Long Beach- On June 6, 2009, the CSULB Pacific Islanders' Association (PIA) participated in this year's American
Cancer Society (ACS) Relay for life. While the organization has been active surrounding various Pacific Islander
issues, the Relay for Life is a chance for PIA to raise money for a cause that affects everyone from all walks of
life. According to the ACS, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States with half of all men
and approximately a third of all women expected to develop cancer in their lifetime (American Cancer
Society, 2009). The Relay for Life is the one day, literally 24 hours, out of the year that people have the
opportunity to walk as a celebration of life for loved ones who have passed on from cancer, a celebration of
the cancer survivors, and a to really reflect on those loved ones who are currently battling cancer. Moreover,
the cancer walk provides an individual with the rare opportunity to appreciate life and the elements of life that
are taken for granted.
Identifying the Pacific Islander & Cancer
The Relay for Life also allows us to explore what’s happening with the Pacific Islander community and some of
the research surrounding it. In December 2007, the Journal of Clinical Oncology published an original report
with cancer survival rates with the focus on Pacific Islanders. While most of the studies in the United States
focused on African American and Caucasian Americans, there are fewer reports that include the Hispanic and
Asian Pacific Islander (API) group. Due to the diversity of the API group in terms of socioeconomic status (SES),
genetics, culture, and length of habitation time in the United States, the need to separate Pacific Islanders
from the API category is reflected in the report conducted by Goggins & Wong. The Pacific Islander groups
were separated into 3 separate categories – Native Hawaiians, Samoans, and Other PI groups (including
Tongans, Guamanians, and others). The data of the study suggests that Samoans had the most likely to be
diagnosed in the advanced stages of cancer and cause-specific survival. Native Hawaiians and Other PI Groups
categories also yielded results of significantly worse cause-specific survival than with Caucasian Americans;
however, the data also suggests that Native Hawaiian and Other PI Groups survival rates are much better
than African Americans or Native Americans. To sum up, Goggins & Wong point out that the survival
disadvantage of PI groups is due to late diagnosis.
Next Steps
Goggins & Wong recommend actions to target groups and implement some type of intervention for regular
check-ups. The Office of Samoan Affairs (OSA) has already spear-headed some efforts to bring awareness for
the importance of regular check-ups. I sat in on a panel for OSA many years ago regarding colon cancer.
Other community orgs such as PIHP (Pacific Islander Health Partnership) are contributing various intervention
programs. The PIPELINE Report from OCAPICA also mentions that the bottom line is education. Pacifika Voice
will follow up with these groups to see where they’re currently at in terms of intervention.
Conclusion
As I’ve walked this relay on the CSULB track in the past, the walking path is decorated with lit dedications
(luminaries) to loved ones. This atmosphere enhances one’s reflective ability and lends itself to a self-fulfilling
journey. Today, I wore the memory of my grandmother Tua, my aunty Vaoita, and my uncle Sivia. Each step
is to celebrate their lives, remember very dear moments with them, and thank them for the impact they’ve
had with my life. Each lap I walk will be powered by the CSULB PIA mantra of “One Love. One Heart. One
People.”
Works Cited
American Cancer Society. (2009, February 24). Detailed Guide: What is Cancer. Retrieved June 5, 2009, from
American Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1x_What_Is_Cancer.asp?
sitearea=
Goggins, W. B. & Grace K.C. Wong (2007). Poor Survival for US Pacific Islander Cancer Patients: Evidence From
the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Database: 1991 to 2004. Journal of Clinical Oncology , 5738-
5741.
Cancer Society (ACS) Relay for life. While the organization has been active surrounding various Pacific Islander
issues, the Relay for Life is a chance for PIA to raise money for a cause that affects everyone from all walks of
life. According to the ACS, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States with half of all men
and approximately a third of all women expected to develop cancer in their lifetime (American Cancer
Society, 2009). The Relay for Life is the one day, literally 24 hours, out of the year that people have the
opportunity to walk as a celebration of life for loved ones who have passed on from cancer, a celebration of
the cancer survivors, and a to really reflect on those loved ones who are currently battling cancer. Moreover,
the cancer walk provides an individual with the rare opportunity to appreciate life and the elements of life that
are taken for granted.
Identifying the Pacific Islander & Cancer
The Relay for Life also allows us to explore what’s happening with the Pacific Islander community and some of
the research surrounding it. In December 2007, the Journal of Clinical Oncology published an original report
with cancer survival rates with the focus on Pacific Islanders. While most of the studies in the United States
focused on African American and Caucasian Americans, there are fewer reports that include the Hispanic and
Asian Pacific Islander (API) group. Due to the diversity of the API group in terms of socioeconomic status (SES),
genetics, culture, and length of habitation time in the United States, the need to separate Pacific Islanders
from the API category is reflected in the report conducted by Goggins & Wong. The Pacific Islander groups
were separated into 3 separate categories – Native Hawaiians, Samoans, and Other PI groups (including
Tongans, Guamanians, and others). The data of the study suggests that Samoans had the most likely to be
diagnosed in the advanced stages of cancer and cause-specific survival. Native Hawaiians and Other PI Groups
categories also yielded results of significantly worse cause-specific survival than with Caucasian Americans;
however, the data also suggests that Native Hawaiian and Other PI Groups survival rates are much better
than African Americans or Native Americans. To sum up, Goggins & Wong point out that the survival
disadvantage of PI groups is due to late diagnosis.
Next Steps
Goggins & Wong recommend actions to target groups and implement some type of intervention for regular
check-ups. The Office of Samoan Affairs (OSA) has already spear-headed some efforts to bring awareness for
the importance of regular check-ups. I sat in on a panel for OSA many years ago regarding colon cancer.
Other community orgs such as PIHP (Pacific Islander Health Partnership) are contributing various intervention
programs. The PIPELINE Report from OCAPICA also mentions that the bottom line is education. Pacifika Voice
will follow up with these groups to see where they’re currently at in terms of intervention.
Conclusion
As I’ve walked this relay on the CSULB track in the past, the walking path is decorated with lit dedications
(luminaries) to loved ones. This atmosphere enhances one’s reflective ability and lends itself to a self-fulfilling
journey. Today, I wore the memory of my grandmother Tua, my aunty Vaoita, and my uncle Sivia. Each step
is to celebrate their lives, remember very dear moments with them, and thank them for the impact they’ve
had with my life. Each lap I walk will be powered by the CSULB PIA mantra of “One Love. One Heart. One
People.”
Works Cited
American Cancer Society. (2009, February 24). Detailed Guide: What is Cancer. Retrieved June 5, 2009, from
American Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1x_What_Is_Cancer.asp?
sitearea=
Goggins, W. B. & Grace K.C. Wong (2007). Poor Survival for US Pacific Islander Cancer Patients: Evidence From
the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Database: 1991 to 2004. Journal of Clinical Oncology , 5738-
5741.
Community Event: The American Cancer Society Relay for Life
by Pita Taase, Staff Writer
by Pita Taase, Staff Writer
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