At the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, breast cancer survivor and advocate Megan-Claire Chase, representing the nonprofit Advocates for Collaborative Education (ACE) while at ASCO, took center stage as one of five individuals selected for the prestigious ASCO Voices program. Through a deeply personal presentation, Ms. Chase shared how her perspective on clinical trials evolved from skepticism to advocacy. After the meeting, she sat down with Dr. Jasmin Hundal to delve into important lessons for healthcare professionals seeking to improve communication, trust, and trial participation among historically underrepresented communities.

From Survivor to ASCO Voices Speaker

A 10-year survivor of invasive lobular breast cancer diagnosed before age 40, Ms. Chase described her ASCO Voices experience as the fulfillment of a long-held dream. “I kept calling the ASCO Voices my Broadway debut because that is what it felt like for me,” she said. Having watched friends previously participate in the program, she added the goal to her vision board and ultimately earned selection through a competitive audition process.

ASCO Voices invites patients, advocates, clinicians, and researchers to deliver short, TED-style presentations on topics relevant to cancer care. For Ms. Chase, the opportunity represented more than public speaking—it was a chance to elevate the patient perspective on a topic she believes remains widely misunderstood: clinical trials.

As she prepared her presentation, she asked herself what message would be most valuable to an audience of oncologists, researchers, pharmaceutical leaders, and advocates. The answer came from a part of her own journey that she had rarely discussed publicly.

“I used to be 100% against clinical trials,” she said. “I thought maybe this is an opportunity to help educate some of the pharma people and people in the oncology space on what it's like from a patient from a minoritized community and how I came ultimately to realize, hey, clinical trials are not the enemy.”

Understanding the Roots of Mistrust

A central theme of Ms. Chase’s presentation was the importance of acknowledging historical and ongoing reasons for mistrust among Black patients and other underrepresented populations.

“We all know that everyone needs participation in clinical trials,” she explained. However, she believes healthcare professionals often focus on enrollment goals without fully addressing why some communities remain hesitant to participate.

“I had to acknowledge the stain on our history,” she said, specifically referencing the experiences of Black Americans and the legacy of unethical medical practices. For many patients, these historical events continue to shape perceptions of healthcare and research today.

“The patient may be like, ‘I don't trust what you're saying because you don't look like me,’” she noted. According to Ms. Chase, clinicians and research teams should recognize that concerns about clinical trials are often rooted in lived experience and community memory rather than a simple lack of information.

She emphasized that conversations about trial participation should begin with acknowledgment rather than persuasion. “We recognize, too, that stuff is still being done to Black bodies in the Black community, but here is why we are recommending this clinical trial and here are the safety measures that go into this trial should you want to participate.”

Improving Clinical Trial Communication

Throughout the discussion, Ms. Chase highlighted opportunities for clinicians to improve how they discuss clinical trials with patients.

One recurring challenge is the use of terminology that may be familiar to healthcare professionals but not to patients. Terms such as “standard of care,” “randomization,” or “study arm” can create confusion during already overwhelming conversations. “I think people don't even really understand what standard of care even means,” she said.

Instead, Ms. Chase encourages clinicians to explain concepts in plain language and connect them to the individual patient's treatment journey. Patients want to understand how a recommendation applies specifically to them and whether participation will affect their access to effective treatment.

She also stressed the importance of addressing one of the most common misconceptions surrounding oncology research: placebo use. “In oncology clinical trials, you will never get a placebo ever, ever, ever,” she said. While healthcare professionals may understand the safeguards built into modern cancer trials, many patients remain unaware that they will continue to receive active treatment rather than no treatment at all.

Ms. Chase believes this information should be communicated clearly and early in the discussion. Equally important is reassuring patients that they maintain control throughout the process.

“You are in the driver's seat,” she explained. “We want you to tell us how you're feeling.” Maintaining open communication and emphasizing patient autonomy can help build confidence and trust.

The Importance of Representation and Cultural Competency

Beyond explaining trial design, Ms. Chase emphasized the importance of culturally informed communication. She encouraged clinicians to consider how race, age, lived experience, and community history may influence how patients receive information.

“Almost every Black family can mention Tuskegee and Henrietta Lacks,” she said. “These conversations, they live in our community memory.”

For healthcare professionals who do not share the same cultural background as their patients, Ms. Chase recommends leading with empathy, transparency, and acknowledgment of historical realities. Rather than avoiding difficult conversations, she believes providers should create space for them.

Her comments underscore a broader principle in oncology care: trust is not established solely through scientific evidence. It is built through relationships, communication, and cultural understanding.

Elevating the Patient Voice in Oncology

Reflecting on her experience at ASCO, Ms. Chase repeatedly returned to the importance of patient-centered storytelling. While clinical trial participation remains a major focus within oncology, she noted that not every patient will need a trial and not every patient will qualify. Nevertheless, she believes all patients should understand what clinical trials are and how they may fit into the continuum of care.

“It's okay. Not every patient is going to need a clinical trial. Not every patient's going to get accepted into a clinical trial, but that's okay because now you'll know about them.”

For Ms. Chase, ASCO Voices provided a platform to communicate this message directly to leaders across oncology. The response she received reinforced the value of including patient perspectives in scientific and clinical discussions.

“One person told me, ‘This is the most authentic conversation I've ever had attending ASCO,’” she recalled.

As healthcare systems continue to prioritize diversity in clinical trial enrollment, Ms. Chase’s experience serves as a reminder that improving participation requires more than expanding access. It also requires trust-building, clear communication, and meaningful engagement with the communities that oncology seeks to serve.

Key Takeaways

Historical mistrust remains an important barrier to clinical trial participation among underrepresented communities.
Effective clinical trial discussions should acknowledge history, build trust, and use patient-centered language.
Many patients do not understand concepts such as standard of care, randomization, or placebo use.
Clear communication about safety measures and patient autonomy can improve confidence in trial participation.
Patient voices provide valuable insights that can help improve clinical research engagement and health equity.

About the Speakers

Megan-Claire Chase is a patient advocate and the Breast Cancer Program Director for SHARE Cancer Support. As a survivor of stage IIA invasive lobular breast cancer, Ms. Chase became involved in patient advocacy work after completing her treatment. She is a prolific writer, blogger, and public speaker, having been featured in the New York Times, in People Magazine, and on PBS’s “Beyond Cancer” episode of “Stories from the Stage.” Her story and work are documented in her blog “Life on the Cancer Train.”

Jasmin Hundal, MD, MS, MPH, is a third-year Hematology/Oncology Fellow at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. Previously, she completed her Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Hundal’s main area of interest is the overlap between cardiometabolic health and cancer, particularly for breast cancer patients and survivors. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and hiking.

ASCO Voices: Highlighting the Power of Patient Trust