Posted on: Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Stories of Survival
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
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“The word ‘cancer’ is scary,” says kumu hula Iwalani Tseu, but hula helps. “Hula is healing,” she says.
Photos from "On Board for the Cure"
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TV REVIEW 'On Board for the Cure' 7 p.m. today, re-airs 5 p.m. Saturday KHON-2 |
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The Rev. Carol Morishige of Honolulu Church of Light gets her church’s “signature cell healing” — a form of alternative treatment — that she says helps boost her energy. The healer, Rick Sterling, is directing the treatment around the crown of her head.
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Tiare Agpaoa finds strength and renewal in paddling every Sunday. "That's my church," she says. "Once I got in the water, I had no pain."
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Breast cancer survivors and victims share stories of hope, treatment and concern in a timely documentary airing tonight, "On Board for the Cure."
The show, timed to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness month, portrays everyday people at the start of the treatment and in the process of recovery, with comments from victims and medical experts.
Hosted by KHON's Tannya Joaquin and Trini Kaopuiki, and produced by Seth Feldman of Show Doctor Media and Marketing, "On Board" is a valuable tool in educating the public about the importance of mammograms and preventive measures to detect disease at an early stage.
The program suggests survival is possible with early detection and treatment.
Among the survivors:
Darci Ludington, who was diagnosed at age 28 while she was 7 1/2 months' pregnant. "I was scared to death," she says. "First thing on my mind (was) my girls (she has an older daughter)." She lost her hair, but not her determination and faith. "God gave me two girls; he wouldn't take me now."
Iwalani Tseu, a kumu hula, who this month found a positive mass in a checkup. "Why me? Why now?" she asks. "I'm healthy. I have a zest for life. The word 'cancer' is scary." Hula is her way of life and "hula is healing," she says.
Tiare Agpaoa, 30, a survivor who finds strength and renewal in paddling. "It (breast cancer) doesn't happen to young people," she says. "So I thought." She paddles every Sunday; "that's my church," she said. "Once I got in the water, I had no pain."
Carol Morishige, a reverend at the Honolulu Church of Light, says faith helps in her battle. "I never questioned God why this is happening to me," she says. The church's "signature cell healing" — a form of alternative treatment — helps boost her energy, with a healer directing the treatment around the crown of her head.
Ruth Friedman, 68, a harpist with the University of Hawai'i symphony, never had breast cancer — and never will, because she opted for a pre-emptive mastectomy after her twin sister, Sally, was diagnosed with breast cancer (and later died). With the same DNA and genetic makeup of her sister, elective mastectomy enabled Friedman to avoid the disease.
Vivian Murray, a 10-year survivor and chairwoman of the Race for the Cure, had a double mastectomy — and two weeks later was running a 10K race. Biking has been a factor in her ongoing celebration.
Wendy Tsutsui explains how physical therapy gave her back her life.
Jackie Tokunaga and Fairlene Aladieff, two other survivors, say that alternative medicine, including acupuncture, massage and 'healing touch," have helped in their recovery.
The show pays tribute to the late Rell Sunn, "the queen of Makaha," a breast cancer victim who died at age 47 in January 1998. As good friend and fellow surfer Fred Hemmings says, Sunn "has become the spiritual icon" of breast cancer.
Three local experts provide cautionary advice — Dr. Patricia G. Avila, medical director of The Women's Health Center at Queen's Medical Center; Dr. Jennifer Fu, medical oncologist and an assistant professor at the UH John A. Burns School of Medicine; and Dr. Chiyome Fukino, state director of health.
The show provides a quick quiz, and helpful advice, to maximize knowledge and minimize risk of breast cancer.
Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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