A Call to Act: Highlights from Our All-Member Meeting at ASCO 2025

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By Medha Deoras-Sutliff, Executive Director

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Chicago for our All-Member Meeting during ASCO weekend! This year marked an exciting first: our main program was planned by a dedicated team of patient advocates. Their thoughtful leadership shaped a dynamic and deeply impactful evening.

Senior Leadership Team, left to right: Medha Deoras-Sutliff, Stephanie Walker, Gissoo DeCotiis, Keeshia Jones, and Margaret Flowers.

We opened the meeting with a forward-looking address from Margaret Flowers, Chair of the MBC Alliance. Her introduction, titled Forward Together: The Next Chapter for MBCA, shared an update about our growth, efforts and key priorities for the Alliance over the next two years – including establishing an online framework for member policy activation, expanding awareness campaigns, hosting an all-member retreat, and engaging members in planning for our annual meeting at SABCS. More info on these actions to come soon.

Panelists at our All-Member meeting shared an urgent call to mobilize to advocate for sustained funding of MBC research and care.

The heart of the evening was a powerful panel discussion coordinated by our patient advocate members, titled On the Brink: Mobilizing to Save MBC Research and Care. Here are a few key takeaways:

  • Urgent Threat to Research Funding: Panelists sounded the alarm on the potential impact of proposed federal budget cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Cancer Institute (NCI), threatening vital MBC research and patient access to clinical trials.
  • Progress and Lives at Risk: The conversation emphasized how far we’ve come in improving treatment for people living with MBC. But it also spotlighted how fragile that progress is—illustrated by a composite story of six MBC patients who lost access to promising clinical trials due to defunded or halted research, and tragically passed away.
  • A Personal Call to Action: Panelists urged everyone to act now—contacting your Congresspersons daily, sharing personal stories, and advocating for continued, robust investment in breast cancer research and care. Your voice truly matters.

As we look ahead, the Alliance is deeply committed to this critical work and we know that together, with your continued dedication, we can drive meaningful change. Whether you’re a nonprofit partner, an industry ally, or someone personally impacted by MBC, please stay engaged and continue these vital conversations. Get involved in whatever way feels most meaningful to you, and let’s stay resolute in our collective efforts.

Watch the full recording of the All-Member Meeting at ASCO 2025 here.