St Vincent’s Launches Mobile Mammography Van

BRIDGEPORT — If it is too difficult to get to a doctor for a mammogram, the new Swim Across the Sound Mobile Mammography van can come to you.

The Swim, the cancer charity of St Vincent’s Medical Center, continues to address the unmet needs of the community through its mobile mammography van. The white van with the Swim logo and pink cancer ribbon painted on the sides is constantly on the road, bringing mammography screenings to community centers, corporations, churches, housing facilities and places of business. The mobile mammography unit can be rolled into any area that provides clean and private surroundings.

The screenings take place Monday through Friday at convenient locations, occasional evening and weekend appointments. Anyone who is interested in scheduling an appointment or for more information about providing a mobile screening, should call 203-576-5500 Monday through Friday between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm.

The service is provided through St Vincent’s Wellness Services, which offers low cost and free mammography screening year round. The goal is to educate women about the importance of early detection of breast cancer through screening, breast self-examination, and clinical breast examination. “We want to help educate women about breast cancer,” says Sherri Storms, manager of health services. “Breast cancer is something that can very easily be avoided and taken care of as long as the proper treatment is applied.”

Along with the self-breast and clinical exams, mammography or an x-ray of the breast is one of the best ways to detect breast cancer at its earliest and most treatable stage.

The screenings are provided by highly trained female technologists using state-of-the-art equipment that is accredited by the American College of Radiology and is FDA approved. A board-certified radiologist interprets all results. As a follow up, results are sent to patients’ assigned physicians and women will also receive a letter stating the results of their mammogram.

The low-cost screenings are offered to women age 35 and older with no health problems. Women who are uninsured, have limited health insurance, or other financial limitations may be eligible for a free mammogram, funded by the Swim.

Swim Across the Sound sponsors 34 cancer education, screening and prevention programs. In 2003, the Swim raised a record $2.5 million and helped 18,000 cancer patients and their families.