Karmanos opens 2026 Community Conversations on Cancer series in Detroit
Karmanos and the Detroit Public Library have opened registration for the 2026 Community Conversations on Cancer series. Three sessions will address colon cancer, implicit bias in care, and multiple myeloma.
The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute's Office of Community Outreach and Engagement has announced the 2026 Community Conversations on Cancer. This is the second year Karmanos has partnered with the Detroit Public Library to present the series, with sessions held in person at the Main Branch, located at 5201 Woodward Ave., and virtually via Zoom, from 6 to 7 p.m.
Registration is now open for the following sessions: The Road Ahead: Understanding a Colon Cancer Diagnosis and Exploring Treatment on March 18; Unintentional Harm: How Provider Implicit Bias Can Influence Clinical Communication and Related Outcomes on April 22; and The Road Ahead: Understanding a Multiple Myeloma Diagnosis and Exploring Treatment on June 17.
The March 18 session will focus on what to expect after a colon cancer diagnosis and how to determine which treatment options might be best. It will detail risks of colon cancer, both modifiable and non-modifiable risks, and the methods and importance of screening and early detection. When a patient is diagnosed with this disease, they will discuss treatment options with their oncologist, including the role of surgery, the need for chemotherapy after surgery to decrease the risk of recurrence, and, in the case of advanced disease, the many treatment options available to patients, including novel treatments that are being developed through clinical trials.
The April 22 session will present ongoing research on bias in health care settings. Considerable research has been conducted on implicit bias in clinical care, including work at Karmanos and Wayne State University on improving communication, mitigating the influence of bias, and improving outcomes for historically underserved patients. The session will discuss the science behind implicit bias, how it is measured, what role the social world and brains play in how bias affects communication and decision making, what the data tell us about how bias can negatively affect patient care, especially for Black patients, and evidence-based strategies to mitigate the influence of implicit bias in health care.
The June 17 session will cover what to expect after a multiple myeloma diagnosis, treatment options and clinical trials available, new treatments, and when someone should explore genetic counseling.
Last year's series had an average of 80 participants for each session. The program features topics that participants are interested in learning about, including ongoing and new studies, research and treatments available that have changed the standard of care for different types of cancer, population studies on the community's knowledge of cancer and cancer prevention, clinical trials, and communication between patients, caregivers and their physicians.
A strategic goal of the Detroit Public Library is to be a source of high-quality, free instruction and programs in Detroit that support personal growth and enhance the quality of life for the city's population. Partnering with Karmanos allows the library to fulfill that mission while providing important health information to its customers.