Byron Health Center will host another visit from the Francine’s Friends Mobile Mammography coach on Monday, November 7th. The coach brings high-quality, life-saving mammography screening to women across northeast Indiana at locations convenient to their homes or workplaces. The program is a partnership between Francine’s Friends, Parkview Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Breast Diagnostic Center (BDC).
Why Mobile Mammography? The best protection is early detection. Francine’s Friends Mobile Mammography coach makes getting a mammogram quick, easy and convenient for women throughout northeast Indiana. The coach will visit Byron Health Center to bring this lifesaving service to as many women as possible. The interior of the 40-foot-long motor coach is designed for complete privacy. Radiologic technologists from the BDC staff the coach, which is furnished with the same FDA-approved and Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA)-approved equipment as the two stationary sites of the BDC. A mammogram takes only about 15 minutes. Board-certified breast-imaging radiologists from Fort Wayne Radiology interpret the exams. Screening mammography through this mobile service is for women who are age 35-and-older and have not had a mammogram in the past 12 months, have no prior or current history of breast cancer or problems with their breasts and are insured or uninsured.
Byron Health Center’s CEO, Deb Lambert, who is two-time a breast cancer survivor herself, invited Francine’s Friends to Byron Health Center back in October of 2012 so employees could be tested. At that time, an unexpected breast cancer diagnosis for one of the employees led to treatment. Thanks to the early detection, there is now another breast cancer survivor. Francine’s Friends Mobile Mammography coach visits have been repeated since then and other similar early diagnosis have helped save more lives.
Appointments should be scheduled prior to November 7th by calling 260-483-1847 or 800-727-8439, ext. 26540. Walk-in openings are available depending on schedule. Occasionally, it may be necessary to cancel or reschedule a location, so, please call to set up your appointment. The BDC performs the screening. For women who have insurance, the BDC will bill their insurance company. If the patient does not have insurance but has the ability to pay, the BDC offers a reduced rate if paid the day of the screening. For women without insurance or resources to pay, or with a high deductible, funding is also available.
