Hospital marks breast cancer awareness month

Whitman Hospital has several events in the works for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The hospital purchased 35,000 pink gloves for all staff to wear throughout the month of October. Pink is the national color for breast cancer awareness.

Hospital staff will give a radio interview on breast cancer in mid-October. They’ll also be passing out flyers at Rosauers with facts on breast cancer.

Whitman hospital performed 1,934 mammograms in 2009. From 2000 to 2007, cancer was one of five leading causes of death in Whitman County. Of all the women who died from cancer in that period, roughly 15 percent died from breast cancer.

Another phase of the national health plan passed Sept. 23. Among other changes to insurance, one change guaranteed people over 40 with new or renewing policies a free co-pay or deductible on mammograms. Whitman Hospital is following the new law, but administrator David Womack said few people have come in for this because few policies have renewed since Sept. 23.

However, he added, the insurance policy for Whitman Hospital employees renewed Oct. 1, meaning some employees now qualify for a free mammogram.