Story by Rae Miller
Whether a company is big or small, in the boonies or in the heart of the city, the shiny pink van will come. It may not come with a ribbon on top, but it should, because the gift it brings to women is priceless.
After all, when breast cancer is detected early, the survival rate is 98 percent. Yet studies show that up to 30 percent of insured women put off their annual mammograms, because they simply feel too busy. So why not bring mammograms to them?
The Rose Mobile Mammography Program covers an 11-county area: Austin, Brazoria, Brazos, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery and Waller.
Last year, The Rose vans visited 82 companies, including Randalls, Continental Airlines, Halliburton, American National, and Shell FCU. That's in addition to several churches and schools.
Most companies have insurance plans that cover the cost of mammograms for employees and spouses, making it a win-win situation – because every time a woman who has insurance gets her mammogram at The Rose – whether mobile or on-site – it covers the cost of a mammogram for a woman who does not.
There are other mobile mammogram programs out there, but The Rose is a little different. The mammograms do not take place in a vehicle.
"A lot of them will go to the van first, knock on the door, then find out we're in the building," said Angie Weems, supervisor of The Rose Mobile Mammography Program.
The team sets up on site at the location, so it feels more like a doctor's office. Weems said they visit the site ahead of time to make sure certain criteria are met. Each site must have a wheelchair ramp for loading and unloading equipment, parking for the van and patients, a private screening room of at least 9-feet by 9-feet, wide hallways for maneuvering equipment, an elevator if the screenings are not taking place on the first floor, and three grounded outlets per room.
Once everything is clear, Sophie enters the building. "She has wheels and a little motor," Weems said. "Everywhere the van goes, she goes." The Rose has three mobile "Planmed Sophie Classic" units, each one inspected yearly and fully maintained to provide high-quality breast imaging. Weems said the team remains on-site for the day, or even up to one week, depending on how many women have scheduled mammograms. Each mammogram takes approximately 15 minutes, Weems said, so they can do a maximum of 25 to 30 a day.
Women receive two images of each breast – one from the top and one from the side - which is exactly the same as an in-office visit. The film is read by a radiologist back at The Rose.
"We can't tell when we read a mammogram if it's from the mobile unit or from down the hall," said Dr. Ward Parsons, The Rose clinical breast imager. "Everything is done exactly the same way. The only difference is that instead of you coming to us, we come to you."
Women will receive a letter in the mail letting her know her exam was normal, or suggesting further testing with her physician. Mobile mammograms are not for everyone. Women who are under the age of 35, have breast implants, a diagnosis of breast cancer within the last two years, or have been breastfeeding within the last three months are not eligible for the mobile program.
But they can still make an appointment for a mammogram at one of The Rose's two mammography centers, The Rose Southeast at 12700 N. Featherwood in Houston, and the new Rose Galleria at 5420 West Loop South in Bellaire.
When the mobile mammogram program launched in 2006, it had one van, one technologist and one coordinator. Now they've got two vans, four technologists and six coordinators. "We needed it," Weems said. "As word got out, more people wanted us, and we were booking up really fast."
The vans are sponsored by Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Pink Ribbons Project and Randalls. The organization is seeking a corporate sponsor for a third van.
Last year, more than 6,200 women had mobile mammograms through The Rose.
As the program continues to grow, plans are underway to expand coverage to additional counties, including Walker, said The Rose Technical Director Amy Rigsby.
Anything that gets women to schedule and keep their mammogram appointments is welcome to The Rose. "Providing mobile mammograms sometimes means the difference between not getting a mammogram and getting a mammogram," Parsons said. "That to us is the most important thing."
To schedule an appointment for mobile screening, call 281-464-5138 or email aweems@therose.org. To schedule an on-site mammogram at either of The Rose's two locations, call 281-484-4708 or visit www.the-rose.org.
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