Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 3, 1 March 2009 — Kū Me Ka ʻOhana [ARTICLE]

Kū Me Ka ʻOhana

Breast cancer continues to afflict Native Hawaiian women at high rates. Kū Me Ka 'Ohana, a project at UH Mānoa's Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work, is recruiting Native Hawaiian women on O'ahu to participate in a breast cancer research study. The project is looking for wāhine who have been diagnosed with breast cancer in the last four years, and who have a member of their 'ohana who ean also participate in the study. The first few years after the diagnosis of cancer are critical to survival, and the 'ohana is very important in this journey of recovery. Previous participants have indicated that the project reduces the trauma of diagnosis and treatment by providing information on cancer and conununity resources, emphasizing the joint kuleana of the whole 'ohana, and allowing survivors to share their stories with the research team. Kū Me Ka 'Ohana is funded by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, with support from OHA. Other community support comes from: 'hni Hale, Queen's Medical Center, Straub Clinic and Hospital, and the Cancer Information Service. If you are interested in participating, e-mail Dr. Noreen Mokuau at noreen@hawaii.edu, or Dr. Ephrosine Daniggelis at ephrosin@hawaii.edu, or eall 808 3874561 or 808 956-6809.