Far too many Guam residents are all too familiar with cancer. It's the second-leading cause of death in Guam, as well as in the United States.
Most of us know someone who has cancer and is fighting it, had cancer and was successful in beating it, or who died from cancer.
Those who get cancer have to deal with much more than just trying to fight the disease to live, as do their families. Many can't get the treatment they need in their battle, and have to travel off island to find it, which is expensive. The expense of travel, food and accommodation adds to the already high costs of the treatment and care of the disease. That doesn't include time away from the job for the patient and anyone who accompanies him or her.
That process has become somewhat easier for some people who have cancer and their families since June 2011, when Guam Cancer Care was formed. The nonprofit organization's goal is to help support people from Guam with cancer and to help them get the services they need.
It gets funding from the local government's Guam Cancer Trust Fund, which in turn is funded in part by a $3 tax on tobacco products, as well as from the American Cancer Society and the Edward M. Calvo Cancer Foundation. As of Sept. 30, the nonprofit group has helped 214 cancer patients in Guam and issued 144 financial assistance awards that add up to more than $184,000.
Every little bit of assistance helps cancer patients and their families in their struggles to not just combat cancer, but to pay for that fight. Guam and the nation have a long way to go to better ensure that local cancer patients get the treatment and care they need without shattering families' finances, but Guam Cancer Care is definitely a good step in the right direction.
We commend the nonprofit for its work to help local cancer patients and their families, and for all those who help make that assistance possible, and hope to see Guam Cancer Care grow so that it can expand its assistance and services to even more people.