Isle woman to join D.C. cancer briefing
A Niu Valley woman will join the Lance Armstrong Foundation in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, meeting with members of Congress to discuss issues faced by people with cancer.
Lillian Kehau Matsumoto, who has survived three breast cancer occurrences, said she will focus on the high risk for breast cancer among Hawaiian women.
She said she wants to return with knowledge and tools "to reach out to other Hawaiian women to help to improve our lifestyle with early detection," according to a news release from Papa Ola Lokahi.
A grass-roots initiative called LIVESTRONG Day, part of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, aims to unify people affected by cancer and increase knowledge about cancer survivorship issues on national and local levels.
"We as Hawaiians are willing to fight for our land, but if we do not take care of ourselves or fight for ourselves, then what good is the land, if we do not live?" Matsumoto said.
She is featured with her husband, Eric, two sons and a grandson in the health education video "Breast Health, Shared Stories from Women in Our Hawaiian Community (2007)."
She is a volunteer for the American Cancer Society, Ke Ola Mamo and 'Imi Hale, supporting other women undergoing cancer screening, treatment or recovery.
'Imi Hale is the Native Hawaiian Cancer Network at Papa Ola Lokahi, funded by the National Cancer Institute to reduce cancer incidence and death in native Hawaiians.