Abstract PO4-11-02: Accelerating Progress and Achieving Health Equity: The American Cancer Society National Breast Cancer Roundtable
Authors: Ashley Dedmon, Theresa Petee, Olufunmilayo Olopade, John Williams, Arif Kamal, Sarah Shafir
Journal: Cancer Research (2024)

Abstract Background: Breast cancer continues to be a leading cause of death among women, with disparities in mortality rates persisting, particularly for Black women and under-supported communities. In response to this urgent need, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has launched the American Cancer Society National Breast Cancer Roundtable (ACS NBCRT) to address complex challenges across the breast cancer continuum and improve access to quality care. Methods: The ACS NBCRT is a coalition of organizations committed to eliminating disparities and reducing mortality rates. By leveraging strategic partnerships and using the Collective Impact Model, the ACS NBCRT aims to ensure equitable access to screening, treatment, and comprehensive support services. The roundtable follows the proven ACS Roundtable Model, which brings together diverse contributors to drive progress on breast cancer priorities. Results: The ACS NBCRT, chaired by prominent leaders in the field, has engaged thought leaders, organizations, policymakers, and individuals with lived experiences to identify initial roundtable priorities through a community-informed process. The ACS NBCRT conducted three listening sessions, 8 focus groups, 10 community conversations, and 33 informant interviews and received 700+ responses to a nationwide survey. As a result of this work, the ACS NBCRT leadership was able to interpret the data to inform our roundtable's strategic priorities focused on risk reduction, screening, early detection, access to treatment, clinical trials, and support services. Workgroups will address cross-cutting approaches, including health equity, patient navigation, and education, to develop short- and long-term goals for the roundtable. This approach to addressing health equity through our priority areas is intentional, and it is reflected in our engagement with lived experience experts and diverse community contributors in our early planning, formative research, leadership recruitment, and our member engagement and recruitment. Conclusion: Through its Collective Impact approach, the ACS NBCRT is poised and positioned to accelerate progress, promote health equity, and reduce the burden of breast cancer. The roundtable is uniquely designed to identify and addresses gaps by providing a neutral platform to convene diverse stakeholders to establish national priorities across the cancer continuum, catalyze policy and patient care solutions, promote evidence-based strategies and translate them into practice, and leverage volunteer knowledge and experiences to inform the reduction of health disparities. The roundtable's commitment to strategic partnerships, evidence-based strategies, and health equity will drive change and allow the ACS NBCRT to lead the national dialogue on breast cancer. Implications: The establishment of the ACS NBCRT signifies a crucial step towards achieving health equity in breast cancer care. By addressing disparities and promoting collaborative solutions, the roundtable aims to improve outcomes for all people facing breast cancer. Citation Format: Ashley Dedmon, Theresa Petee, Olufunmilayo Olopade, John Williams, Arif Kamal, Sarah Shafir. Accelerating Progress and Achieving Health Equity: The American Cancer Society National Breast Cancer Roundtable [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO4-11-02.