Media Contact:
Ellen C. McKenna
434-982-4490
ellenmckenna@virginia.edu

Touched by the Appreciation of Area Women, UVA Mobile Mammography Team Completes Free Breast Health Screening in Clinchco

Next Screenings Scheduled for April 2009 at The Health Wagon

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (February 9, 2009) - The sun had not yet risen when the mobile mammography team from the University of Virginia Health System pulled up to The Health Wagon office in Clinchco on December 5. Their arrival marked the start of a new initiative that will offer free mammograms and follow-up care throughout the year to medically underserved and uninsured women in a region where breast cancer rates are among the nation's highest.

The University of Virginia Health System
and The Health Wagon have formed a
special partnership to bring
state-of-the-art digital mammography
and follow-up care to medically
underserved and uninsured women of
Southwest Virginia - an area where
breast cancer rates are among the
nation's highest.
The team aboard UVA's state-of-the art mobile mammography coach - the only one of its kind in Virginia - included technologists Christine Shachtman, R.T., and Terri Shelor, R.T., and driver Kevin Carter. Their goal was to start early, stay late, and work through lunch in order to screen as many women as possible. Between 7:30 am and 6:30 pm, they completed 47 mammograms - nearly three times their average daily volume.  

Screening results showed that 10 women - nearly 21 percent - had clinical abnormalities that required follow-up assessment. Although it's likely that further evaluation will reveal that many of the abnormalities are benign rather than cancerous, the findings were well above average. Nationally, screening mammograms detect clinical abnormalities in 6 to 8 percent of women.

"Our findings confirm our concern for the women of southwest Virginia. We look forward to assessing more of them during our upcoming visits," says Shachtman.

Explaining what motivated the team to work so hard, Shachtman says, "The people

mammography_van
UVA's Mobile Mammography
Coach also provides
free screenings at the
Remote Area Medical Clinic
in Wise each summer.
During RAM 2008, the team
performed 143 digital
mammograms during the
clinic's 30 hours of operation.
in this area are so wonderful and appreciative. We've been coming down every summer for the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, and I always have a good feeling in my heart after a long day of screenings. The words of appreciation, the hugs and the smiles we get from each and every woman really touch me deeply."

A patient who particularly touched Shachtman's heart in December wanted to support a friend with breast cancer. "The woman noticed the pink rubber ring that I was wearing. It said, ‘fight like a girl.' She wanted to know where to get one," Shachtman recalls. "Since I had gotten the ring at an event in October, I didn't think any more were available. So, I gave her my ring. She acted like I had given her a diamond ring; she just couldn't stop thanking me and hugging me."

According to Shachtman, screening participants shared many, heart-touching stories. "The women we screened gave us a little insight into their lives and let us know how we are making a difference for them. While driving home, our team talked about the people we met and how good we felt after this day of screenings," she recalls.

The UVA mammography team will conduct its next free breast health screening at The Health Wagon in Clinchco in April.  For more information, contact The Health Wagon at 276-835-9474. For information about UVA's other medical outreach activities in the region, call David Cattell-Gordon on 434-982-4234.

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