HONOLULU – Cancer survivors, caregivers and health professionals will ask their legislators to put patients and prevention first next week as the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Hawaii-Pacific holds its annual Day at the Capitol on March 22.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Hawaii, but it is one of few types that can be prevented through screenings. Hawaii’s current screening rate is only 57 percent. ACS CAN is part of a national movement to improve the screening percentage to 80 percent by the year 2018.
ACS CAN volunteers will ask their legislators to support Senate Concurrent Resolution 112, which tasks the Department of Health with the creation of a working group to develop recommendations on how Hawaii can improve screening rates to save lives.
Volunteers will also tackle lung cancer, Hawaii’s leading cause of cancer death, by requesting support to ban smoking at all University of Hawaii campuses and ensure that the state does not implement a cap on the cigar tax.
*** The following are available for interviews prior to the Day at the Capitol or that day from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Room 437 in the state Capitol: State Lead Ambassador and oncology coordinator at Queen’s Medical Center Holly Ho-Chee-DuPont of Hilo; and District 1 Ambassador Constituent Lead Alberto Rodriguez, who serves as a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army and was moved toward cancer advocacy after losing two aunties to cancer.
WHAT: Day at the Capitol
WHERE: Hawaii State Capitol
415 S. Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96813
WHEN: Tuesday, March 22 from 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
