Day and night, individuals battling cancer and their families face a seemingly never ending list of challenges. Medical care provides only so much, even for those with the best health insurance. The extreme physical, emotional and financial toll can make an already difficult situation even worse.
Hawai‘i-based U.S. vs. Cancer (USVC) has emerged as a rare beacon of support, providing financial assistance for families battling cancer while also funding cutting-edge research. Founder Jamil Newirth and the organization’s leadership have each been impacted by cancer and are committed to using their nimble non-profit to fill the gaps and make a difference.
The 501c3 organization provides direct out-of-pocket cancer related expenses, including health care co-pays, as well as funds for alternative or experimental therapies, travel for treatment and supplies. Such services are critically important given the limited resources and treatment options available in Hawai‘i, especially on neighbor islands. USVC held its inaugural Catalyst for Hope fundraiser on August 17, and Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman was honored to join its “Founders Circle,” the highest level of sponsorship. This year’s benefit raised nearly $190,000.
We can help.
Cancer’s Heavy Toll in Hawai‘i
Cancer has a far-reaching impact on Hawai‘i residents. For example:
- Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in Hawai‘i.
- The state ranks 41st in providing access to medical treatment.
- Native Hawaiians have the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates compared to other populations.
- Native Hawaiian men are more than twice as likely as other demographic groups to be diagnosed with liver cancer, according to research by the University of Hawaii Cancer Center.
- Hawai‘i residents have higher rates of liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer.
- Individuals fighting cancer in Hawai‘i face unique challenges accessing specialized medical care, especially transportation for treatment.
- Hawai‘i is home to large U.S. military bases. For generations, the military has relied on cancer-causing asbestos for a wide range of uses. That means countless service members stationed in Hawai‘i and civilian residents have been exposed to asbestos, which is known to cause a deadly form of cancer known as mesothelioma.
Hawai‘i’s long history of toxic chemical exposure
The state’s long history of large-scale industrial agriculture has created a legacy of exposure to dangerous pesticides, herbicides and other toxic chemicals. Hawai‘i residents working in the fields as well as nearby communities have been exposed to cancer causing chemicals like Monsanto’s glyphosate-based Roundup herbicide, as well Atrazine and Chlorpyrifos. A 2019 study found that 215,000 pounds of restricted use pesticides were released across central Oahu and the North Shore, including 23 different kinds of pesticides in those areas that year. Of those, 13 have been banned outside the U.S., and 12 are known to disrupt human hormones while four are classified as known carcinogens.
In addition to cancer risks, a birth defect known as gastroschisis has increased in Hawai‘i over the last decade. A 2017 analysis by Hawaii doctors found that the majority of gastroschisis patients in Hawaii were from areas where restricted-use pesticides were used.
How We Help Victims of Pesticide Exposure
With a wealth of experience prosecuting herbicide and pesticide exposure cases, our Hawai‘i pesticides lawyers have battled corporate giants on behalf of individuals like you for over 40 years, aggressively fighting to hold them responsible for failing to keep workers safe. If you have suffered catastrophic injury or cancer caused by Monsanto’s Roundup weedkiller or other harmful chemicals, we can help.
