Cancer survivors, caregivers
Star-Bulletin staff
to take part in town hall
meeting tomorrowAbout 400 cancer survivors and caregivers are expected to participate in a town hall meeting at Washington Place tomorrow.
The gathering will precede "The March," part of a nationwide grass-roots campaign to make cancer the nation's top research and health-care priority.
First lady Vicky Cayetano will lead a procession to the state Capitol, where a "Cancer Rememberance and Celebration of Hope" candlelight service will be held about 7 p.m.
The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 4,300 islanders will be diagnosed with cancer this year and more than 2,000 people will die of cancer. More Hawaii schoolchildren die of cancer than any other disease, the society says.
At the town hall meeting, cancer survivors will discuss their experiences and exchange ideas regarding cancer prevention, treatments and cures.
Cancer survivor Jim Leahey will moderate a panel with caregivers; Kathy and Irving Chun, parents of a child who died from cancer; and cancer survivors Chris Pablo and Gladys Brandt.
Also speaking will be former state Rep. Jackie Young, recently diagnosed with breast cancer.
Dr. Brian Issel, director of the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, will review current cancer research in Hawaii.
Other participants will discuss the quality of care for Hawaii cancer patients.
The meeting is by invitation, but the public is encouraged to attend the service at the Capitol.
The Kamehameha Concert Glee Club, Kawaiahao Church Choir and Ka Waiola O Na Pukanileo will sing on the second level from 6 to 7 p.m. while people gather.
On Sept. 25 about a dozen delegates from the Hawaii Coalition to Conquer Cancer will present petitions and a yellow "Ribbon of Hope" to Congress and President Clinton.
The ribbon, signed by cancer survivors and supporters, is composed of different lengths of gold ribbon arranged into a radiant sun as an affirmation of hope. The delegates also will meet with Hawaii's congressional team to relay concerns about cancer expressed at the town hall meeting.
On Sept. 26 the Hawaii team will participate in "The March," a demonstration in the nation's capital led by Retired Army Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, a prostate cancer survivor.
Parking for the local events is available after 4:30 p.m. at the:
State Capitol, Ewa and metered spaces.
For more information, call Ceci Palmer, American Cancer Society, at 595-7500, ext. 210; or e-mail: cpalmer@cancer.org.
The Hawaii Clinical Research Center is seeking volunteers for studies of medications to treat schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder. Volunteers sought for
isle drug trialsIn the schizophrenia trial, volunteers will be assigned to one of three study groups.
All participants will receive a study drug and psychiatric assessments at no cost during the one-year trial. Seven visits to the center are required, and volunteers will be paid for their expenses.
The study will monitor the participants' use of emergency room visits, frequency of hospitalization and additional study drugs necessary.
Volunteers must be diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective or schizophreniform disorders.
The post-traumatic stress disorder study will involve 12 visits to the center in 36 weeks. Volunteers must be 18 to 65 years old, in reasonably good health, and not on Prozac.
Violent crimes, domestic abuse or a natural disaster, severe auto accident or a life-threatening illness are among events that can cause long-lasting effects, the center said.
Symptoms are recurrent images, dreams or recollections of the event, flashbacks, avoiding places, people, feelings or thoughts associated with the event. Sleep problems, irritability and outbursts may result.
For a free screening, call the center at 949-4977.
Workers reminded to take time off to vote
State Labor Director Lorraine Akiba is reminding employees that state law requires workers have two consecutive hours off on Election Day to vote.If a voter works from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., the voter is entitled to two hours off. If a voter works from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. or 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., the voter is entitled to one hour off. If a voter has two hours before or after a shift to vote, the worker is not entitled to time off.
Voters should make arrangements with their employers for time off and must keep their ballot stubs as proof of voting.
The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19 for the primary election and on Tuesday, Nov. 3 for the general election.
Group aims to save six endangered birds
Ducks Unlimited, a conservation organization, wants to save six endangered Hawaii water birds and preserve wetland and upland habitats.Hawaii's state bird, the nene, is one of the endangered species. Others are the Laysan duck, Hawaiian duck and Hawaiian coot, stilt and moorhen.
Wetlands Hawaii is a partnership of conservation-minded groups, including Ducks Unlimited. Marshes in Hawaii will provide research data to be used in establishing various safe habitats for these endangered species.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Search] [Info] section for subscription information.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffPolice are investigating a man's report he was attacked at a stoplight in Ewa early today and beaten by two males, one armed with a handgun. Man reports carjacking
by pair with gun in EwaDetails are sketchy, but the robbery occurred about 12:30 a.m. when the man was stopped at a light at Papipi and Fort Weaver Road or near Ewa Beach Park when he was approached by two males. He allegedly was beaten and forced out of his car or managed to escape, police said.
The victim, in his late teens, apparently ran to a nearby home on Aaha Place to call for help. His injuries apparently were not serious.
Police have arrested no suspects. The man's car was later recovered on Iroquois Point Road.
ue8 nl,5 cb,13p Body of Maui free-diver
found off Haiku Beach
The body of a Maui free-diver in his 20s was recovered off Haiku Beach early yesterday, shortly after he was reported overdue by diving partners.
The man's name is being withheld pending notification of family.
Fire department divers located the man's body around 10 a.m. in about 80 to 90 feet of water, 500 feet offshore near Honopou Road.
Diving mates had reported him missing about 9:30 a.m.
This is the second free-diving fatality in less than two months, police said. The other occurred in August on Maui's south shore.
Data provided by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's Hawaii Chapter for an article that appeared in Aug. 27 editions warrants a clarification, says a board member. CORRECTION
Dr. Leo Maher, Straub Clinic & Hospital neurologist and chairman of the MS Society's Professional Advisory and Chapter Services committees, provided this information:
The association of multiple sclerosis with multiple ear infections, long-term exposure to birth control, trauma and exposure to fumes "is not accepted nor proven."
A genetic basis for multiple sclerosis also hasn't been proven, although "it's thought there is genetic predisposition with some kind of environmental trigger or factor."
While research is ongoing at some mainland laboratories on an MS vaccine and regeneration of myelin (insulation for the spinal cord and brain), these developments aren't eminent.
It's estimated through epidemiologic data that Hawaii has more than 500 MS patients, based on about 50 per 100,000 population.
Hawaii's neurologists haven't experienced a sudden rise in MS cases as a chapter spokesperson reported. However, heat does exacerbate symptoms, which is known as Uhthoff's phenomenon.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Search] [Info] section for subscription information.
