CHRISTUS Health unveils new mobile mammography unit for greater access to breast cancer screenings

CHRISTUS Health unveiled a new mobile mammography unit that will increase access to breast cancer screenings with a blessing on Tuesday in Longview.

The new coach will feature the newest in 3-D mammography and advanced artificial intelligence (AI) software to provide the highest quality images available while emphasizing patient comfort and compassion in mind.

“This unit will be a game changer for our health care outreach and how we can serve our more rural communities,” said Amy Dorsey, radiology supervisor for CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System. “We are now able to offer the same technology that we have at our comprehensive breast center in Longview.”

Screening rates for women tend to be much lower in rural communities, due mainly to lower access to health care facilities and health services, according to the National Rural Health Association.

Dorsey said the mobile unit will be traveling to clinics, community centers, businesses, churches, schools and other locations within the more outlying communities to offer convenient breast cancer screenings.

“Having regularly scheduled mammograms presents an opportunity for early diagnosis, as signs and symptoms are often difficult to observe at early stages,” Dorsey said. “Mammograms have been the gold standard used for cancer detection and may reduce mortality by up to 40%.”

Funding for the mammography unit was made possible by the Lyrics & Legends event from April 2024 and funds donated from the community to the CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Foundation.

 

“Community support in the form of philanthropy toward the mobile unit is important and the cornerstone of meaningful progress throughout our CHRISTUS Health ministries.” said Susan Ward, executive director of the CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Foundation. “Together we can create a lasting impact on countless lives for generations to come, and we will continue to raise funds to support this ministry to expand our reach and the number of people served.”

For scheduling and MMU location information, interested parties can call (903) 375-3864 or (903) 315-2130.