Little is known about the impact of cancer and the extent of cancer-related services in Yap. The purpose of this study,
funded by the National Cancer Institute, was to document the state of cancer awareness and services in Yap and to prioritize
cancer-care needs. Findings suggest that cancer is the leading cause of death in Yap, yet cancer-related awareness, prevention,
detection, and treatment services are limited. A number of needs were identified, and an action plan was developed based on
five priority areas: 1) establishing a cancer registry; 2) increasing awareness of cancer risk, prevention, and detection; 3) expanding
cancer screening and detection programs; 4) expanding cancer-related training opportunities for clinical staff; and 5) purchasing
cancer-related equipment & supplies. Key Words: Medically underserved area, needs assessment, oncology services, Pacific
Islanders, quality of health care