Mammography Van Frequently Asked Questions
Dana-Farber's Mammography Van is the only mobile digital mammography program in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It provides screening mammograms and breast health education to women 40 years of age and older.
Frequently Asked Questions (English)
For Patients: Before Your Screening
Is there a fee to get a mammogram on the Van?
Dana-Farber's Mammography Van offers mammograms and health education to all medically eligible women. We will bill your insurance company for the screening. Please note that you will be financially responsible for any related co-pays, deductibles, and follow-up appointments.
Can I get a mammogram on the Van if I do not have a doctor?
Everyone who has a mammogram on the Van must have a primary care provider (a doctor or nurse) to whom we can send your results. If you don't have one, we can connect you with one prior to your mammogram appointment. Please call us to get both a mammogram appointment and a primary care provider.
Who works on the Van?
Caring, experienced health professionals and a Mammography Technologist from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, community health educators, and medical interpreters.
Who should get their mammogram on the Van?
- Women 40 years of age and older (or 35-39 years with a strong family history of breast cancer)
- Women who have not had a mammogram in the past 12 months
- Women who are not currently experiencing breast problems
- Women with health insurance
Why get a mammogram every year?
A mammogram (x-ray of the breast) is the best way to find breast cancer early, when there are excellent options for treatment. In order to find breast cancer as early as possible, it's important to get a mammogram every year, not just once.
How do I sign up?
Pre-registration is required. Please call Dana-Farber's Mammography Van office at 617-632-1974 or your local health center for more information or to schedule an appointment. Please click the "Van Calendar" tab at the top of this page to see when the van will be in your neighborhood next.
How do I volunteer?
Occasionally, we have volunteer opportunities. If you are interested in learning more about volunteering, please call 617-632-1974 or email us at mammo_van@dfci.harvard.edu.
How do I donate?
Thank you so much for thinking of making a contribution to our program. Please call the Jimmy Fund office at 617-632-3019 for more information.
For Patients: After Your Screening
Two to three weeks after your appointment, a letter of your results will be mailed to you, and a report will be sent to your primary care provider. The letter will explain what to do next. Please read the letter carefully.
Why are my results taking so long?
If your results are not received within two to three weeks from your exam, please contact the person who booked your appointment. Results can be delayed for a number of reasons:
- delay in obtaining prior mammography films
- corrections made to patient information in the system
- technical problems (you will be notified)
What if my reading is normal?
If your results are normal, your next mammogram will be due one year from the appointment date.
What if my reading is abnormal?
Please contact your primary care provider as soon as possible. Abnormal readings indicate that something suspicious was found. This does not always mean something is wrong. The radiologist just needs further information to give you the best results. The radiologist will recommend that you go to a facility that provides further examination. It is very important that you go to this follow-up appointment.
What if I experience breast symptoms shortly after my mammogram?
Each patient is different. Some patients may experience discomfort or others may feel sensitivity of the breast(s) immediately after their mammogram. If these symptoms persist, please consult with your doctor.
What if I get a bill, even though I have health insurance?
Most health insurances cover one mammogram per calendar year. Please call 617-632-1974 to review the details of your bill.
For Non-Profits and Community Groups: How to Host the Mammography Van
If you’re interested in hosting the van at your site, here are the requirements:
- 30 pre-registered women (women 40 years or older that meet the American Cancer Society eligibility criteria). The maximum we can screen per day is 40 patients
- Two Site Coordinators: One lead and one back-up
- One Case Manager to handle callbacks/abnormal
- Level parking for the van and van staff
- Your site must be located within 35 miles of Boston
Site Coordinator will be responsible for:
- Recruitment of eligible women
- Registering and scheduling each patient
- Local promotion and advertisement of van day (materials will be provided by the DFMV)
- Ensure parking for van and van staff, and obtain City permit if needed
- Arrange for interpreter services as needed
Case Manager will be responsible for:
- Distributing abnormal reports to the patient’s primary care provider
- Ensuring and monitoring that each follow-up patient’s care is continued until completion
If a screening day isn't right for you, we can offer breast health education events (information table or educational workshop) with information and material about Dana-Farber's Mammography Van. Breast health education events are not guaranteed and are on a case by case basis; please inquire about availability at 617-632-1974.
Breast health education event requirements:
- Information about your event
- A contact person
- Information on population of the community/who is being targeted
- Any advertisement that will be going out about your event
- Location
- Tables and chairs
We also go to many local community-based organizations within Boston. You can try partnering with one of them, and possibly collaborate on a van day if neither options above suit your organization's needs or requests. Please refer to the Sites Served tab for more information.
The Dana-Farber also has the Blum Family Resource Van, which provides skin cancer screenings and sun-safety education.
The Family Van, which is operated by the Harvard Medical School, provides screening and testing in areas such as pregnancy, diabetes, hypertension, and other medical concerns.
Please feel free to get in touch with us with any other questions you may have.
