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In Coleen d’Avignon’s Battle With Cancer, Her Care Team Became her ‘Ohana’ | Kaiser Permanente

194 views · Published 6 October 2016 · 2:26 · Indexed 14 November 2026

Channel: Kaiser Permanente · 2016 · Nonprofits & Activism

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In Coleen d’Avignon’s battle with cancer, the scariest part was the original diagnosis. But Coleen wanted to do everything she could to get and stay healthy — and her care team at Kaiser Permanente helped her move forward quickly. 

Patients who have an abnormal mammogram usually get a referral to a general surgeon that same day, and an appointment within a few days. “That kind of speed of getting things done is one of the biggest benefits of Kaiser Permanente,” said Andrew Tan, MD, general surgery at Wailuku Medical Office.

Coleen received coordinated, integrated care on both Maui and Oahu. “I think she has been pleasantly surprised at how integrated it has been,” said Jennifer Carney, MD, Chief of Hematology/Oncology at Moanalua Medical Center.

Coleen was afraid that people wouldn’t see her as a person beyond her disease, but that wasn’t the case at Kaiser Permanente. Her care team took time to get to know her as an individual and the disease was just the part that they needed to treat.  

“As horrible as this experience could have been,” Coleen said, “I ended up meeting the most fabulous people and they became my ‘ohana,’ my family. I wouldn’t be here without Kaiser. I’m so grateful.”

View more member stories at, http://k-p.li/1MtLBat.

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