Defining Cancer Alliance: 2025

Written b:y Cheri Ambrose for the Integrative Cancer Resource Society

"You can’t build a movement alone—you build it one relationship, one conversation, one act of courage at a time."

When I launched my journey into cancer advocacy 15 years ago, I could never have imagined where it would lead. What began as a mission to give voice to the underserved has become a global calling—to unite survivors, caregivers, researchers, clinicians, and visionaries in a fight far greater than any of us could wage alone. This is the essence of alliance building.

It’s not about titles or accolades—it’s about connecting human beings across borders, disciplines, and differences to create solutions that save lives.

The Heart of an Alliance

Alliance building, at its core, is about trust. It’s about reaching out to a stranger on LinkedIn and discovering a shared passion. It’s about sitting in hotel conference rooms until midnight hammering out survivor support strategies. It’s about leaning into hard conversations and finding common ground where none seemed possible.

Social media has been my bridge to the world. Platforms like LinkedIn have helped me discover allies on every continent—doctors in Portugal, advocates in Australia, survivors in Africa—each bringing their unique brilliance to the cause. Through these virtual handshakes, we’ve sparked joint webinars, co-authored white papers, and built survivor networks that transcend oceans.

"The beauty of an alliance is that it grows stronger with every voice added."

This synergy isn’t theoretical. It’s tangible. A single introduction can lead to a global awareness campaign. A single Zoom call can turn into a transcontinental research initiative.

Milestones and Moments

This year has been a testament to what alliances can accomplish.

In March 2025, I was humbled to receive the Heart of Advocacy Award from the National Consortium of Breast Centers at their annual conference in Las Vegas. As I stood before hundreds of breast health professionals, I realized this honor wasn’t just mine—it belonged to every survivor who shared their story, every clinician who said “yes” to collaboration, and every advocate who refuses to give up.

We’re keeping the momentum going with events that matter:

• October 6: Our 3rd Annual All Boobs Matter event with Mike Landesberg on Long Island continues breaking stigma and sparking conversations about male and female breast cancer alike.

• September 17–19: The American Cancer Society Round Table in Washington brought together policymakers and medical leaders to reimagine patient care pathways.

• November 6–8: I’ll join colleagues at the ABC8 Advanced Breast Cancer Global Alliance Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, where international dialogue drives local action.

• December 10–12: The San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the largest in the U.S. with 30,000 participants, is where science and advocacy meet at scale.

One event especially close to my heart was produced by my friend Vicki Durston of the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative and Breast Cancer Network Australia. Seeing Dr. Clifford Hudis, CEO of ASCO, in attendance reminded me that when giants gather, ripples turn into waves. At the “Showcasing BCNA’s Consumer-Led Advocacy for Visibility of Metastatic Breast Cancer” event in New York City, hosted by the American Australian Association, Vicki Durston, Director of Policy, Advocacy and Support Services at Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA), reflected on the power of international collaboration. The gathering united Australian and New York advocates to amplify breast cancer awareness and share innovative approaches to patient support.

Durston emphasized the importance of empowering individuals through BCNA’s training programs, which have equipped consumer representatives to share their stories and drive change. “This event exemplified how our collective passion can drive impactful actions that resonate globally, ensuring every voice is heard and every experience valued,” she said. Partnering with leaders from ASCO, Metavivor, Touch, and the Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance underscored the shared commitment to improving the lives of those affected by metastatic breast cancer worldwide.

"Alliances are born in small rooms, on late-night calls, and in shared visions for something better."

 

My Medical Advisory Board: Proof of What’s Possible

No alliance can succeed without experts willing to lean in. I am deeply proud of the MBC Global Alliance Medical Advisory Board—a dream team of brilliant minds and compassionate hearts:

• Dr. Robert Bard, a diagnostic imaging pioneer whose work with ultrasound has advanced early detection for male breast cancer.

• Dr. Fatima Cardoso, a champion for metastatic breast cancer patients worldwide.

• Dr. Oliver Bogler, who inspires with his unique perspective as both a researcher and male breast cancer survivor.

• Dr. Ben Ho Park, whose precision oncology work is rewriting what personalized medicine means.

• Dr. Pablo Leone, whose leadership in clinical trials like ETHAN reflects our shared commitment to gender-inclusive cancer research.

Together, they represent the strength of multidisciplinary collaboration—the very soul of alliance building.

THE GIFT OF GET-TOGETHERS  In today’s era of Zoom fatigue and digital-only dialogues, nothing rivals the substance of in-person gatherings. Conferences like the ABC Global Alliance’s Advanced Breast Cancer Seventh International Consensus Conference (ABC7), held November 9‑11, 2023, in Lisbon, serve as powerful proof. With over 1,200 participants from nearly 90 countries—clinicians, researchers, advocates, nurses, patients, industry representatives, and policymakers—ABC7 was a melting pot of perspectives and expertise.  Key themes included the latest in endocrine resistance, anti-HER2 therapies for brain metastases, and equitable clinical trial practices. The “Inclusion by Design” poster series and workshop convened stakeholders to discuss improving diversity in trials through 16 actionable recommendations . But the true value was in the hallway conversations and table‑side insights. Over coffee and sit-downs, a researcher exploring endocrine resistance formed a partnership with an advocate passionate about patient education. A clinician from South America connected with a nursing leader from Australia to co-develop support tools. These spontaneous moments often sparked collaborative research proposals and advocacy campaigns across borders. As Cheri Ambrose of the Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance observed, “These gatherings are where we see the true magic of alliance‑building—where every story shared and every handshake exchanged strengthens our global fight against cancer.”  Physical get‑togethers like ABC7 aren’t just events—they’re the crucibles of meaningful alliances, the starting point for innovation, empathy, and action that transform global care.

Why Alliances Matter

Cancer doesn’t discriminate, and neither can we. As advocates, we must build bridges between silos—bridges between survivors and scientists, between policy and practice, between local communities and global networks.

We need alliances to:
✔ Advance gender-inclusive cancer research.
✔ Build survivor networks across continents.
✔ Push for legislation that ensures equitable screening and treatment.
✔ Educate clinicians about rare and underserved cancer populations.

"Alliance building is action. It’s not a meeting or a mission statement—it’s the work of bringing people together to rewrite the future."

A Call to Action

To every survivor, clinician, policymaker, and advocate reading this: we need you. Your voice, your ideas, your willingness to collaborate. This isn’t just about male breast cancer. It’s about transforming cancer care for everyone.

If you’ve ever felt like one person can’t make a difference, let me assure you: you can. Because alliances are built one relationship at a time.

And when we come together, there is no limit to what we can achieve.

About the Author

Cheri Ambrose is the founder and president of the Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance, an international advocacy network dedicated to raising awareness, improving research, and supporting survivors of male breast cancer. With over 15 years of experience in patient advocacy, Cheri has become a recognized leader in forging partnerships between survivors, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers. She is the recipient of the 2025 Heart of Advocacy Award from the National Consortium of Breast Centers and continues to champion global efforts for gender-inclusive cancer care.