Featured Presenters

Dr. Jeffrey Peppercorn

Dr. Peppercorn is a hematologist/oncologist with special interest in breast cancer, medical ethics, and health care policy. His research focuses on the intersection of clinical care and clinical research in breast cancer and is dedicated to improving the care of patients both within and outside of clinical trials. His work has been published in leading medical journals and he speaks nationally on breast cancer management and medical ethics in oncology. His research is currently focused on the ethics of access to experimental therapy outside of clinical trials. Developing a solid ethical foundation for consideration of the use of a promising but unproven intervention outside of a trial has important implications for patient safety, access to care, and our ability to improve care through clinical research. Dr. Peppercorn plans to evaluate differences in access to therapy both within and outside of trials among different racial/ethnic and socioeconomic groups and the perspectives and experience of patients from groups that face health disparities with regard to breast cancer outcomes. He is also conducting studies investigating access to radiation therapy among low-income women with breast cancer in North Carolina, and understanding of research in early phase clinical trials.

Dave Massey – Cancer Survivor and Author

Dave Massey is a two-time cancer survivor. In 1986, doctors discovered a mixed germ cell tumor in Dave’s hip that had spread into both legs.  Dave survived this cancer and was even considered cured until 1997 when another type of germ cell tumor the size of a grapefruit was found in his chest cavity. He has remained cancer free since then. Poetry became instrumental during this second battle with cancer and continues to be an important part of Dave’s life.

Dave’s goal is to share his stories and poems with as many people affected by cancer as possible. Like most of those people, Dave is just an ordinary person. Manyexperts said he wouldn’t live past six months. Twenty years later, Dave’s hope is that his story will encourage and empower everyone to be a survivor.

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Colorado Cancer Coalition
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South A5 Denver, CO 80246
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