Cancer is Leading Cause of Death for Some Native American Groups
American
Indians and Alaskan natives are more likely to die from cancer than any
other
ethnic or racial minority
in the United States. VOA's Rosanne Skirble spoke with an
American Indian survivor whose diagnosis helped her chart a new course
for her life.
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Celeste
Whitewolf directs Native People's Circle of Hope from her home
office in Portland, Oregon |
By Rosanne Skirble,
VoA News
Washington, DC
11 April 2008
Celeste Whitewolf says breast cancer saved her life. "But
for my cancer diagnosis I might not be here."
The bad news came in 1998, when Celeste Whitewolf was a
lawyer in Portland, Oregon, struggling to keep her law practice going.
Faced with a terminal illness, she decided to end her life, then and
there. "Thankfully a nurse knew how to help me, besides my body. She
knew that my mind was also in need of care."
But Whitewolf
had no health insurance or savings. Her only option was to close her law
office and return to the Indian reservation where she had spent her
early years. As a Native American she could use the
Indian Health Care Service.
Mortality rates are higher among American Indians because
Native Americans smoke more heavily, don't get regular medical exams,
and are diagnosed too late. Whitewolf also blames the poorly-funded
Indian Health Care Service. "[That] contributes to our lack of quality
of care, lack of access to care and lack of basic services."
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Celeste
Whitewolf counsels breast cancer survivor Lois Jasper at a
Native American Rehabilitation Association clinic |
The more
Whitewolf learned, the more determined she became to help her people.
While undergoing cancer therapy she took a part-time job with the
Northwest Portland Area Health Board.
"I went from an attorney practicing law with a high-tension job to a
secretary in a period of about six months. But I'm alive!"
That job set
her life on a new course. In 2002, Whitewolf founded "Native
People's Circle of Hope," a
coalition of cancer survivors and support groups. "We're trying to teach
the survivors and their caregivers to be self advocates, to ask the
questions."
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Celeste
Whitewolf exchanges ideas on how to reduce the burden of cancer
among Native Americans at the 11th Biennial Symposium on
Minorities, the Underserved and Cancer |
Whitewolf is also demanding that the big, money-making
casino operations on Indian reservations give back more to the
community. She also advocates that the tribal governments adopt no
smoking in the casinos. "If they are going to continue to allow smoking
in their casinos, they should have a tobacco tax and take that tobacco
tax and put it into cancer treatment and support their cancer survivors
locally."
Circle of Hope has grown to 20 chapters. Whitewolf says
with that growth has come greater power to get decision-makers in
government and business to help cancer survivors in their day-to-day
struggles.
Hear It at VoA News
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