Mammography on Wheels: Dana-Farber’s Van Comes Near Your Home in October
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and My Health Fair explains how you can take advantage of the Dana-Farber Mammography Van.
It is a mobile unit that provides mammograms near your home or workplace, with staff and interpreters who speak Spanish.
Work, children, transportation, language, fear. Any one of these reasons can be enough for a mammogram to get pushed “until next month.”
And next month can turn into a year.
That is why, this October, the invitation is simple: if you are due for a mammogram, this time the mammogram can come to you.
What is the Mammography Van?
It is a mobile unit from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute that parks at health centers, churches, community centers, and Boston City Hall and Town Halls in nearby cities.
Why is it convenient?
It is a Dana-Farber mobile unit, one of the country’s most recognized cancer centers, that has been bringing mammography to where women live and work since 2002.
You receive the same screening you would get at the hospital, with the same team of specialists, but without having to travel to the hospital or reorganize your day.
The visit takes about 20 minutes.
The Van also eliminates many of the barriers that can hold us back.
There are Spanish-speaking staff, interpreters for other languages, and help finding a primary care doctor if you do not have one.
For many women, that first appointment in the Van becomes a gateway to the health care system.
Who can get a mammogram in the Van?
● Women age 40 and older (or ages 35 to 39 with a strong family history of breast cancer).
● Those who have not had a mammogram in the past 12 months.
● Those who do not currently have any breast problems or symptoms.
● Those who have health insurance.
How is the cost covered?
The program bills your health insurance directly and accepts most plans, including MassHealth.
You may have to pay copays or deductibles, depending on your plan. If you have questions about your coverage, ask when you schedule your appointment.
If you do not have insurance, the program recommends enrolling through the Massachusetts Health Connector.
What if I do not have a primary care doctor?
The results are sent to your doctor or primary care nurse.
If you do not have one, the Van team can help you find one before your appointment. Just let them know when you call.
How to schedule your appointment
Advance registration is required: walk-ins are not accepted.
● Phone: 617-632-1974 (Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
● Email: mammo_van@dfci.harvard.edu
● Spanish is spoken. Interpreters are also available for other languages.
Upcoming Van Dates
- The Dimock Center: Thursday, October 1, 7:00am – 3:15pm
Harvard Street: Neighborhood Health Center, Tuesday, October 6, 7:00am – 3:15pm - Charles River: Community Health – Waltham, Wednesday, October 7, 7:00am – 3:15pm
- Brockton Neighborhood: Health Center – Main Clinic, Thursday, October 8, 7:00am – 3:15pm
- Greater Roslindale: Medical & Dental Center, Wednesday, October 21, 7:00am – 3:15pm
- Neponset Health Center: Thursday, October 22, 7:00am – 3:15pm
- Bowdoin Street Health Center: Tuesday, October 27, 7:00am – 3:15pm
- Charles River: Community Health – Brighton, Wednesday, October 28, 7:00am – 3:15pm
- City of Quincy Health Department, Thursday, October 29, 7:00am – 3:15pm
If none of these dates work for you, Dana-Farber also provides mammograms at its location at Whittier Street Health Center in Roxbury: 617-989-3200.
After Your Mammogram
Two to three weeks later, you will receive a letter in the mail with your results, and your doctor will receive the report.
Read the letter carefully.
If you are asked to have additional tests, do not panic: an “abnormal” result does not mean cancer.
Many times, the radiologist simply needs a clearer image.
What matters is going to that follow-up appointment.
Why Does This Matter for Our Community?
Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States.
It accounts for one in three new cancers diagnosed in women each year, and approximately one in eight women will have it at some point in their lives.
The good news is that when it is detected early, there are very good treatment options.
That is why routine mammograms are so important: they can find cancer before any symptoms become noticeable.
Still, many women postpone their mammograms or never get one, especially those facing barriers related to language, transportation, schedules, or insurance coverage.
How Often Should You Get a Mammogram?
Recommendations vary. The Van program recommends getting one every year.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends getting a mammogram every two years between ages 40 and 74.
Talk with your doctor about what is right for you.
What You Can Do: 3 Simple Steps
- Check when you had your last mammogram. Look for your results letter or ask your health center. If more than a year has passed, this is the time.
- Share the Van’s schedule with someone you care about. Your mother, sister, friend, neighbor. A WhatsApp message may be the push they need.
- Visit My Health Fair. Find bilingual resources about breast cancer, prevention, and health services in Massachusetts.
My Health Fair is a bilingual virtual health fair that brings health information and resources to communities throughout the year.
Sources:
● Dana-Farber — Mammography Van
● Dana-Farber — Mammography Van FAQ
● Dana-Farber — Mammography Van Calendar
● Dana-Farber — Contact
● American Cancer Society — Breast Cancer Key Statistics
