Ignite the Cancer Conversation
2021 Event
Ignite the Cancer Conversation: Rethink Cancer
Tuesday, October 19, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. 
FREE & Virtual

Questions?
Please use our Contact Us form.
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The Beyond Pink TEAM's Ignite the Cancer Conversation is offering a sixth annual virtual event that will educate patients, survivors, caregivers, health care professionals and others in ways to rethink cancer by sharing the latest research on cancer metastasis.  This FREE virtual, evening workshop will be led by medical, academic, and policy experts. CEU credits will be offered for $5. 

Participants will learn about the process of metastasis, or the spread of cancer cells to distant sites, and the conditions that can put cancer cells to sleep – or wake them up. Preventing metastasis will involve interdisciplinary collaboration to represent varied perspectives and strategies from academia, industry, and public health. By engaging diverse stakeholders in conversations regarding metastasis, we hope to move closer toward solving this puzzle.

Event Keynoter and Panelists:
  • Dr. Cyrus Ghajar, PhD, Associate Professor Public Health Sciences and Human Biology Divisions, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
  • Dr. Sneha Phadke, DO, MPH, Medical Oncologist, University of Iowa
  • Barbara Christie-Pope, PhD, Professor of Biology, Cornell College
  • Jayme Renfro, PhD, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Northern Iowa
  • Rodney Whitlock, PhD, Vice President, McDermott+ Consulting (formerly Health Policy Director for Senator Grassley)

Keynote speaker, Dr. Cyrus Ghajar, will address:
  • The definition of Disseminated Tumor Cell (DTC). 
  • Conditions in which it thrives.
  • Possible future direction of research.

Panelists Dr. Sneha Phadke, Dr. Barbara Christie-Pope, Dr. Jayme Renfro, and Rodney Whitlock, PhD, will help participants:
  • Connect concepts addressed to clinical settings.
  • Connect concepts addressed to public policy related to cancer.
  • Articulate appropriate messaging for healthcare and cancer research advocacy.

The vision and mission of Ignite the Cancer Conversation are as follows:
  • Vision: To bring diverse communities together and activate the conversation that will initiate and develop concrete steps to conquer cancer.
  • Mission: To ignite the cancer conversation by going beyond discussions limited to awareness, early detection, and treatment. This workshop will bring together researchers, healthcare workers and administrators, community and business leaders, policy makers, patients, caregivers, advocates, and the general public for meaningful conversations centered around understanding, collaboration and innovation. 
History of Ignite the Cancer Conversation:
Ignite the Cancer Conversation was created in 2016 by BPT advocates who returned inspired from the annual summit of the National Breast Can​cer Coalition.  Energized by conversations with international interdisciplinary teams working with cutting edge breast cancer research, doctors implementing new treatments, and passionate patient advocates, we decided to bring the NBCC summit to Iowa. Our broadest vision is a world without cancer. Our near vision seeks to have many conversations that can catalyze purposeful actions that will build that future world. 

Ignite the Cancer Conversation events have informed participants of…
  • promising research on cancer vaccines
  • cancer prevention
  • environmental risks of cancer such as radon, pesticides, and water pollution
  • the history of cancer and cancer treatment
  • the importance of patient-centered, evidence-based quality care
  • roadblocks to ending cancer
  • how to become a more effective advocate for cancer-related issues

Get Involved! Volunteer for Ignite the Cancer Conversation:
Want to bring diverse communities together and activate the conversation that will initiate and develop concrete steps to conquer cancer?
  • Watch for future events! Join the “Ignite the Cancer Conversation” Facebook group to keep informed.
  • Join the Ignite planning committee. Complete our Contact Us form.