For millions of people worldwide, advanced breast cancer (ABC) is more than a diagnosis, it’s a daily reality shaped by hope, resilience, and the urgent need for progress. Over the past decade, the global ABC community has witnessed remarkable scientific breakthroughs: survival rates have climbed, new therapies have emerged, and conversations about quality of life have moved to the center of cancer care.

Yet, as our partners the ABC Global Alliance reveal the landmark Advanced Breast Cancer Global Decade Report, progress is not the same as equity. While some patients in some countries are living longer, better lives, too many others remain left behind, caught in a widening gap between what is possible and what is accessible.

Advanced Breast Cancer by Numbers

Progress isn’t theoretical, it transforms lives. Yet progress is not the same as equity. Our challenge and commitment is to close the gaps in ABC care within and between countries.

Dr. Fatima Cardoso

President, ABC Global Alliance

Knowledge in Motion: Turning Evidence into Action

The central theme of this decade’s report is “Knowledge in Motion.” It’s a call to transform ten years of innovation and evidence into real, life-changing action for every person living with ABC, regardless of geography, cancer subtype, or socioeconomic status.

Behind these numbers are stories of resilience and struggle. Nearly half of people with ABC report feeling misunderstood or isolated, and 79% say their emotional and psychological wellbeing suffers. Financial hardship is a constant companion for many, 70% of patients are actively cutting back on spending due to the impact of their diagnosis and treatment.

A Call to Close the Global Equity Gap

Disparities in access to care are stark. While trastuzumab, a mainstay treatment for HER2+ ABC, has transformed outcomes in high-income countries, it’s available in only 51% of low- and middle-income countries. Less than 20% of cancer registries record stage at diagnosis, making it difficult to track true prevalence and outcomes.

Workplace rights and legal protections remain inconsistent. Many patients face job loss, lack of support, and limited options for flexible work, compounding the burden of disease.
 

Survival is improving, but the journey for patients is still marked by financial hardship, gaps in support, and persistent stigma. The new ABC Global Charter is a call to governments, healthcare systems, and industry to work together so that no one is left behind.

Claire Gillis

CEO, VML Health

The ABC Global Charter: Setting the Agenda for the Next Decade

In response, the ABC Global Alliance has launched the ABC Global Charter 2025–2035, a bold, 10-goal roadmap to drive equitable progress. The Charter calls for doubling median overall survival, optimizing care through high-quality data, improving quality of life, and ensuring that every person with ABC is treated by a specialized multidisciplinary team. It demands better communication, comprehensive support services, and the reduction of stigma and isolation. Above all, it insists that legal rights and access to care must not depend on where a person lives or their ability to pay.

Voices for Change

Dr. Fatima Cardoso, President of the ABC Global Alliance, puts it simply:
“Progress isn’t theoretical, it transforms lives. Yet progress is not the same as equity. Our challenge and commitment is to close the gaps in ABC care within and between countries.”

Claire Gillis, CEO of VML Health, echoes this call for global collaboration:
“Survival is improving, but the journey for patients is still marked by financial hardship, gaps in support, and persistent stigma. The new ABC Global Charter is a call to governments, healthcare systems, and industry to work together so that no one is left behind.”

The Path Forward

The next decade must be defined by bold, coordinated action. It’s time to equalize access to diagnostics, medicines, and support services for all. To standardize and expand cancer registries, integrate emotional and social support into every stage of care, and enact legal protections for patients and caregivers. It’s time to launch inclusive campaigns that empower patients and reduce isolation.

Learn More

Download the full Advanced Breast Cancer Global Decade Report and the new ABC Global Charter at: https://www.abcglobalalliance.org/abc-global-charter-report.

 

VML Health is proud to support this landmark initiative and remains committed to driving positive change for people living with advanced breast cancer worldwide.

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