Sutter Health has introduced a mobile mammography initiative in East Oakland, bringing critical breast cancer screening services directly to underserved communities. The 40-foot “Mammo-van,” equipped with a state-of-the-art 3D digital imaging device, aims to reduce the stark disparities in breast cancer outcomes among Black women, Latinas, and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
Dr. Benjamin Raber, a breast cancer surgeon at Sutter Health East Bay, emphasized the urgency of this initiative, stating, “Black women and Latinas, as well as women from low socio-economic backgrounds, have 2.5 times higher risk of dying from breast cancer, and the biggest source of that disparity is access to appropriate screening.” The mobile unit seeks to eliminate barriers to care by providing screenings at no cost to patients, directly in their communities.
The van, which has been operational since 2020, is staffed by breast health specialists and offers hospital-grade mammography services. It addresses common obstacles such as transportation and language barriers, with La Clinica staff and Sutter staff providing services in patients’ native languages.
Mary Massella, a nurse practitioner at La Clinica, highlighted the importance of community-based care: “La Clinica staff and Sutter staff are able to provide this service to our patients in their own language, in the community that they know.”
The initiative not only focuses on early detection but also ensures continuity of care. Patients with concerning results are seamlessly transitioned to further testing and treatment at equitable costs. Dr. Raber noted that early detection through such screening programs can lead to a 98% cure rate for breast cancer.
Funded by philanthropist Peter Read, whose wife died of breast cancer, the Mammo-van represents a significant step towards health equity in breast cancer care. The mobile unit is scheduled to visit several clinics in Oakland throughout the month, serving patients by appointment and bringing life-saving screenings to those who need them most.
See “Sutter Health’s ‘Mammo-van’ testing patients for breast cancer in East Oakland” (October 14, 2024)