2026 Cancer in the Community Conference: Bridging Gaps in Breast Cancer Prevention and Care
Description: The USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Office of Community Outreach, Engagement, and Education will host the 2026 Cancer in the Community Conference: Bridging Gaps in Breast Cancer Prevention, Care & Policy. The event will focus on eliminating barriers to early detection and quality care, particularly among underrepresented and rural populations, including American Indian communities. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, accounting for nearly one in three new cases (American Cancer Society). In California alone, more than 4,600 women are projected to lose their lives to the disease in 2025 (American Cancer Society). This one-day hybrid conference will unite survivors, caregivers, researchers, clinicians, and advocates to share knowledge and hope. Its goal is to empower communities especially those historically excluded from research with accessible information on prevention, screening, and participation in clinical trials. To ensure inclusion, the event will be offered in-person and via Zoom with live Spanish and Mandarin interpretation. The program features four sessions: (1) Breast cancer biology, development, and risk reduction; (2) Advances in treatment, including immunotherapy innovations that harness the immune system to fight cancer (Rai et al. 2024); (3) Clinical trials and their essential role in equitable care (Breastcancer.org); and (4) A community panel of survivors, caregivers, and advocates led by Pastor Rhonda Holbert and a member of the California Dialogue on Cancer (CDOC). Genetic risk will also be discussed, as inherited BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations can increase breast cancer risk from about 13% in the general population to over 60% (National Cancer Institute), yet nearly 30% of eligible individuals remain untested (Alberty-Oller et al. 2021). Conference partners including USC’s Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) program and CDOC will align science with community needs. Pre- and post-conference surveys, plus a six-month follow-up, will assess outcomes. Ultimately, this conference aims to bridge gaps in knowledge, care, and representation, fostering lasting partnerships that advance breast cancer prevention and health equity for all.
Amount: $25,000
Start date: 2026-01-15
Investigators: Lourdes Conde, Lourdes Conde
Institution: USC
Funded outputs count: 0
Funder award ID: g9ht20
OpenAlex ID: G7759875845