, ABCF developed an innovative advocacy program to bring patient voices directly to the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS). Stanford quickly emerged as a key architect of this shift, understanding that meaningful progress required direct collaboration with the scientific community.
"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 an ABCF board member from 1999 until her passing and led the organization as president from 2009 to 2011, cementing her role as a foundational leader in local and national cancer advocacy.
Sandi Stanford: Breast Cancer Advocate
Stanford’s advocacy footprint extended far beyond Texas, taking her across the globe to address researchers, medical professionals, and healthcare stakeholders. She consistently emphasized the critical need for patient advocates to inform better research methodologies and therapies.
Her leadership roles spanned major cancer centers and organizations. In 1999, she began volunteering with the American Cancer Society as a public speaker and a certified breast self-exam trainer. Over the years, she served on numerous planning and steering committees for the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
Staying deeply connected to her local community, Stanford held prominent leadership positions at UT Health San Antonio’s Mays Cancer Center, serving as chair of its Community Advisory Board from 2019 to 2024. She also contributed her time to University Health Systems committees from 2011 to 2020. Her expertise was sought after nationally; she served on the board of directors for the San Antonio Clinical Trials Task Force, acted as an advocate member for the California Breast Cancer Research Program across multiple terms, and participated in the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program from 2005 to 2008. From professional medical conferences to breast health awareness initiatives with the WNBA Stars in San Antonio, Stanford carried her message everywhere she went.
Sandi Stanford: Shepherding a New Generation of Advocates
Closer to home, Stanford found profound purpose in regional initiatives, including the Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations (ACRLP) conference led by Dr. Amelie Ramirez. The biennial event brings together global experts, healthcare professionals, patient advocates, and students to tackle cancer disparities impacting Latinos and diverse communities.
As a respected research advocate and close colleague of Dr. Ramirez, Stanford served on the scientific planning committee. Alongside fellow advocate Dr. Barbara Segarra-Vázquez of the University of Puerto Rico, Stanford coordinated the survivorship components of the conference. Recognizing an unmet need to expand structured training for minority patient advocates, Stanford and Segarra-Vázquez secured vital support from sponsors—including Abbott, Pfizer, and Susan G. Komen—to launch the first-ever Latino Cancer Patient Advocate Training Program in February 2024.
"You really have to have passion to become a patient advocate," Segarra-Vázquez said of the work. "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."
The inaugural training cohort welcomed 15 Latinas to follow in Stanford and Segarra-Vázquez’s footsteps. These newly trained advocates went on to participate in high-level panels, steering committees, and stakeholder meetings, ensuring that the lived experiences of survivors directly shaped future treatments and interventions. In 2026, the program returned to welcome a second cohort of 16 Latino cancer survivors, expanding its reach to include male cancer survivors and caregivers for the first time. The latest group completed their rigorous training on August 26, 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," Segarra-Vázquez said. "I am grateful she believed in my vision of Latino advocates and partnered with me to make it happen. She was family to me."
Remembering Sandi Stanford’s Legacy
Tributes poured in from across the medical and advocacy communities following Stanford’s passing. Organizers at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium remembered her as a pioneer, fierce leader, mentor, and dear friend who tirelessly championed the patient voice.
The Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation described her as an "energizer bunny" and a "true powerhouse in breast cancer advocacy."
"For years, she poured her heart into empowering patients, elevating the voices of advocates, and demanding better research, care, and outcomes for all," the organization stated. "Her strength, sharp insight, and boundless warmth transformed countless lives across the globe. While her presence leaves an irreplaceable void, Sandi’s extraordinary legacy of courage, service, and compassion will continue to guide our work every single day."
Texas Wings similarly honored her life as a "beautiful testament to what can happen when survivorship becomes service," noting that her influence extended far beyond titles and boardrooms into the hearts of the patients she encouraged and the advocates she befriended.
