Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 9, 1 September 2014 — IPU KEYCHAINS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

IPU KEYCHAINS

About a decade ago the American Cancer Society started producing ipu keychains "specifically to target getting the word out to our Native Hawaiian eom

munities and the Filipino communities, whieh are also at high risk for breast cancer," said Lani Almanza, senior representative for community engagement for the American Cancer Society in Hawai'i. Compared to other ethnicities in the state, breast cancer strikes Native Hawaiian women more fre nnentlv and with a hiuher death rate

The keychains, in the shape of an ipu, showcase the aver- ™ age size lumps detected through various means. The smallest bead represents the average size lump found through a regular

mammogram. The largest bead, at the base of the ipu, represents the average size lump found by women untrained in breast self-exam. Almanza said free ipu keychains are available for community members at OH A offices statewide, through an effort between she and OHA Community Engagement Director Kēhau Abad to "make a concerted effort to get (the keychains) out through the OHA offices on all islands to best get that message out to the Native Hawaiian community." ■

Photo: Lisa Asato