MEDIA ADVISORY for Thursday, October 11
IMPORTANT: All media must RSVP
Stony Brook Medicine Media Contact: Kali Chan
Email: Kali.Chan@stonybrookmedicine.edu
Cell Phone: 631-487-4092/631-444-7880
Stony Brook Cancer Center Announces New Mobile Mammography Van to Increase Access to Breast Cancer Screenings
Van to Visit Nature’s Bounty Employees to Make Early Detection Easier on October 11
WHAT:
Stony Brook University Cancer Center will roll out its new life-saving Mobile Mammography Van in Suffolk and Nassau counties to provide easy access to mammograms for women in the community who otherwise might not get them due to barriers such as transportation, scheduling, and financial burdens. The goal is to do everything possible to help women 40 years and older to get annual screenings and increase the likelihood of detecting breast cancer early, when it may be easier to treat.
Stony Brook makes it easy because we come to you. The van is going to Nature’s Bounty in Ronkonkoma, NY to provide breast cancer screening services to employees and raise awareness of breast cancer issues. The custom-designed 40-foot van is completely self-contained and offers state-of-the-art 3D digital mammograms, the same top-quality care you’ll find at Stony Brook Cancer Center. The van has a comfortable waiting area, private dressing room, and a complete exam room.
Thirty minutes is all it takes to participate in this valuable service. The intake coordinator will greet the patient, help complete the required paperwork and guide the patient to the changing room, the exam room and the mammography suite. A Stony Brook Medicine radiologic technologist who has advanced training in mammography will perform the mammogram and make sure that the patient is comfortable and informed about every step of the process. A registered nurse, trained in Clinical Breast Exam (CBE), will provide a clinical breast exam for each patient as well as offer educational materials and tips for healthy living and cancer preventive measures. At least one member of the team will be bilingual (English/Spanish).
This program is supported with funds from Health Research Inc. and the New York State Department of Health. The van, operated and staffed by the Stony Brook Cancer Center, will travel to underserved areas, as well as corporate locations, community centers and other establishments. Screenings will be provided regardless of ability to pay.
WHEN:
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Employee Shift One: 7:00 am to 11:00 am
Employee Shift Two: 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
WHY:
Stony Brook University Cancer Center is devoted to life-saving treatments for patients with cancer, and offering the future of cancer care today. Each year, 15,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in New York State. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in New York. It is also the second leading cause of cancer-related death in New York women.
Our team approach to breast cancer treatment distinguishes the quality of care we provide at Stony Brook Medicine’s Carol M. Baldwin Breast Care Center. The Breast Cancer Team cares for more than 450 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients each year. The Center has been a pioneer in many ways, including being the first on Long Island to offer digital mammography and was one of the first seven centers in the world equipped with a tomosynthesis machine. Stony Brook’s breast cancer surgeons specialize in breast conservation surgery and were the first on Long Island to offer the less invasive sentinel node biopsy.
WHERE:
Nature’s Bounty, 2100 Smithtown Avenue, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
I would like to inquire about having your mobile van come to our worksite here at Rise Life Services in Riverhead. We are a moderately sized company that serves both the developmentally disabled and those with mental illness. We are located off Main Street in Riverhead and can provide an ideal location for your van. Please contact me regarding the possibility of your coming to our site. Thank you for your time. Jim VanTassel,R.N., MS Ed, Director of Nursing 631-764-3192