Changing the Odds: Black Women, Breast Cancer and the Power of Participation

On Oct. 3, 2026, Legacy Cancer Institute, in partnership with the nonprofit Pink Lemonade Project, will host a discussion on improving breast cancer care and outcomes for Black women.

The free community-wide event, “Changing the Odds: Black Women, Breast Cancer and the Power of Participation,” will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the Lorenzen Conference Center inside Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. During the two-hour event, attendees will learn about breast cancer prevention, screening and treatment, while examining how increasing Black women's participation in clinical research can help address longstanding disparities in breast cancer outcomes.

The event is for anyone wanting to be empowered about the future of breast cancer care, as well as anyone hoping to expand the community of Black women fighting the good fight against breast cancer.

The event’s focus on breast cancer in Black women is happening for a very good reason: Black women have a 40% higher breast cancer mortality rate than other women. Experts believe this disparity is driven by a combination of biological, social and healthcare factors. Black women are more likely to develop certain aggressive forms of the disease and have historically been underrepresented in clinical research, making it harder to fully understand and address these disparities.

All these barriers create the large disparities suffered by Black women when it comes to breast cancer. This is why Legacy Cancer Institute is having the event. Besides providing information, one of the event’s long-term goals is to raise awareness, encourage community dialogue and help increase participation by Black women in clinical trials.

The event will feature a panel of nationally and locally recognized advocates, survivors and experts: Ricki Fairley, a triple-negative breast cancer survivor and chief executive officer of TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance; Dr. Nathalie Johnson, senior medical director of Legacy Cancer Institute, board-certified surgical oncologist, and breast cancer survivor; and Tessa May, a metastatic breast cancer warrior and founder of the fitness company TrapStep PDX, who will lead an inspiring group dance activity. 

The keynote speaker, Ricki Fairley, has dedicated her career to raising awareness, advancing equity and increasing participation in breast cancer research within Black communities.

As CEO of TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance, Ricki works to address the unique challenges Black women face with breast cancer, with the goal of reducing breast cancer deaths among Black women. Through advocacy efforts such as “The Doctor is In,” her weekly live breast cancer web series, and The Pink Table Talk monthly web series, Ricki has helped raise awareness of breast cancer disparities and encouraged conversations about breast health in Black communities. Her work has reached millions of people.

Ricki is also a leading voice in promoting clinical trial participation among Black women. Initiatives such as #BlackDataMatters and When We Tri(al) were created to improve health outcomes and advance the study of Black breast cancer.

Ricki will be joined by Dr. Nathalie Johnson and Tessa May, who bring their own perspectives and experiences to the conversation. 

Dr. Johnson serves as senior medical director for Legacy Cancer Institute and is also a practicing breast surgeon. A breast cancer survivor herself, she brings both personal experience and clinical expertise to the discussion. Throughout her career, Dr. Johnson has been a strong advocate for breast cancer screening, early detection and improving outcomes for patients.