Mobile Mammography Unit Provides Access to Breast Cancer Screenings
By Gloria Madera, Public Relations Manager for CHRISTUS Health
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about a cancer affecting millions of women in the United States.
One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer during their lifetime, and it is the second-deadliest cancer among American women, according to BreastCancer.org.
“Early detection and a healthy lifestyle are the most effective ways to combat the disease,” said Lisa Lopez, mammography program coordinator for CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – Westover Hills.
For early detection, new mammogram guidelines set by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends women start getting mammogram screenings at age 40 and every two years until age 74.
“A mammogram is an X-ray image of your breasts,” Lopez said. “During the screening, the breast is pressed in the X-ray machine, and pressure is applied for a few seconds to spread the breast tissue. It may feel uncomfortable, but it’s the best way to get a clear picture of the breast tissue.”
She said one issue some women have when getting their mammograms is access to health care.
Lopez said that CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System aims to provide this service with its state-of-the-art Mobile Mammography Unit (MMU).
“This was a vision we’ve been working on for many years,” Lopez said. “Early detection is so important to help with a patient’s outcome. The ability we now have to offer these life-saving mammograms to people who may not have received one otherwise is incredible.”
The MMU provides screening services using innovative, top-notch technology and access to CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System’s integrated care if further diagnostics or treatment are needed.
“If someone’s mammogram comes back abnormal, that’s when we would send them to our hospital,” Lopez said. “Our team would then go over the next steps and work with our patient to receive their best outcome.”
Some signs and symptoms of breast cancer are:
• A lump in the breast or armpit
• Swelling or thickness in part of the breast
• Irritated and dimpled breast skin
• Flaky or redness of skin in the nipple or breast area
• Excessive pain in the nipple area
• Size or shape of the breast changed
Lopez said about a third of the mammograms provided on the MMU are free to uninsured and underinsured women.
“We are bringing these life-saving services to people right where they are,” she said. “Our goal is to reach as many areas of this region as possible to screen as many people as possible.”
The MMU is outfitted with technology to provide 3D mammograms.
3D mammogram machines create 3D images and standard 2D images for experts to get a thorough look at a patient’s breast tissue.
“Using this technology helps us to get better imaging for our patients,” Lopez said. “It offers many benefits like reducing the need for follow-up imaging, detecting slightly more cancers, and improving cancer detection in dense breast tissue.”
She said the MMU provides about 3,000 mammograms each year. Since it began operating in the fall of 2022, the MMU has made 226 site visits throughout the south Texas region, with more on the schedule for the rest of the year.
Currently, the MMU serves Bexar, Comal, and surrounding counties.
“With the MMU, we’re able to bring the same great care you would receive at our hospital right into the community,” she said. “We continue to enhance the health and wellness of our community.”
To learn more about breast cancer, visit christushealth.org/get-care/services-specialties/cancer-care/breastand. To find out when the Mobile Mammography Unit will be in your neighborhood, call (210) 704-4100.
