Hospital Adding $25,000 For Breast Cancer Tests

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Hawaii Medical Center West just got healthier with a boost from Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

The Susan Komen network and its Hawaii affiliate, which are working to end breast cancer, awarded $25,000 to the Ewa Beach hospital to help it continue its free mammograms, breast exams and education services to “medically underserved” women ages 40 to 49. The program focuses on Native Hawaiian, Asian and Pacific Islander women.

In all, 13 grants were distributed throughout the state from the fund, which is supported in 2010 by more than $500,000 generated from the annual Hawaii Race for the Cure.

“The vision of Komen Hawaii is to have local women participate in the highest level of breast health regardless of their ethnicity and/or socioeconomic status,” said executive director Shelia Callum, noting that about 800 cases on female invasive breast cancer are diagnosed each year in Hawaii.

The hospital offers the free mammograms as well as pap smears from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Wednesday and Friday in Room 108 of the medical office building. Call 547-6820.