2026 Stage IV Stampede & Summit Recap

Explore Event Resources

Explore resources from the 2026 Stage IV Stampede & Summit below, including downloadable session presentations, session descriptions, speaker information, advocacy talking points, fact sheets, and recordings of our virtual advocacy trainings. Revisit key discussions and access tools to help you stay informed, engaged, and empowered in your advocacy efforts.

• 2026 Stampede Advocacy Training
• 2026 Stampede Talking Points
• 2026 Stampede Fact Sheets
• 2026 In Memorium
• MBC Advocacy Update: What Advocates Need to Know 

  Join us for a timely update on the current advocacy landscape for people living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). This session will provide an overview of key federal and legislative priorities affecting the MBC community, recent advocacy developments, and opportunities for advocates to make their voices heard. Attendees will learn what’s happening in Washington, why these issues matter to the MBC community, and how they can stay engaged and take action. Whether you are new to advocacy or a seasoned advocate, this session will provide practical information and resources to help you make an impact.

  Speakers: Michelle Artz, Vice President, The Federal Group, Inc.; Taylor Thomas, MPH, Director of Government Relations, The Federal Group, Inc.

• Metastatic Breast Cancer Overview
• METAvivor Research Updates: Advancing MBC Research

  This session will highlight recent research investments, emerging areas of investigation, and what researchers are learning across the MBC research landscape. Attendees will gain a better understanding of how METAvivor-funded research contributes to advancing knowledge, addressing critical gaps, and accelerating progress for the MBC community.

  Speakers: Kelly Shanahan, President, METAvivor; Nathaniel Robinsin, Board Director/Research, METAvivor; Jill Bargonetti-Chavarria, PhD, Member, METAvivor Scientific Advisory Board

• Know Your Biomarkers: Understanding Testing and Treatment Options in Metastatic Breast Cancer

  Biomarker testing can play an important role in understanding metastatic breast cancer and identifying treatment options, but knowing what to test, when to test, and what the results mean can be confusing. This interactive session will help advocates better understand the role of biomarkers and how biomarker results can inform treatment decisions. Experts will explain what biomarkers are, the different approaches to biomarker testing including tumor-informed and panel testing and how results may guide treatment. Patients living with MBC will share their personal experiences with biomarker testing, including questions, challenges, and conversations with their care teams.

  The session will conclude with a panel-led discussion and Q&A, giving advocates practical information they can use to support themselves and others in navigating biomarker testing and personalized treatment.

  Speakers: Kelly Shanahan, President, METAvivor; Megan O’Neil, Director, METAvivor; Jake Messier; Tameron Harvell, MSN, FNP-BC, Guardant Health; Jenna Canzoniero, MD, MS, John Hopkins Medicine

• Peer 2 Peer (P2P) Program Updates
• Support Our Sisters: Building Peer-to-Peer Connections to Educate, Empower, and Expand Access
  

  Peer-to-peer programs can play a powerful role in helping people living with metastatic breast cancer (mBC) feel informed, supported, and better equipped to navigate their care. This session will explore how the Support Our Sisters with Metastatic Breast Cancer (SOS) program uses patient education, peer connection, community engagement, and cross-sector partnerships to address gaps in information and support for women living with MBC.

  Taylarr Lopez, MPH, Health Communications Director, National Minority Quality Forum, will provide an overview of the SOS program and its peer network, including how the initiative creates accessible opportunities for patients to connect with one another, receive trusted and culturally relevant information, learn about metastatic breast cancer and clinical trials, and strengthen their ability to participate in conversations and decisions about their care. The session will also highlight the importance of partnerships among patients, advocacy organizations, healthcare providers, researchers, and other stakeholders in expanding the reach and impact of peer-based programs.

  SOS Ambassador Roxana Guerra will bring the patient perspective to the conversation by sharing her personal experience living with metastatic breast cancer. She will discuss barriers Latina women may encounter when seeking care, information, and supportive resources; the value of connecting with others who understand the experience of living with MBC; and the role peer-to-peer communities like Support Our Sisters can play in helping patients feel less isolated, share knowledge, ask questions, and advocate for themselves.

  Speakers: Taylarr Lopez, MPH, Health Communications Director, National Minority Quality Forum; Roxana Guerra, Bilingual Patient Advocate

• Make Your Voice Heard: Practicing Your MBC Advocacy Story

  What would you say if you had five minutes with your member of Congress? In this interactive role-playing session, MBC advocates will practice having a real-world conversation with a congressional office about why metastatic breast cancer research and advocacy matter. Participants will learn how to clearly communicate their personal connection to MBC, connect their story to the need for continued research and federal support, and make a specific advocacy ask. Through guided scenarios and role-playing exercises, advocates will build confidence in speaking with congressional staff and learn how to make their message personal, concise, and impactful.

  Speakers: Michelle Artz, Vice President, The Federal Group, Inc.; Taylor Thomas, MPH, Director of Government Relations, The Federal Group, Inc.

• Protecting America’s Cancer Intelligence Network: Understanding Cancer Surveillance and the Power of Advocacy

  Cancer surveillance plays an essential role in understanding the impact of cancer across the United States and providing the information needed to support research, public health initiatives, healthcare planning, and improved patient outcomes. This presentation offers an overview of the key organizations, partnerships, and stakeholders that contribute to its success. Attendees will gain a better understanding of why cancer surveillance matters, how it supports decision-making at the local, state, and national levels, and the challenges facing this critical public health infrastructure. The session will dig deeper into NCRA’s recent advocacy efforts to protect and strengthen cancer surveillance programs, illustrating how collaboration, education, and grassroots engagement helped influence policymakers and achieve meaningful outcomes. Through this experience, participants will see how a coordinated community effort can make a significant impact on the future of cancer surveillance.

  Speaker: Lori Swain, MS, Executive Director, National Cancer Registrars Association & NCRA Education Foundation