Advocacy in Action – A Journey to the Capitol
By Helana Shumway, Public Relations Coordinator
For over two decades, advocates from the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester have traveled to Washington, DC, for the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s (NBCC) yearly Advocate Leadership Summit. The four-day trip consists of three full days of plenaries and presentations on the latest in breast cancer research and advocacy, followed by a day “on the Hill” to meet with members of Congress.
While the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester is an independent, grassroots nonprofit organization separate from the National Breast Cancer Coalition, we work together on several legislative priorities. These priorities largely focus on the continued funding of the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program, passing the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act (H.R.2048/S.3442), and preserving the Medicaid Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program.
I was thrilled to attend the NBCC Summit again this year. After being a novice at last year’s conference, I felt a bit more confident this time around. I was joined by a strong and passionate group of survivor advocates: Betsy Crumity (Advocacy Committee member), Colleen Molina (Coalition board member, Emerging Leader alumna, NBCC team leader), Holly Anderson (previous Executive Director of the Coalition, NBCC board member, NBCC team leader), Rebecca Solomon (NBCC team leader), Renee Nearpass (Advocacy Committee co-chair, NBCC board alternate, NBCC team leader) and Sonia Olsen (Advocacy Committee member, Emerging Leader alumna).
Our first three days of the conference (roughly 24 hours’ worth of presentations and plenaries) covered exciting updates and insights into a variety of topics. I was thrilled to learn that NBCC’s Artemis Project is close to starting a phase I clinical trial for a preventive breast cancer vaccine. While the process of a clinical trial will take years, it gave me some hope to know researchers are actively working on a preventive vaccine.
Other conference sessions covered topics like disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) and their potential path toward metastasis, how age shapes breast cancer biology, and the importance of immune system microenvironments. Dennis Slamon, MD, PhD, the researcher responsible for discovering Herceptin, also presented. It was extremely moving to learn about the impact of his research and the countless lives he has saved.
I was also thrilled to meet Sarah Lima, PhD, MPH, who presented her research on the connection between historical redlining and breast cancer. Dr. Lima was kind enough to speak with me earlier this year for the feature article in the spring edition of Voices of the Ribbon. Read the full article here.
On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, we were up early to head to Capitol Hill for a day of meetings with our elected officials. Our group of seven was joined by other survivor advocates in New York, and together, we attended 13 meetings and dropped off materials to another three offices. We thanked our congressmembers who have already signed on as cosponsors of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act. For those who haven’t yet signed on, we shared our lived experiences and provided facts for why this legislation is so important.
Four days in Washington, DC, may sound like a short trip, but it was a powerful four days. I am grateful to have attended as the Coalition staff representative and am deeply inspired by the passion and determination of our survivor advocates. For the remainder of the 119th Congress (through the end of this year), we will continue to advocate for legislation and policies that impact breast and gynecologic cancer survivors. We remain steadfast in our commitment to the cause, and together, we will make our voices heard.
Published May 7, 2026.