For For-Profits: How to Host the Mammography Van
If you’re interested in hosting the van, here are the requirements:
- Contact person
- Ensure level parking for van, van staff, and obtain city permit, if needed
- Local promotion and advertisement of van day (materials will be provided by the DFMV)
- Your site must be within 35 miles of Boston
- Payment of fee
Ideally, we would like 30 pre-registered medically eligible women (women 40 years of age older that meet the American Cancer Society eligibility criteria) in order for us to bring the van to your location. The maximum we can screen is 40. We would prefer the contact person/coordinator to recruit and pre-register your employees via phone and advertise the van at your corporation via email, intranet, posters, fliers, and other means of communication. For more information on the cost associated with bringing the van to your corporation, please contact Jill Rees, Assistant Director of Corporation and Foundation Relations, at 617-582-8056 or Jillm_rees@dfci.harvard.edu.
In terms of health insurance, we bill the insurance company. We encourage patients to get enrolled in some type of insurance through the Commonwealth Connector to cover the follow-up mammogram in case the patient has an abnormal finding.
If a screening day isn't right for you, we can offer a breast health education event (information table or educational workshop) with information and material about Dana-Farber's Mammography Van. Breast health education events are not guaranteed and are on a case-by-case basis, depending on staff availability.
Breast health education event requirements:
- Information about your event
- Contact person
- Information on population of the community/who is being targeted
- Any advertisement that will be going out about your event
- Location
- Tables and chairs
We also visit many local neighborhoods within Boston. We can connect you with a local site to collaborate a van day if neither options above suits your organization’s needs.
The Dana-Farber also has the Blum Family Resource Van with provided skin cancer screenings.
The Family Van, which is operated by the Harvard Medical School, provides screening and testing in areas such as pregnancy, diabetes, hypertension, and other medical concerns.
Please feel free to get in touch with us with any other questions you may have.
Frequently Asked Questions (Español)
"En camino a la buena salud"
Dana-Farber's Mammography Van ofrece a todas las mujeres mamografías y educación de la salud. Viajamos a vecindarios en la ciudad de Boston para que sea mas conveniente poder obtener una mamografía rápida. ¡Busque nuestra unidad movil con la insignia de la cinta rosada en su vecindario!
¿Por qué obtener una mamografía cada año?
Una mamografía (un rayo-x del seno) es la mejor defensa para detectar el cáncer temprano del seno porque en esta etapa se encuentran excelentes opciones para tratamientos si lo llega a necesitar. ¡Para su bienestar y el bienestar de su familia, hágase una mamografía cada año, no solamente una vez!
¿Quién debe tener una mamografía en la Unidad Móvil?
- Mujeres que tengan 40 años o más
- Mujeres que no han tenido una mamografía en los últimos doce meses
- Mujeres que no tienen problemas del seno
- Mujeres con seguro médico
- Mujeres que tengan un médico. Si usted no tiene un doctor, nosotros con mucho gusto le ayudaremos a conseguir uno antes de su mamografía.
¿Quién trabaja en la camioneta de la Unidad Móvil?
Profesionales de la salud con mucha experiencia que trabajan para Dana-Farber Cancer Instituto, educadores e interpretes medicos que sirven a la comunidad. Sus mamografías son revisadas por radiólogos certificados y afiliados con el Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. ¡Venga a la unidad móvil para saludarnos!
¿Cómo puedo registrarme?
Debe registrarse por adelantado. Llámenos para saber como obtener una mamografia. ¡Su llamada es muy importante y nos gustaría hablar con usted!
Frequently Asked Questions (Kreyòl)
"Sou chemen bòn santé"
Dana-Farber's Mammography Van ofri mamogram pou yon tikras kòb ak edikasyon sou lasanté pou tout fanm, ki gen asirans. Nou vwayajé al nan tout katyé Boston yo — nenpòt koté fanm reté, ak nenpòt koté fanm ap travay — pou nou fè yon mamogram pi fasil, pi amikal, pi vit ké posib pou OU. Sèlman siveyé otobis la ki gen gwo riban roz la!
Pouki pou m fè yon mamogram chak ané?
Yon mamogram (radyografi tété ya) sé pi bon mwayen pou yo detekté kansè nan tété byen bonè, lè gen plizyè bon chwa pou trètman. Fè l poutèt ou, fè l pou fanmi w...fè yon mamogram chak ané, se pa yon sèl fwa!
Kilès ki ka fè mamogram nan otobis la?
- Fanm ki gen 40 an oswa pi plis
- Fanm ki pat fè yon mamogram nan 12 dènyé mwa yo
- Fanm ki pa gen pwoblèm nan tété-l epòk sa
- Fanm ki gen asirans
- Fanm ki gen yon moun ki pran swen-l (doktè oswa enfimyè). Si w pa gen yonn, n ap byen kontan pou nou ede w jwenn yonn anvan randevou mamogram lan.
Kilès ki ap travay nan otobis la?
Pwofesyonèl lasanté ki sousyé yo pou moun epi k gen eksperyans ki soti nan Enstiti Kansè Dana-Farber ya, Edikatè sou lasanté kominotè ak Entèprèt médikal… mouté nan otobis la epi di yo alo! Sé radyològ sètifyé ki nan Dana-Farber ki ap li fimm mamogram yo.
Kijan m ka anrejistré?
Ou dwé anrejistré davans. Relé nou pou w konnen si otobis mamografi ya sé koté ki pibon pou ou. Nou ta renmen tandé w!