JOIN US OCTOBER 5-6, 2026!
The Stage IV Stampede & Summit is part of METAvivor’s ongoing grassroots advocacy efforts designed to raise attention to issues relevant to the metastatic breast cancer community with members of Congress. The Stampede is our biggest and most important event.
We’re calling all advocates, thrivers, caregivers, and allies:
Hill Day is back, and your voice matters more than ever.
$500 Travel Stipend Opportunity
Register by Friday, September 12 to be entered into a raffle for the opportunity to receive a $500 travel stipend to help offset travel expenses.
Register with confidence: If you register by the September 12 deadline and are not selected to receive a travel stipend, your conference registration fee will be fully refunded.
An in-person advocacy event in Washington, D.C.
The METAvivor Stage IV Stampede & Summit is an annual flagship event held in Washington, D.C., to honor National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day and channel the passion of those who are impacted by metastatic breast cancer. For two days, we gather in our nation’s capital to provide a platform for a national grassroots movement to raise awareness of metastatic (stage IV) breast cancer, educate policymakers about the challenges faced by affected individuals, and advocate for advancing medical research and improving care. The Stampede welcomes the participation of anyone who is interested in standing up, speaking out, and using their voice to improve health, wellness, and survivability for the metastatic (stage IV) cancer community.
In the runup to the event, METAvivor will provide trainings and materials to empower you as an advocate. You will learn more about our legislative priorities and opportunities to drive change. You will also learn how to effectively use your voice and share your personal story to make a significant impact by:
- Urging your congressional representatives to allocate meaningful funding increases for medical research programs dedicated to controlling and eliminating cancer that has already devastated lives.
- Encouraging your congressional representatives to cosponsor and enact crucial legislation aimed at enhancing healthcare coverage and accessibility for the community.
A short training is also provided at the event, followed by a reception and the opportunity to connect with other advocates, patients, and supporters. Together, participants march to the Capitol and engage in a remembrance ceremony for loved ones, followed by meetings with legislators.
Event Details
Date: October 5-6, 2026
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington
1000 H Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
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Cutoff date for reservations: Friday, September 11, 2026.
Event Schedule
Each year, METAvivor brings metastatic breast cancer to the forefront of national conversation! Join us as we meet with lawmakers, share our stories, and advocate for federal action that saves lives.
Whether you’ve been before or are joining for the first time, you belong in this movement.
October 5, 2026
- Welcome
- 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 or Testing to Treatment: Making Sense of Biomarkers in MBC
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
October 6, 2026
*Schedule is subject to change
**If you are unable to attend in person, we will be sending more information in the coming months about our MBC GroundSwell initiative later in the year.
Dig Deeper
Interested in deepening your involvement in this important event? Here are some ways to learn more (and get ready to lead).
See Your Impact
Thanks to your active participation in annual advocacy campaigns, along with ongoing engagement of legislators, METAvivor has successfully driven advancement and expansion of the federal metastatic breast cancer research portfolio.
GET PREPARED
Get prepared for this year’s Stampede by signing up for an advocacy training, and exploring resources, videos, and highlights from last year’s event by clicking the button below.
Advocacy Trainings (Pick One):
CONSIDER BEING A STATE CAPTAIN
State Captains are responsible for encouraging MBC patients and loved ones in their state to participate in METAvivor’s advocacy events. Additionally, they are tasked with coordinating and scheduling advocacy meetings with the state’s two Senators. METAvivor will provide legislative priority documents and training so State Captains are poised to use their leadership, passion, and knowledge to mobilize the advocates in their group to take action and make a difference for the MBC community and the federal policies that impact their lives. If you are interested in being a State Captain, please make sure to notate that when registering.