701 Ilalo Street , Honolulu , Hawai ‘ i 96813
Nonprofit Organization U . S . Postage PAID Honolulu , Hawaii Permit No . 753
Innovations is a community publication of the University of Hawai ‘ i Cancer Center , produced with support from the Friends of the University of Hawai ‘ i Cancer Center . If you have comments or suggestions , please call 808-586-3010 or visit www . uhcancercenter . org .
Randall F . Holcombe , MD , MBA , Director University of Hawai ‘ i Cancer Center
Sue Sylvester Palumbo , DVM , President Friends of the University of Hawai ‘ i Cancer Center
Sharon Shigemasa , RN , MS – Editor Events and Information Coordinator University of Hawai ‘ i Cancer Center
An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Institution
Symposium creates awareness of clinical trials program in Guam
In July , the Guam Clinical Trial Symposium was held at the Hotel Nikko Guam to introduce the first cancer clinical trials program that will soon become available to the island ’ s patients , caregivers , and healthcare providers . The National Cancer Institute ( NCI ) approved the addition of Guam ’ s Family Health Plan ( FHP ) Health Center to its NCI Community Oncology Research Program in January 2019 . The event provided an overview of the clinical trials program , including benefits to providers and their patients .
Cancer is the second leading cause of deaths in Guam . Eighty-one percent of Guam ’ s population consists of Pacific Islanders and Asians . Between 2008-2012 , 1,904 new cases of cancer were diagnosed and 736 residents lost their lives to cancer . having to travel outside of Guam . That way they can stay at home with their families and get the support they need and get the latest treatment available .”
Samir Ambrale , MD , FHP oncologist said , “ We have been working for the last three years to develop this partnership . We are excited that we are starting the program here .”
Virginia McMahon & Samir Ambrale , MD , FHP Health Center
Virginia McMahon , a consultant from the UH Cancer Center , stated , “ Through clinical trials , patients are able to access new investigational drugs that they would not have the opportunity to get unless they were on a clinical trial . We have tried to make sure that patients in Hawai ‘ i , and now in Guam have the ability to get the latest treatment without
8