Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has introduced a mobile mammography van initiative aimed at reducing the persistent disparities in breast cancer outcomes between Black and white women in the United States. This effort seeks to bring screening services directly into communities, making access easier and faster for Black women who have historically faced higher mortality rates from breast cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, Black women are 40% more likely than white women to die from breast cancer, despite being less likely to be diagnosed with it. When diagnosed, it’s often at a later stage, making treatment more challenging.
The mobile mammography van travels to community organizations and health centers in and around Boston, including the Dimock Center in Roxbury, Daniel Driscoll Neponset Health Center, and Bowdoin Street Health Center in Dorchester. This approach aims to reduce barriers and streamline the screening process by providing closer and faster service to patients.
Magnolia Contreras, vice president of community health at Dana-Farber, emphasized the initiative’s goal of making mammography more accessible. “Part of the challenge of access to mammography is that sometimes the appointments are too far out. For some people, it’s an all-day affair,” she explained. The mobile van allows women to get in and out in about 10 to 15 minutes, significantly reducing the time commitment required for screening.
In addition to the mobile van, Dana-Farber has partnered with Whittier Street Health Center in Roxbury to offer cancer care services twice a week. These combined efforts aim to connect low-income, elderly, and medically underserved women with high-quality care, addressing the multifaceted barriers that contribute to health disparities in breast cancer outcomes for Black women.
See “Varied efforts aim to close gaps in care for Black women facing breast cancer” (October 9, 2024)