New Mammography Van Unveiled in Newark, NJ

Photo by Doris Cortes, UMDNJ. Breast cancer survivors joined with the City of Newark, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey to unveil the “Mammography in Motion” vehicle, which will provide Newark residents with breast cancer screenings and information about breast cancer awareness. From left: Pamela Hodges, Ann Davis, and Roselyn Harkey, all Newark residents and breast cancer survivors.

The City of Newark, NJ, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure North Jersey recently unveiled a new and expanded Mobile Mammography Van, aptly called “Mammography in Motion.”  According to UMDNJ, “The Mammography in Motion mobile van provides access to screening mammograms, clinical breast exams and educational information for uninsured and underinsured residents in Newark and other northern New Jersey communities.”

As I reported earlier, studies have indicated that uninsured women are diagnosed with larger tumors and at later stages than otherwise similar, but insured women. The cause of this later and larger diagnosis may be attributable, in part, to a lack of mammography providers — an indication of just how critical the van is to the Newark community.

The new van was funded through the North Jersey Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and is markedly more advanced and comfortable than its predecessor, which was a retro-fitted recreational vehicle that provide analog, as opposed to digital, mammography.  The van is a part of the New Jersey CEED (Cancer Education and Early Detection) S.A.V.E. (Screening Access of Value to Essex) Women and Men Project.  According to Catherine Marcial, Project Coordinator for S.A.V.E. Women, the new van is bigger and more pleasant.  It now has an exam room, changing room, reception area and all updated equipment.   She also pointed out that providers on the van — a physician or physician assistant and a mammography technician from UMDNJ — offer pelvic exams, PAP Smears (cervical cancer screenings) and recommend colorectal cancer screenings when warranted.  Deborah Q. Belfatto, Komen North Jersey Affiliate co-founder and executive director, commented that, “The Mammography in Motion program will provide state-of-the-art breast health screening services for women right in their own neighborhoods.  This is a giant step in addressing access to care for all women, especially those with no readily available resources.”  This is especially true given the prediction that the demand for mammography, and other outpatient diagnostic imaging, is expected to increase by double digits over the next three years.  Further, there is strong evidence that the provision of cancer education and screening programs serves to significantly reduce cancer rates in Newark, as was evidenced by a study on cervical cancer in the city.  This study found that “the ratio of in situ to invasive cervical cancer increased and decreased in a striking parallel with the provision and subsequent cessation of funding.”

Finally, it should be noted that cancer screenings are only the beginning of the battle for improving cancer outcomes for the un- and underinsured, Read more