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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
Monica McLaren , President Friends of the University of Hawai ‘ i Cancer Center
Sharon Shigemasa , RN , MS – Editor Jena Funakoshi , GA – Contributing Writer Katelyn Mahelona , GA – Contributing Writer Laura Young , GA – Contributing Writer University of Hawai ‘ i Cancer Center
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Helping Micronesian women care for themselves for their families
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Srue Wakuk is from a community in Micronesia where women were considered the caretakers of their families . Many could not afford insurance or medical assistance and would put their families ’ needs before their own , causing them to neglect their own health screenings , contributing to an increase in breast cancers .
While pursuing her undergraduate degree at the University of Hawai ‘ i at Mānoa , Wakuk knew she wanted to use her knowledge to help the local Micronesian community . She is currently pursuing her Masters in Public Health and is focusing on indigenous health .
As a Community Health Educator at the UH Cancer Center , working with Kevin Cassel , DrPH , Wakuk developed an outreach program for Micronesian women on O ‘ ahu to educate and help them participate in early breast and cervical cancer screenings . She also informs and recruits interested women to participate in the Tomosynthesis Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial ( TMIST ), an early breast cancer screening clinical trial that focuses on Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island women .
Wakuk partnered with federally funded clinics across the island that participate in the Breast and Cervical Cancer
MY GOAL IS TO RECRUIT AT LEAST 25 TO 30 WOMEN TO THE TMIST STUDY .”
Srue Wakuk
Control Program ( BCCCP ) to dispense health services to women with low income or are uninsured or underinsured . She engaged Micronesian women at food bank sites , public housing , and churches , but the COVID-19 pandemic required a switch to Zoom and Facebook to help these women schedule their screenings .
Wakuk has met with 50 women , some who did not have a mammogram for over 20 years . A number of them did not qualify for screenings due to insurance issues and others did not keep their appointments . Recruitment was impacted by the pandemic as many feared contracting COVID in public . So far 11women have become TMIST participants and a few are still pending recruitment . Wakuk states , “ My goal is to recruit at least 25 to 30 women to the TMIST study .”