ADC program 52 Views of Cancer

Invenra, a drug discovery company dedicated to developing new cancer therapies, is creating a one-of-a-kind playing card deck that celebrates the creativity, resilience, and spirit of people whose lives have been touched by cancer. Each of the 52 cards in this deck will feature original artwork from a different cancer patient, survivor, or immediate family member, making every card a unique view of the human experience with this disease.

This is an art-forward deck where the artwork is the hero. The cards will be distributed at major scientific and medical conferences, placing the voices and visions of patients directly into the hands of the researchers, clinicians, and scientists who are working to cure the cancers these artists have faced. A companion interactive website will allow visitors to explore all 52 cards, read each artist’s story, and learn about the science behind cancer research.

Roland Green CEO and Founder, Invenra

My mother passed away from metastatic kidney cancer. My sister-in-law is a breast cancer survivor. I have dear friends that have passed, survived or are fighting cancer. And recently my daughter was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. My daughter is a wonderful artist, among her many other talents, and while looking at some of her artwork the other day, I came up with this concept to create a collection of art that highlights the patients’ stories, with a goal of inspiring the scientists and clinicians in their effort to find cures. I have the privilege to work at a company that is full of these scientists working on new cancer drugs. Drugs that could help my daughter, my friends, and all the other people touched by cancer. I see this project as way for beauty and hope and resilience to motivate us to up our game in the fight against cancer."

Selected works A preview of what’s to come.

We’ll be revealing more of the 2026 collection throughout the coming weeks, with the full deck launching this October at World ADC.

Oil paints on canvas, Helen VanLith

Flowers for two

In 2017, my daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 47. With her being diagnosed young, she had a lot of genetic testing done to see if there was a genetic cause. I am an ovarian cancer survivor. Back when I was first diagnosed with it in 2007, I had been tested for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene, which came back negative. From my daughter’s genetic testing, we found out that there was a genetic link to her cancer through the ATM gene mutation. Our whole family was tested; me, my kids, and my grandchildren. Along with me, 4 of my children including my daughter who had breast cancer tested positive, and so far, only one of my grandchildren are positive. The one granddaughter who tested positive is now a researcher in cancer therapeutics. There is a sense of guilt that one feels, knowing that all the struggles my daughter was going through with her breast cancer were given to her through my genes, and then even passed down to my granddaughter. I stood by in support for my daughter while she had a double mastectomy, reconstruction surgeries, testing for metastasis in her lymph nodes, and taking medications to prevent cancer relapse. It was a long road to her recovery, but she eventually became cancer free. In 2026, I was also diagnosed with breast cancer. At the age of 90, I did not want to put myself through chemotherapy again after already having to go through it for my ovarian cancer, so I had a mastectomy. I painted these two pink flowers for me and my daughter; I hope that there won’t ever be another flower added for my family. Learning that this cancer mutation runs in our family has been heavy, but I hope they will take this knowledge and use it to guard their futures. I hold onto the hope that, by their time, treatments will be kinder and more edective—so they never have to suffr the way my daughter and I did.

Encaustic, charcoal, paper mâché, card and mat board on panel, Marcie Wolf-Hubbard

Tiny Chemo Room

The artwork documents a place of healing. In Fall of 2023 I constructed the Tiny Chemo Room where I had chemotherapy for breast cancer. I created the artwork because I felt so fortunate to receive excellent care at Sibley Memorial hospital. I included the koi pond and the statue I would see outside of the parking garage. I also have a window because it was special to have a room with a window view.

Acrylic on paper, Julie Ragland

How I Survived

This piece, "How I Survived" is a reflection of the journey I've gone through as a breast cancer survivor and BRCA2 genetic mutation carrier. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 41, underwent a lumpectomy, mastectomy with aesthetic flat closure, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, and a prophylactic oophorectomy and hysterectomy. This piece depicts the many scars I've gained along this journey, from my port scar to my mastectomy scars to my hysterectomy scars. The colors and movement in the piece depict the very real emotions and myriad of procedures I've experienced. I'm so grateful that the doctors, medications, and treatments I've had access to literally saved my life. This, along with my will to live and support from my community, is how I survived.

All Invenra drug programs referenced in connection with this project are in preclinical or early-stage development and have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or any other regulatory authority. Nothing on this website constitutes medical advice or a claim regarding the safety or efficacy of any Invenra product.