Community Education and Outreach

The Mammography Van

Fox Chase Cancer Center's mobile mammography van, which provides easy and convenient mammography screenings for women at their place of work, now offers digital mammography. The new technology gives women state-of-the-art screenings, with clearer pictures that can be reviewed quickly.

Recent studies have shown that digital mammography is better than traditional film mammography in detecting breast cancer in women under the age of 50 and with dense breasts.

Fox Chase's mobile mammography van is the only one of its kind in the Philadelphia region and is staffed by Fox Chase technicians. All equipment on the van is licensed by the Food and Drug Administration and is accredited by the American College of Radiology. The van can screen 25-35 women daily, with each exam lasting approximately 10 minutes.

Success Stories

Read about the women whose breast cancer was detected by the mobile mammography van.

Mobile Mammography Screening Program

What is a mammogram and why is it important?
A mammogram is an x-ray procedure that creates an image of the tissue within the breast. This image is used to visualize abnormal tissue within the breast such as cysts, tumors, and calcifications.

A mammogram is important because it can offer the best chance of detecting breast cancer in its earliest stages which increases the chance of a cure.

How does the mammography process work?
Each woman has her breasts placed upon a flat X-ray tray. The breasts are then compressed with gentle, firm pressure by a mammogram compression device. The compression spreads out the tissue and allows the X-ray image to display an accurate picture of the inner breast. The radiology technologist usually takes two X-rays of each breast. Our radiologist who is specially trained to interpret mammogram images then examines the X-rays.

Mobile Mammography Screening Program
One in eight women will get breast cancer at some point in their lifetime, but those especially at risk are women who:

• Have two or more relatives with breast or ovarian cancer
• Have a family history of breast cancer
• Have relatives under the age of 50 who were diagnosed with breast cancer

What makes the Fox Chase mobile mammography van convenient?

• It comes to you - In ten minutes, have an exam taken that would take up to two hours in the hospital, without leaving work.
• It's fast - When previous films are available, results are interpreted by Fox Chase Cancer Center's radiologists within 48 hours and retained at Fox Chase Cancer Center.
• We do the work for you - Result letters are sent to the participant and her physician within ten days of the mammogram, and if the radiologist finds a problem that needs immediate attention, he or she will contact the participant's physician by telephone.

Eligibility

A woman CAN get a mammogram on the van if:

• She is over the age of 40
• She gives a prescription from her physician to the technician
• She gives the name and address of at least one physician
• She brings her last mammography films for comparison purposes (or we have them here at Fox Chase Cancer Center)
• She has not had a mammogram in the last 12 months

A woman CANNOT get a mammogram on the van if:

• She needs help getting on and off the van and standing for the mammogram
• She has a new breast problem (feels a lump, skin changes, or nipple discharge)
• She has breast implants
• She was diagnosed with breast cancer within the past two years
• She is currently being treated for breast cancer
• She is breast feeding or has breast fed within the last nine months

For more information about mobile services or to arrange a screening, contact Linda Hammell at 215-728-3554 or Linda.Hammell@Fccc.edu