Karen Eubanks Jackson (Photo Provided).
By Brandon Pope
Karen Eubanks Jackson never set out to make history. She set out to survive. But in surviving, she created something far greater: a movement that has redefined what breast cancer advocacy looks like for Black women in America.
This June, in a moment decades in the making, Jackson will stand before thousands of oncology professionals from around the world at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago to accept the 2025 ASCO Patient Advocate Award. She will be the first Black woman ever to receive this honor.
It’s a milestone that reflects not only Jackson’s courage as a four-time breast cancer survivor but also the transformative impact of the organization she founded—Sisters Network® Inc., the nation’s first and only national African-American breast cancer survivorship organization.
ASCO’s Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of its kind, drawing more than 40,000 medical professionals, researchers, and advocates from over 100 countries. Amid the clinical breakthroughs and scientific innovations, Jackson’s recognition marks a different kind of progress: one rooted in equity, community and the urgent need to address the long-standing disparities Black women face in breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and survival.
When Jackson founded Sisters Network® Inc. in 1994, it was born from personal pain and a deep sense of purpose. After navigating her own breast cancer diagnosis, she realized how isolating and unequal the experience could be for Black women. Determined to change that, she launched a grassroots movement focused on culturally competent education, emotional support and direct outreach in communities too often overlooked by traditional healthcare systems.
What began as a small support group has grown into a nationally respected force—leading awareness campaigns, advocating for policy change, and saving lives through early detection and access to care.
As she prepares to receive ASCO’s highest honor for patient advocacy, Jackson is taking a moment to reflect. In an exclusive conversation, she shares what this recognition means to her, the challenges she’s overcome and her vision for a future where every Black woman diagnosed with breast cancer feels seen, supported and empowered.
Brandon Pope: Reflecting on your journey, what does receiving the 2025 ASCO Patient Advocate Award signify to you personally and professionally?
Karen Eubanks Jackson: As a full-time breast cancer survivor for over 30 years, this award is incredibly significant—not just for me, but for Sisters Network® Inc. as a national organization. It reflects our pioneering role in the Black breast cancer movement. To receive recognition at this level—and in a city like Chicago where the entire global oncology community gathers—validates our advocacy and solidifies both the past and present of who we are.
Pope: Over the past 30 years, Sisters Network® Inc. has supported countless Black women facing breast cancer. What were some of the biggest challenges?
Jackson: The biggest hurdle was that we had to start from zero. Breast cancer wasn’t even a topic in our community. It was whispered. People avoided me, saying, “Here comes the breast cancer lady,” like it was something shameful. But I kept showing up—because I believed someone would hear the message.
We turned shame into strength. We made it okay to talk about it, to look good, to lead and to survive. That mindset shift was the game-changer.
Pope: How has the landscape of breast cancer advocacy evolved since you founded Sisters Network® Inc.?
Jackson: In the beginning, we had to rally the community. Now, there is a lot more support from and unity. Unfortunately, even after 30 years of advocacy, still not much has changed for African-American women.
Guidelines still recommend starting mammograms at 40—but our women are dying before 40. That’s not early detection. That’s a delay tactic that costs lives. Our mission remains: educate our women, push for 3D mammograms, and advocate for common-sense change.
Photo Provided
Pope: What are the most pressing disparities in breast cancer care for Black women today?
Jackson: Funding and access. We’ve never received equitable funding compared to major national organizations that don’t focus on marginalized communities. Yet we’ve done the work with less—and done it well. If the medical community wants to help, they must ensure equitable funding so we can continue to provide resources like free mammograms and as well as increase our programming support to meet women where they are.
Pope: Can you share a story that reinforced your mission?
Jackson: Every day, I hear from women—educated, insured and still confused by the system. This work isn’t just about the uninsured or the underserved. Even women with resources aren’t being empowered to use them. That’s why Sisters Network stands in the gap.
We make it clear: the system wasn’t built for us, so we must learn it, question it and advocate for ourselves.
Pope: Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for Sisters Network® Inc.?
Jackson: We must change the age guidelines for mammograms to reflect the reality of Black women’s lives. We must also push harder for participation in clinical trials—because if we’re not included, they won’t know if the treatments will or won’t work for us. We need our community to understand that breast cancer does mean us. And by embracing early detection and clinical research, we can live longer, healthier lives.
What Her Recognition Means
Karen Eubanks Jackson’s historic recognition in Chicago at the ASCO Annual Meeting is more than an award—it’s a breakthrough for Black women everywhere fighting for equity in cancer care.
Her voice now echoes on a global stage, reminding us that advocacy, when rooted in community and purpose, can reshape the world.
To learn more or get involved, visit www.sistersnetworkinc.org.
Brandon Pope is an Emmy-winning multimedia journalist, host, podcaster, film critic and columnist, with experience covering a range of topics from politics to sports. His work has been featured on Entertainment Tonight, Ebony Magazine, The Root, REVOLT and the Chicago Sun-Times. Brandon is host of the MAKING podcast series from WBEZ and NPR, and Editor-in-chief of the Chicago-based Film and Television news platform Creative Cypher. He is president of the Chicago chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists, where he focuses on shepherding in the next generation of journalists and raising money for scholarships. He’s also an adjunct professor at Columbia College Chicago.