Susan G. Komen‘s 2026 Progress Outlook is here, assessing where breast cancer research, care, and patient experience stand. The organization’s 2026 report highlights meaningful scientific advances — alongside persistent gaps in equity, access, and emotional support that the breast cancer community continues to face.
This year’s outlook not only celebrates progress in treatment and detection but also highlights the promise and pitfalls of emerging technologies like AI — a topic that directly addresses why AskEllyn exists and how we see the future of care evolving.
Real Progress — And Real Inequities
Susan G. Komen’s 2026 Progress Outlook report notes a long-term decline in breast cancer mortality in the U.S., with deaths about 44% lower than their peak in 1989 — a testament to advances in screening, treatment, and research investment over decades.
Yet these gains aren’t shared equally. Mortality improvements lag in certain communities, especially along racial, socioeconomic, and geographic lines — stark evidence that scientific progress does not automatically translate into equitable outcomes.
Breakthroughs Shaping 2026
Susan G. Komen’s 2026 Progress Outlook report highlights three areas where research and clinical innovation are poised to make an impact:
1. Oral Hormone Therapies
Next-generation oral selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs) offer a more convenient treatment option for many people living with hormone receptor-positive disease, which could improve quality of life and adherence.
2. Targeted Therapies – Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs)
ADCs act like guided missiles: they deliver chemotherapy directly to cancer cells while sparing healthy tissues, improving effectiveness and reducing side effects.
3. Liquid Biopsies for Monitoring
Emerging blood-based tests that detect circulating tumor DNA may help clinicians identify recurrence earlier and adjust care proactively.
These innovations reflect a shift toward precision-informed care, but also underscore the need for equitable access as they move from research to real-world use.
AI in Cancer Care: Promise, Risk, and Support
Susan G. Komen’s 2026 Progress Outlook surfaces a critical tension around AI: while powerful tools could enhance screening and personalize care, they can also amplify bias or widen inequities if deployed without thoughtful design and oversight.
At AskEllyn, we see this tension every day — not in clinical decision-making, but in the emotional and informational support gaps people experience.
That’s because breast cancer isn’t just a medical event — it’s a life-altering journey filled with fear, uncertainty, and questions that often go unanswered between appointments.
AskEllyn: Pioneering AI Companionship for Those Affected by Breast Cancer
AskEllyn was created to meet one of the most persistent gaps in the cancer experience: emotional, practical, 24/7 support rooted in lived experience.
AskEllyn is the world’s first AI companion for people impacted by breast cancer — private, free, multi-lingual, and grounded in the wisdom of someone who has walked the path. (askellyn.ai)
For deeper context on how AskEllyn supports the journey, readers may find these posts helpful:
- How AI Companions Are Transforming the Breast Cancer Journey —explores how compassionate conversational AI reshapes support outside clinical settings. (askellyn.ai)
- The Complete Guide to AskEllyn: Your AI Companion for the Breast Cancer Journey —a full walkthrough of what AskEllyn is and why she matters. (askellyn.ai)
- I Am Kintsugi and a Breast Cancer Survivor—and that’s OK —a survivor reflection that touches on lived experience and healing. (askellyn.ai)
Continuing the Conversation at the 2026 Komen Health Equity Summit
These themes — equity, AI, data justice, and human experience — aren’t abstract. On March 5, 2026, AskEllyn’s co-creator will speak at the Susan G. Komen Health Equity Revolution Summit on a panel titled:
AI, Technology & Data Justice: Tech for Equity — Promise and Pitfalls
This session will explore how technology can reduce, not reinforce, disparities — especially when co-designed with lived experience and community voices at the table.
Register here: https://www.komen.org/about-komen/our-impact/breast-cancer/health-equity-revolution-summit/
Why Advocacy Still Matters
Susan G. Komen’s 2026 Progress Outlook report makes one thing clear: scientific advances must be paired with policy, funding, and access solutions that work for every person affected by breast cancer — not just those with the resources to benefit first.
That includes equitable screening, access to targeted therapies, psychosocial care, and culturally responsive support systems.
What Susan G. Komen’s Progress Outlook Means for You
- Patients & Survivors: Personalized treatments and earlier detection tools are expanding possibilities — and supportive tools like AskEllyn are there whenever you need clarity or companionship.
- Caregivers: There’s increasing recognition of the emotional load you carry — and new technology isn’t here to replace you, but to support you.
- Advocates & Policymakers: Progress must be made equitable by design — from research participation to community outreach.
The future of breast cancer care is both scientific and human — and your voice matters in shaping it.
