My Date with SABCS 2024: A Breast Cancer Wonderland Rabbit Hole

Walking into the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) always feels a little like stepping into a parallel universe where science reigns supreme, and acronyms are their own language. It's overwhelming, inspiring, and, honestly, always welcomely disorienting.

As a cancer patient advocate (albeit brain and not breast) and weirdo media personality professional in oncology, I approached the conference with a press badge and the requisite ostentatious button-down and blue fedora, with the hope that patients would have a clear presence in the conversations. Spoiler: The Fedora always slays.

The patient's perspective? It's always a mixed bag.

The Dichotomy of SABCS

Let's start with the good stuff: SABCS 2024 was a showcase of innovation and progress, as one should expect. We're talking cutting-edge research, promising therapies, and all the latest buzzwords like "paradigm shift", "unmet need, "health equity," and "have some cappuccino."

The sessions were packed with exciting announcements, from breakthroughs in metastatic breast cancer to new targets for immunotherapy and genomic profiling.

For researchers and clinicians, it's a candy store—meets—Toys R Us of information. But for patients and patient advocates, it can be a bit like looking through a window at a feast you can't quite taste.

The science is vital, no question, but its sheer technicality often leaves little room for connection to real-life patient experiences.

As I said, it's a mixed bag. BUT...

SABCS Got Advocacy Right

But let's give SABCS credit where it's due—they absolutely nailed the Advocacy Pavilion. This wasn't some tucked-away corner with a couple of lonely booths. It was a vibrant, central space where nonprofit leaders and patient advocates could connect, collaborate, and showcase their work.

Advocacy wasn't just an afterthought—it was front and center.

Meaningful conversations were happening, actual partnership discussions were in the works, and there was a sense that advocates had a seat at the table. It felt like advocacy in action, and for me, it was one of the most inspiring and notable parts of the entire conference.

SIDEBAR THOUGHT: If I had one criticism, the pavilion should have been front and center when attendees entered the exhibit hall (like ASCO, which has, thankfully, over time, actually listened to the advocates and given us more real estate and an expanded advocacy lounge with better food than SABCS. Now, contrast SABCS and ASCI with ASH (the American Society of Hematology), where the Advocacy Pavilion was a sheer unbridled embarrassment and felt more like an 6th place token of appreciation.

It's a reminder that advocacy doesn't just happen—it requires intentionality.

SABCS got it right this year, and it's a model worth replicating at some of the smaller professional oncology meetings.

Are There Any Dinosaurs on your Dinosaur Tour?

That said, SABCS isn't without its blind spots. Beyond the Advocacy Pavilion, the patient perspective was noticeably absent from most of the scientific programming. Sure, there were mentions of "quality of life" here and there, but patients were largely missing from the narrative. After 30 years, the academic world, on average, still doesn't think we deserve a seat at the big boy's table with our lack of MD and Ph.D titles.

I mean, who is the actual end user here? As someone who has spent years advocating for patient voices, this is frustrating.

Patients are more than outcomes on a chart—we're the people living with the side effects, the financial stress, and the emotional rollercoaster of treatment. We are the "purpose behind the pill." (Like that? I just made it up as I was writing this.)

Sure, science is kind of critical and the very backbone of progress, but it's not the whole story. Advocacy and research need to work together to create a more complete picture.

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

Sitting in the press room, you can't help but appreciate the dedication and expertise of the journalists and media platforms covering the event. These are people who bring the science to life for broader audiences, translating complex findings into accessible stories.

Shoutout to platforms like Breastcancer.org, which did an excellent job breaking down the highlights for patients, and BCRF for shining a spotlight on critical advancements. Dana-Farber also provided genuinely comprehensive overviews that captured the scope and significance of the research presented—a tip of the hat to my media colleagues.

Their efforts are essential because they connect the dots between scientific discoveries and the wider community, making the information relatable and actionable. It's not easy work—it requires a deep understanding of the science, a knack for storytelling, and a commitment to ensuring patients and advocates can stay informed.

Still, as I sat among the seasoned pros and watched the buzz around press releases and breaking news, I found myself wondering about the gaps. Who's translating this incredible research into the daily realities patients face? Who's asking how these breakthroughs will translate into affordable treatments, accessible care, and better lives for those impacted by breast cancer?

I'm reminded of the scores of podcasts and articles I've written in the vein of "Can Science Speak Person?"(Spoiler: Less than we'd like)

It's not a critique of the hard work being done by media platforms—it's a recognition that there's still an opportunity to bridge the space between the science and the people.

It's a reminder that patient voices when amplified alongside the research, create a fuller, more impactful story.

Good Night, San Antonio

As the conference wrapped up, I left with a mix of emotions. I'm deeply inspired by the work being done and grateful for the space SABCS has continued to create year after year to patient advocaces

But I also left with a renewed sense of urgency. Advocacy and patient voices are too often relegated to the sidelines when they should be integral to these conversations.

SABCS made significant strides this year with its Advocacy Pavilion, but there's still room to grow. Imagine what it could look like if patients were active participants in every session, not just occasional footnotes.

The most groundbreaking research in the world won't make a difference if it doesn't connect with the "downstream customer" it is intended to help.

To my fellow advocates: keep pushing.

Keep showing up.

And to SABCS: thank you for listening to advocates this year. Next year, let's keep the momentum going. Let's make it about more than the science. Let's talk about the people who live in this way every day.

#Remember The Alamo