Nonprofit making treatment easier for local cancer patients

Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States, yet it remains the leading cause of death in Alaska. Data is not yet complete, but the National Institutes of Health has projected that more than 2 million new cancer cases and 611,720 cancer deaths will have occurred in 2024. In Alaska, the incidence of cancer is slightly lower than the national average of 17.9 cases per 100,000 people. But in the Mat-Su Borough, that rate is a state-leading 23.5 cases per 100,000 people.

Those Valley cancer patients have accounted for approximately 10 percent of the annual volume of Alaskans served by the American Cancer Society, according to Charissa Habeger, director of ACS Alaska. Those services are available free of charge to all Alaska cancer patients and their families.

Over the course of its 112-year history, the nonprofit American Cancer Society has been instrumental in helping to improve the lives of people with cancer. Habeger said a full 70 percent of Alaskans served are low-income and under-insured.

“Directly through our programs, Mat-Su Valley cancer patients will receive free transportation to and from their lifesaving treatment, free lodging when treatment is required far from home, and free access to our 24/7 helpline with trained specialists who can provide answers to their questions and connect them to critical services,” she said.

A $25,000 January grant from the Mat-Su Health Foundation is making those services easier to provide.

“Alaskans have unique challenges when it comes to accessing cancer screening and care, and Mat-Su Valley residents are no exception,” she said. “This grant from the Mat-Su Health Foundation is offering Mat-Su Valley cancer patients relief from worry around unanswered questions regarding their diagnosis, and from the burden of travel costs, so they can focus entirely on getting well.”

The nonprofit Mat-Su Health Foundation has been making this kind of investment in community health and wellness since 2007, when it became part owner of the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. Since that time, it has channeled more than $138 million of its share of hospital profits into the community through sponsorships, scholarships, and grants, like the one to the American Cancer Society.

“Nonprofits like the American Cancer Society simply wouldn’t exist without the support of entities like the Mat-Su Health Foundation,” Habeger said. “Cancer patients in the Mat-Su would not have access to the critical programs and services they need.”

She said the funding is especially important for economically disadvantaged Alaskans, and those who face geographical barriers to medical care. Affordability and access to transportation can often make the difference in whether patients receive and complete lifesaving cancer treatment.

“The Mat-Su Health Foundation’s support is a lifeline to the American Cancer Society so we can continue supporting these patients in need who may otherwise choose to forgo their treatment because of the economic impact on their family,” she said.

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