Caring for Our Veterans

Did you know?

– There are currently 24 million veterans living in the United States.

– Veterans exposed to Agent Orange are 50% more likely to develop prostate cancer than unexposed veterans.

– There are 10,000 veterans who are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year.

– According to a 2009 study, military women are 20%-40% more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than other women in the same age groups.

Pacific Cancer Institute (PCI) in Maui has stepped up to show how men and women with cancer, including veterans, can be treated with exceptional care close to home.  In an initiative to bring awareness to their community and the 12,000 veterans in Maui County, PCI promoted some compelling statistics that really made people take notice.

The center also recently participated in the 2016 Maui Veterans Stand Down & Job Fair.  The event, held at the Hawaii National Guard, offered workshops, information on housing, employment, mental health and education benefits, plus free haircuts, clothing, and door prizes for all service men and women.  The Office for Social Ministry and the Diocese of Honolulu partnered with the Department of Defense Hawaii National Guard and the Office of the Mayor, County of Maui to provide an event that brought multiple agencies together in one place to provide services and support for all veterans in need.  PCI was on hand to bring awareness about the high number of prostate and breast cancer diagnosis among veterans and to promote early detection.

“Defending democracy benefits every American. Those men and women who serve our country deserve the best in health care.  It is our way of giving back and saying thank you.  Pacific Cancer Institute is doing just that.  Maui and our surrounding islands are fortunate to have a radiation center with the most sophisticated technology and physician expertise which provide life-saving, compassionate care, and education about cancer to our veterans.  As a veteran of the Korean War, I am most appreciative.  Mahalo to the Pacific Cancer Institute!” – Leona Richard Wilson, Korean War Veteran treated at PCI.

Photo caption:  Rebecca Armato, Site Administrator at Pacific Cancer Institute, at the Veterans Stand Down Health Fair.