Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 3, 1 Malaki 2011 — Cancer award recognizes Queen's, Molokaʻi hospitals [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Cancer award recognizes Queen's, Molokaʻi hospitals

By Lisa Asato The Queen'sMedical Center's Oncology Research Program and Moloka'i General Hospital recently received the 2010 Harold P. Freeman Service Award for their cancer-related work with Native Hawaiians. Moloka'i General Hospital, an affiliate of Queen's in Kaunakakai, was recognized for its efforts to reduce cancer care disparities and increase early detection of cancer for Native Hawaiians.

Queen's Oncology Research Program was recognized for its work to increase the numbers of Native Hawaiians, Paeihe Islanders and Filipinos in elinieal trials. "Through elinieal trials, you have state-of-the-art cancer care," said LorrieAnn Santos, a Patient Resource Advocate at Queen's. "The majority of advances in medicine and treatments . . . are often based on Caucasian populations, so while the medicine or treatment might work really well in

that populahon, when you try it here on a Native Hawaiian, Filipino or Paeihe Islander, it may not work as well. Getting minorities to participate in the same elinieal trials helps us see if the success rates shown in other populations are the same for ours." In addition, Queen's Cancer Center's designation in 2010 as part of the National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Centers Program allows patients to participate in national elinieal trials in Hawai'i, so they

don't have to travel to the mainland. "By being a part of this national network, Queen's now ean say that our elinieal trials, our treatment protocols, they're meeting the national standards," said Roz Makaula, Communications Administrator for the NCI Community Cancer Centers Programs at Queen's. Makaula, a breast cancer survivor, said, "The importance of elinieal trials or having quality care at home in Hawai'i is huge."

Her dad was diagnosed with leukemia in 2007, but he was too ill to travel to the mainland for elinieal trials. He passed away in 2009. "Those types of trials were not available here in Hawai'i," she said. "But already by the end of 2010 those types of elinieal trials are now here. So having our cancer center being affiliated with the Nahonal Cancer Institute is setting the bar for Hawai'i. It's letting the people know that the nahonal standards are found here, they're followed here, they're being done here. That's going to be huge for so many cancer patients and their families to stay home and get treatment." Native Hawaiians don't necessarily have the highest incidence of cancer, but they have the highest death rates for cancers, including breast cancer and colorectal cancer, Santos said. Queen's Cancer Center is led by Queen's Vice President Darlena Chadwick, Debbie IshiharaWong, Director of Oncology Services, and Dr. Paul Morris, principal investigator for the NCCC Program at Queen's. In Kaunakakai, Moloka'i General Hospital President Janice Kalanihuia hailed the work of two women, Avette Ponee and Haunani Kamakana, who were trained as patient navigators to help guide people from cancer screening, and if needed, through treatment and beyond. Kalanihuia said their work as patient navigators eame through a Centers for Medicare Services demonstration grant, whieh aimed to show that navigation services could make a difference in patient outcomes for screening and helping people who have cancer navigate the system. "The other pieee of this grant and navigation services was also getting people in for screening," Kalanihuia said. ' 'Not only did we want to help people who had the disease or who were battling cancer but we also wanted to catch the disease before it stmck." During the four-yearproject Ponee and Kamakana navigated and screened 387 people, or 5 percent of the total populahon on Moloka'i. Forty percent of that number identified themselves as Hawaiian. Many of those patients are still on the roster and are still receiving services, Kalanihuia said. "The impact Avette and Haunani have made on this community is significant and for many people life-changing," Kalanihuia said. "By encouraging and facilitating screening, cancers are found earlier, giving the patient an excellent ehanee of survival. Navigation helps patients arrange visits to physicians and treatment appointments, especially the dreaded off-island appointment marathon. Navigators also help break down complex medical and treatment information into concepts people readily understand. People enter heahh care to make a difference - Avette and Haunani have done that and mueh more." Given by the American Cancer Society, the Harold P. Freeman Service Award recognizes exemplary achievement in saving lives, diminishing suffering or improving quality of life from cancer in underserved, at-risk communities. ■

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Dr. Mark Clanton, American Cancer Society Chief Medical Officer for the High Plains Nahonal Division, and Jackie Young, Ameriean Cancer Society Hawai'i-Pacific Chief Staff Officer, both at back left, present a Harold P. Freeman Service Award to Queen's Medical Center Cancer Center on Jan. 1 8. Pictured in front rowfrom leftare: Lani Almanza, ACS; Miles Sato, Research Associate, QMC Oncology Research; Nikki Yamauchi, Secretary, Oncology Research; Darlena Chadwick, Vice President, QMC Patient Care; Debbie lshihara-Wong, Director of QMC Oncology Services; Karen Ng, RN, QMC Research Nurse, Oncology Research; Stephanie Shim, QMC Research Associate; Sharon Tamashiro, RN, Research Nurse. In back row, starting third from leftare: Art Ushijima, QMC President; Carol Liehan, RN, Research Nurse; Mary Williamson of ACS; Drs. Paul Morris and Jared Aeoha; Tim Kellerher, RN, Research Nurse. - Photo: Courtesy of Jason Kimura, QMC

Moloka'i General Hospital President Janice Kalanihuia credits Patient Navigators Avette Ponee, on left, and Haunani Kamakana for the hospital's recent recognition. - Photo: Courtesy ofMoloka'i General Hospital