Cherokee Nation Cancer Summit Brings Awareness, Kindred Spirits
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith (left) and Channel 6 morning show host LeAnne Taylor (right) present the Distinguished Spirit of Life Award to cancer survivor Ronnie Trentham.
TULSA, Ok.— The Cherokee Nation wrapped up its third bi-annual Cancer Summit on Friday after three days of discussions covering a variety of topics for medical personnel, prevention specialists, survivors, patients and their families. More than 250 individuals took part in the event, which was a partnership between the tribe and the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine.
“One of our goals is to help our citizens be a healthy and happy people,” said Chad Smith, principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. “Through coming together as doctors, patients and survivors, we are able to talk about cancer issues and raise awareness about prevention and treatment efforts for our citizens.”
Cancer rates within the Cherokee Nation mirror those of other populations throughout Oklahoma and across the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 1.4 million people were diagnosed with some sort of cancer last year.
“We want to raise awareness—we want to raise awareness about prevention, screening, treatment and making sure at all levels our healthcare providers, physicians and mid-levels, are aware of the latest treatment options and that they’re following the standard of care,” said Dr. Gloria Grim, medical director for the Cherokee Nation. “Our health promotion is promoting screenings, promoting behaviors that will prevent cancer and giving survivors a place where they can come and talk and share their stories.”
Sessions at the conference included discussions and presentations on such items as public health practice, prevention efforts, screenings, treatment, clinical trials, depression, Cherokee traditional healing methods, after-treatment options and survivorship. The sessions were a positive way for doctors to intermingle with patients, former patients and survivors to share their experiences with one another outside of the clinical exam room.
“We are excited about our partnership in this effort with the Cherokee Nation,” said Dr. Gerard Clancy, president of the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine. “This partnership helps us help our patients, their families and our communities be stronger and healthier overall.”
“We probably have one of the strongest preventative programs available,” said Dr. Charles Grim, senior director of Cherokee Nation Health Services. “However, we still want to do more to increase that effort for our people and our communities.”
Many of the survivors in attendance were grateful for the opportunities to share their stories at the summit, and many were grateful to reunite with the physicians and other health care providers that helped them through their experience.
“Anytime we can get health care providers and lay people together to talk about these issues is great because everyone benefits,” said Ronnie Trentham, a cancer survivor who shares his story with others throughout the Cherokee Nation. “With health care providers working with us who have been through it, anything is possible. We can do great things when we work together.”
-30-