Susan C. Hirano Cancer CARE Community transforms patient support

The genesis of the Susan C. Hirano Cancer CARE Community didn’t start at the UH Cancer Center in Kaka‘ako. Rather, it began with a visit to consult with a breast cancer specialist at MD Anderson in Texas. It was there that Susan and Peter Hirano first heard the name Dr. Naoto Ueno.

“The doctor we met with told us that his colleague was moving to Hawai‘i to become the Director of the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center,” Peter recalled. “Susan wrote down the name and then started following him on Facebook.”

Several months later, when Dr. Ueno relocated to Hawaiʻi, Peter and Susan became immediate friends with him and Susan began sharing her vision of establishing a program at the UH Cancer Center that would be a resource where cancer patients, their families and caregivers could turn to for emotional support, information and educational workshops.

When Susan was first diagnosed with stage-four metastatic breast cancer in October 2021, she immersed herself in medical research. Determined to truly understand the disease and find the best possible cure, she explored clinical trials and consulted with specialists at leading institutions like MD Anderson, Memorial Sloan Kettering and the UH Cancer Center.

“She had an intense and fierce determination to live,” Peter said. “So in addition to researching the science of the disease, she explored other ways to supplement her medical treatments, from reiki massages and naturopathic treatments to acupuncture, meditation, and diet.”

With Peter’s unwavering support, Susan transformed her cancer journey into a fierce legacy of cancer patient advocacy.

Center of Attention

Susan brought that same fierce advocacy to her medical appointments. She often joked that when her doctors saw her name on their schedule, they realized they would likely run late for the rest of the day. She was relentless in asking questions and quickly learned through her experience that patients should not simply say “yes” to whatever treatment was proposed, but actively participate in and advocate for their own care.  Promoting and empowering other patients to educate and advocate for themselves became the driving theme of the Cancer CARE Community – with CARE standing for Community, Awareness, Research, and Emotional Well-Being. 

Susan’s vision of the program became a reality on April 5, 2025, when the UH Cancer Center launched the Cancer CARE Community. 

“I remember that she wasn’t feeling very well that morning,” Peter recalled. “But she told me, ‘Just get me there, and the people will lift me up.’”

They did.

During that inaugural workshop, Susan spoke for 25 minutes, emphasizing the importance of being your own advocate and not being afraid to ask questions. The event culminated in a deeply emotional surprise for Susan: the program was officially named for her, transforming her personal vision into a permanent reality.

“She was blown away,” Peter said. “She had no idea that the team was going to name the program the ‘Susan C. Hirano Cancer CARE Community.’  I am so proud of the legacy she has built.”

Less than two weeks after that inaugural program, on April 18, 2025, Susan passed away peacefully at home.

Sustaining the legacy

Today, the program provides quarterly workshops and educational opportunities designed to empower cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers, giving them the holistic support that Susan fought so hard to build on her own. Attendance - has grown throughout the year with many individuals coming to every session and many new attendees joining after hearing about the program.  Over the course of four events, the program has welcomed more than 550 participants.

“The event was ‘empowering’ – to learn about the true value of empowerment – how to find peace with our situation, our thoughts and our choice,” commented one attendee in an evaluation survey. Another wrote: “I’m really glad that these events are offered to the public. It helps me realize that I am not the only person experiencing stress.”

Community support is vital to ensuring that the CARE Community reaches as many cancer patients, families, and caregivers as possible across Hawaiʻi.

As our community comes together to support the CARE Community, Peter wants potential donors to know that their contributions aren't just abstract numbers. Every gift has a direct, day-to-day impact on cancer patients and their families, providing them with a trusted community and resource during the most difficult moments of their lives.