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Mammography Van Fact Sheet

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    Dana-Farber's Mammography Van program launched in April 2002 as a joint venture between Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the City of Boston. It is the only mobile mammography van in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Dana-Farber's Mammography Van possesses a valid license and certificate of inspection issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. For more information on Dana-Farber's Mammography Van, please call the Van office at 617-632-1974.

    • The priority populations served by the Van are low-income, elderly, and medically underserved women who are least likely to get a mammogram otherwise. However, all medically eligible women will be seen.
    • Screenings are performed by skilled, certified technologists, and images are interpreted by Board-certified radiologists from both Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital.
    • 13 percent of patients screened on the Van received a recommendation for breast follow-up in 2015; patients receive follow-up at the hospital of their choice.
    • The Van is out in the community 3 days per week providing breast cancer screenings and educational services, serving on average 25 women per day, 176 per month, and 1,900 per year at 23 different community sites. The Van has provided more than 43,000 mammograms to more than 19,000 unique women in the City of Boston and surrounding towns.
    • In 2015, 13 percent of Van patients had their first-ever mammogram, and 66 percent had had a previous mammogram on the Van. Of those who returned to the Van for their annual mammogram, 33 percent returned on a "timely" (annual) basis.
    • More than 51 percent of women seen on the Van speak a first language other than English; nearly 64 percent are publicly insured; and 52 percent are of ethnic minority background (Black, Latina, and Asian).
    • For breast cancer facts and figures, please call the American Cancer Society at 800-ACS-2345 or visit their website.