The cancer advocacy community is mourning the loss of one of its most steadfast and transformative figures. Sandi Stanford, a San Antonio, Texas native who turned her own harrowing diagnosis into a lifelong mission to reform cancer research, patient care, and healthcare equity, passed away on August 29, 2026, at the age of 82.
When Stanford was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993, the medical landscape surrounding the disease was vastly different from today. Treatment protocols, research metrics, and public conversations about cancer lacked the sophisticated, patient-centered focus that characterizes modern oncology. Much of that evolution has been driven not solely by innovations in science and technology, but by a powerful new breed of players who refused to remain on the sidelines: the cancer patient advocates.
These individuals educated themselves, inserted their voices directly into scientific research, and forged conversations designed to protect and benefit future generations. Stanford stood at the vanguard of this movement, helping pioneer programs and initiatives that transformed a devastating medical diagnosis into active, systemic change. While the global cancer community feels the immense weight of her passing, her enduring spirit lives on through the generations of advocates she mentored, trained, and empowered throughout her remarkable career.
"She did so much for women with breast cancer at the local and national level," said Dr. Amelie Ramirez, director of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. "She was loved by all. Her contribution to improving the lives of Latinos and all cancer patients and survivors will never be forgotten. She will continue to be a bright light in advocacy and live on through those she’s touched and change she inspired."
Sandi Stanford: Surviving Breast Cancer
Born on January 23, 1944, Stanford built a life in San Antonio alongside her husband, raising their children while establishing a successful career as an area manager at USAA. In 1993, at the age of 50, her life trajectory shifted dramatically.
What was supposed to be a joyous holiday season spent surrounded by family and friends quickly turned into a nightmare when she received a phone call during the week of Christmas. The voice on the other end confirmed her worst fears: doctors had discovered two separate tumors, measuring 5.5 centimeters and 1.0 centimeters respectively. She was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer.
In early 1994, Stanford underwent intensive surgery and chemotherapy, enduring several serious, life-threatening adverse health events along the way. Throughout the physical ordeal, her greatest source of strength was knowing her husband and children were standing by her side.
At the time, Stanford was fortunate to have insurance coverage for her complex treatments and sufficient stored sick leave to navigate the most physically demanding months of her recovery. However, she was acutely aware that not everyone shared her good fortune. Living in South Texas, she witnessed firsthand how the Latino community was disproportionately impacted by the disease and how systemic hurdles hindered patients from accessing timely care.
"I started with a very little voice and now my voice is bigger [through advocacy]," Stanford later shared 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."
Upon completing her rigorous treatment regimen, Stanford chose to walk the path of advocacy, dedicating her time, energy, and considerable intellect to helping and mentoring other women facing breast cancer.
Sandi Stanford: Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation
Stanford’s formal advocacy journey began in her hometown in 1995 when she connected with the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation (ABCF). Established in 1993, the nonprofit organization originally set out to support breast cancer patients through traditional support group meetings.
However, the leadership quickly realized that the unique challenges facing breast cancer patients and survivors required a broader intervention than a standard support group could offer. Following a symposium that highlighted emerging research for local oncologists, ABCF developed an innovative advocacy program designed to bring patient advocates directly to the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS).
Stanford emerged as one of the founding members of the Alamo Advocate Program, recognizing early on that traditional support models were no longer sufficient.
"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 dedicated 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 foundational local work served as a springboard for an expansive, international career in patient advocacy.
Sandi Stanford: Breast Cancer Advocate
From Denmark to San Antonio, Stanford’s advocacy career spanned the globe. She consistently addressed researchers, clinicians, and health care stakeholders regarding the critical necessity of incorporating patient perspectives to inform better research methodologies and therapies.
Throughout her decades-long career, Stanford assumed leadership roles across 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. She regularly served on planning and steering committees for the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, helping shape the academic and clinical dialogue of the premier global conference.
Remaining deeply connected to her local roots in San Antonio, Stanford maintained a heavy involvement with UT Health San Antonio’s Mays Cancer Center, serving as the chair of its Community Advisory Board from 2019 to 2024. She also contributed her expertise to University Health Systems committees from 2011 to 2020.
Her national influence extended to multiple prestigious scientific bodies. 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 between 2002 and 2010, and contributed to the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program from 2005 to 2008. Whether speaking about cancer prevention at academic symposiums or collaborating on health programs with the WNBA Stars in San Antonio, Stanford carried her message into every corner of the community.
Sandi Stanford: Shepherding a New Generation of Advocates
While her footprint extended internationally, Stanford always found deep fulfillment in grassroots efforts close to home, such as the Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations (ACRLP) conference. Led by 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 diverse populations.
As a respected research advocate and close collaborator with Dr. Ramirez, Stanford served on the scientific planning committee for the conference. Alongside fellow committee member and advocate Dr. Barbara Segarra-Vázquez of the University of Puerto Rico, Stanford worked tirelessly to coordinate the survivorship components of the event and elevate the visibility of patient advocates.
Recognizing an ongoing gap in leadership representation, Stanford and Segarra-Vázquez sought to establish a dedicated training framework to help survivors navigate complex healthcare systems and amplify the Latino patient voice in research.
"You really have to have passion to become a patient advocate," Segarra-Vázquez noted 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."
With backing from Dr. Ramirez and major sponsors including Abbott, Pfizer, and Susan G. Komen, Stanford and Segarra-Vázquez launched the first-ever Latino Cancer Patient Advocate Training Program in February 2024, held in conjunction with the fourth ACRLP conference in San Antonio. The inaugural cohort welcomed 15 Latinas to train in advocacy.
The program expanded in 2026, welcoming a second cohort of 16 new Latino cancer survivors, which notably included male cancer survivors and caregivers for the first time. The latest group completed their rigorous training on August 26, 2026, just days before Stanford’s passing.
"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 reflected.
Remembering Sandi Stanford’s Legacy
Colleagues at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium remembered Stanford as a true trailblazer. In a joint remembrance, organizers noted her impact: "Sandi Stanford will forever be remembered for her unwavering commitment to breast cancer advocacy and fearless approach to helping survivors find their voices. A pioneer in patient advocacy, a fierce leader, a mentor, and a dear friend to so many. For decades, Sandi championed the patient voice at SABCS, welcoming and mentoring advocates. Her impact on the breast cancer community is immeasurable."
The Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation affectionately described her as an "energizer bunny" and a "true powerhouse in breast cancer advocacy," noting that she poured her heart into empowering patients and demanding better clinical outcomes for all.
Texas Wings characterized her life as a "beautiful testament to what can happen when survivorship becomes service," adding that her influence reached far beyond titles and boardrooms to live on in the patients she encouraged and the advocates she befriended.
Through the countless individuals she mentored and the systemic changes she helped enact, Sandi Stanford’s legacy of courage, compassion, and tireless service will continue to guide the oncology and advocacy communities for generations to come.
