HONOLULU (HI Now) - About 70,000 Hawai‘i residents are living with cancer. Fortunately, Hawai‘i has its own top-tier cancer center right here in the islands: the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. It is one of only 73 federal (National Cancer Institute) NCI-designated cancer centers in the nation, known for their excellence in preventing, diagnosing, and treating cancer.
The UH Cancer Center will be unveiling the Ho‘ōla Early Phase Clinical Research Center in early March. For the first time, Hawai‘i patients will be able to access new, innovative, cutting-edge drugs without having to travel to other states.
“Cancer patients may not feel up to traveling or it may not be an option for families because of the cost to travel. They also may not want to be away from their family or other support,” said Lynne Wilkens, a biostatistician with the UH Cancer Center who has more than 35 years of experience a cancer researcher. “They can receive the care they need right here.”
Wilkens, who also served as board president of the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, the union representing faculty from all 10 UH campuses across the state, added: “Early phase clinical trialstest many types of treatments such as new drugs, vaccines, approaches to surgery or radiation therapy, or a combination of treatments. The Ho‘ōla Early Phase Clinical Research Center provides hope for local patients by closing the gap, improving access to more affordable options for local patients.”
All sources of funding are critical to keep the UH Cancer Center in operation. With recent shifts in federal and state funding, it is critical for everyone to donate to the UH Cancer Center and let state and federal lawmakers know how the UH Cancer Center is an important resource for our state.
Learn more at uhpa.org and www.uhcancercenter.org, and follow UHPA on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn for the latest updates.
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